The Château de Balleroy was built for Jean de Choisy, chancellor to Gaston d'Orléans (brother of Louis XIII) between 1631 and 1637. The architect was François Mansart, generally considered the founder of French classical architecture. He also laid out the plan of the village – one of the earliest French examples of town planning – and designed the gardens, which were studied later by Le Nôtre, who landscaped Versailles. The château remained in the hands of the same family (later Marquis and then Comtes de Balleroy) until 1970, when it was bought by the American businessman Malcolm Forbes. It is open to the public and a Balloon Festival is held there every two years. For further information, see http://www.chateau-balleroy.com