Hotel de Camberonne

Overview

Hôtel de Camberonne (also called Château de Camberonne locally) is the northern estate of Marquise Éloïse de Camberonne, located on the northern hills overlooking Lyon. It is a grand aristocratic residence restored to opulence after the Revolution and serves as the venue for one of Lyon’s most important social events: the Ball at Château de Camberonne in July 1814.

Location & Geography

• Location: Northern hills of Lyon, overlooking the Saône
• Distance: Approximately 30–45 minutes’ carriage from the city center
• Setting: Perched on elevated terrain with clear views over the valley
• Accessibility: Well-maintained carriage roads; formal approach

Architecture & Grounds

Exterior

• Stone Façade: Gleaming stone, restored to its pre-Revolutionary grandeur
• Windows: Dozens of candles and crystal chandeliers visible from outside
• Grounds: Formal gardens, manicured lawns, wrought-iron gates
• Atmosphere: Hundreds of candles and lights create an almost ethereal glow at night

Interior

• Grand Ballroom: Central feature; gilded, mirrored, lit by ten chandeliers
• Portraits: Ancestral paintings of nobles (many guillotined during Terror) hang on freshly papered walls
• Orchestra Alcove: Elevated stage for live musicians
• Side Rooms: Multiple chambers for gambling, poetry recitations, conversational salons
• “Scandal Chamber”: Veiled room where secret alliances and affairs occur
• Dining Rooms: For formal refreshment
• Servants’ Passages: For efficient staff movement

The July Ball

The Ball at Château de Camberonne (July 3, 1814, evening) is a major social event featuring:

• Grand Entrance Parade: New arrivals formally announced
• Dance Program: Waltzes, quadrilles, scandal-inducing Volta
• Conversational Salons: Poetry, music critique, political gossip
• Impromptu Recitals: Guests may perform for acclaim or ridicule
• Atmosphere: Beauty, unease, and foreshadowing of supernatural elements

Key NPCs Present

• Marquise Éloïse de Camberonne — Hostess, Order sympathizer
• Mathilde Savarin — Guest of honor; magnetic, mysterious
• Colonel Étienne Moreau — Veteran, potential ally
• Viscount Adrien de Montferand — Old friend of Émeric; romantic interest
• Commissaire Jules Delaroche — Police commissioner, visibly terrified
• Abbé Duplessis — Order contact, quietly facilitating conversations
• Luc Fouchard — Savarin’s enforcer, identifiable by blue sash
• Various Lyon Aristocracy — Officers, magistrates, priests, courtiers

Role in Campaign

The Ball is the investigators’ formal entrance into Lyon society and their first direct encounter with Savarin. It serves as:

• Recruitment ground for identifying allies
• Intelligence gathering opportunity
• Social navigation challenge
• Setting for the Blue Sash Incident (minor violence)
• Witness to collapse of servant (mysterious death)
• Moment of Savarin’s silent recognition of the party

Connections to Other Files

• Marquise Eloise de Camberonne — Hostess
• Mathilde Savarin — Guest of honor
• Colonel Henri Moreau — Attendee
• Commissaire Jules Delaroche — Attendee
• Abbe Etienne Duplessis — Attendee/facilitator
• Lyon — The ball scene is a centerpiece of this chapter