Considered one of the most iconic examples of 18th-century French neoclassical architecture, the magnificent walled Chateau du Grand-Luce is a privately owned French National Landmark that recently underwent an extensive restoration by Architectural Digest “AD100” designer, Timothy Corrigan. On the edge of a charming village in the famed Loire Valley—one hour by train from Paris—stand gates which lead to the 74-acre estate’s formal courtyard. Directly behind the monumental façade of the chateau is a lake, forest, expansive gardens, and fields that are revealed only upon entry inside the estate. The 40,000-square-foot limestone chateau’s grand yet gracious interior boasts perfectly proportioned rooms that retain all of their original detailing: hand carved boiserie, limestone and parquet floors, 24 original stone fireplaces, and a salon painted by the 18th-century master, Jean-Baptiste Pillement. Major rooms on the ground floor include the grand salon, formal dining room, library, the Salon Chinois with original Pillement murals, master suite, and a fully equipped kitchen. An elevator goes directly to the garden level with stops on the ground and first floors. A grand tuffeau limestone staircase leads to the first floor that contains nine ensuite bedrooms; on the second floor reside another nine. Unfolding directly behind the chateau are the formal gardens, offering a series of interconnected spaces adorned with fountains, statuary, and a variety of flowers. At a lower elevation lies the exotic garden, surrounded by high walls that provide privacy when swimming in the circular pool. Located at the estate’s low elevation, a lake forms a soothing divide between the chateau’s fully landscaped grounds and the semi-wild meadow that rises gently from it. Swans, geese, and other wildlife are frequent visitors. The chateau’s forest is filled with some of the finest oaks to be found in France. Former stables have been converted into a theatre that can be used for conferences, concerts, and receptions. The chateau’s l’orangerie houses trees during the winter, but in warm months becomes the perfect place to host an informal dinner.
Chateau du Grand-Luce, Loire Valley, France
Offered at $14,200,000 Furnished