Loire Château: A French Fairy Tale Comes To Life
A remarkable French residence that is a perfect melding of grand Renaissance Revival and Neo-Gothic architectural styles and influences is now on offer just two hours south of Paris.
Among the staples of childhood fairy tales were grand castles in exotic locations, settings that added colour and fantasy to the stories. Perhaps these involved a damsel in distress, perhaps a princess, prince or even a dragon thrown in to add to the drama. These stories clearly were fairy tales, but they all sparked our imagination and our storytelling abilities as we fell asleep to dream of a fantasy world.
Those fairy tales have come to actual life at a remarkable residence, Loire Château, a mint- condition combination of Neo-Gothic and Neo- Renaissance architecture in Bourges, France, just two hours from Paris, that is now being offered for sale. (Price available upon request.) The château was designed by noted French architect Hippolyte-Alexandre-Gabriel-Walter Destailleur between 1887 and 1893, in the heart of the Sologne, a forested region that for centuries served as royal hunting grounds for France’s kings. The château was meticulously renovated by its current owners about about a decade ago, and they were careful to stay true to its original design.
Situated in the gorgeous French countryside, the estate’s 51 enclosed hectares were all designed by renowned 19th-century landscape gardener Henri Duchêne. His expertise in creating harmonious and picturesque outdoor spaces was instrumental in shaping the gardens and parkland to complement the impressive grandeur of the château.
“The Château Is A Truly Exceptional Property, Both For Its Breathtaking Neo- Renaissance Style And For Its Elegant, Sophisticated And Timeless Interior.”
The size and scale of this château is truly remarkable. It offers approximately 3,000 square metres of living space, including 25 breathtaking reception rooms. Thinking of inviting a few weekend guests? The château features no less than 21 bedrooms.
The sensation of opulence and grandeur is immediate and palpable as soon as one steps into the magnificent entrance hall with its spectacularly high ceilings, intricate and complex mouldings and stunning chandeliers. The hall leads to a formal main-floor reception room, a drawing room and a formal dining room. Also on the main floor is a chapel, a library, a chess room, a billiard room, a music room and a superb orangery commanding an open view of the surrounding manicured parkland.
Of course, the château also features many majestic fireplaces, exact replicas of those in King François 1st’s Royal Residence, as well as finely crafted furnishings and exquisite painted ceilings.
A main feature of the first level is the magnificent grand staircase leading to the three upper floors. The upper floors contain opulent features and spaces that include an 18th-century- style boudoir, a modern dressing room, a master apartment, and bedrooms in the Chinese and Gothic styles. All bedrooms and apartments feature beautifully appointed bathrooms boasting elegant decorative features.
The completely outfitted downstairs includes a fully equipped chef ’s kitchen, state-of-the-art wine cellar, pantries, two additional kitchens, a gym, a utility room, a coal cellar, several dumb- waiters and remarkably innovative system of transport trolleys.
Within the château’s extensive domain is a second smaller brick-and-stone neo-Louis XIII- style château built to be a guest house; after some renovation this building could provide further on-site accommodations. Also on the grounds is an elegant caretaker’s lodge.
The château is a truly exceptional property, both for its breathtaking Neo-Renaissance architectural style and for its elegant, sophisticated and timeless interior. Even in today’s busy, cluttered and sometimes confusing world, it’s comforting to know there is a place somewhere out there where fairy tales really do come true.
Luxury Portfolio International® collaborated with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products and Relevance International to present a curated capsule collection of residences inspired by DC’s Bruce Wayne and available via BruceWayneX.com. As such, the remarkable Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley near the city of Bourges, France, was selected as part of the limited-edition collection of properties.
