From elegant city homes to lavishly embellished Châteaux, France boasts luxurious properties in all sizes and styles. The aristocratic residences round Paris and the Loire Valley are internationally well-known, however high-end homes pop up all around the nation. Gillian Thornton explores a few of the most fascinating architectural jewels of France.
Romans and Medieval
Luxurious residing didn’t begin with the Renaissance. Within the golden age of the Roman Empire, well-to-do residents lived in sprawling villas with intricate mosaic flooring and inside courtyards. Think about their way of life via artefacts and reconstructions at NarboVia museum in Narbonne in Occitanie; amongst the Roman stays at Vaison La Romaine in Provence; and on the museum and archeological website of Saint-Romain-en-Gal within the Rhône Valley.
When the Romans left, requirements slipped a bit, however by the Center Ages, many French fortresses included snug flats for the lord and girl of the manor. Uncover the every day lifetime of the Dukes of Normandy at Falaise Fort, birthplace of William 1 of England, via computer-generated photographs and movies.
Nor did you need to be a duke to be snug. The 14th century Donjon de Bours in Pas de Calais is a sandstone tower home with six turrets fringed by the stays of the unique moat. A uncommon instance of a knight’s residence, the inside show exhibits every day life throughout the Hundred Years Battle between England and France.
Residing it up by the Loire
However the huge surge in grand residences started within the late 15th century with the beginning of the French Renaissance, impressed by the artwork and tradition motion in Italy. French kings started to construct royal palaces within the Loire Valley, preferring to spend their time within the clear air and countryside fairly than in Paris. And the place royalty went, so the aristocracy adopted, constructing luxurious properties of their very own.
Favorite residence of seven kings and ten queens, the Royal Château at Blois is the proper introduction to the French monarchs and their way of life with its 4 wings from totally different intervals. Expertise the inside kinds via augmented actuality on a HistoPad pill, additionally out there on the Château de Chambord. Commissioned by 16th century King François I as a celebration palace, this huge turreted fort was solely furnished when the monarch arrived to host looking events and balls. Louis XIV stayed at Chambord within the 17th century and in the present day the Royal Residences are embellished in 18th century model.
Each Loire Valley Château, massive and small, has its personal USP. The Château de Cheverny, for example, has at all times been occupied, so its ornate inside comprises furnishings and collectables from many alternative intervals. Extra modest in measurement however totally magical with its turrets and moat, the fairy story fort of Azay-le-Rideau celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2025.
And the Renaissance exterior of Château de Candé hides an early 20th century inside commissioned by American industrialist Charles-Eugène Bedaux. Stone balcony look acquainted? Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor married at Candé in 1937, posing for images on the high of the outside stairs. Step inside to go to the scene of this historic wedding ceremony and uncover the secrets and techniques of Wallis’s wardrobe.
Grand Designs
Maybe inevitably, the most important properties cluster across the capital, some constructed from scratch, others the results of main remodelling throughout the centuries. Some had royal house owners, others imperial, while a number of grand homes personified the aspirations of upwardly cellular house owners, reminiscent of Nicolas Fouquet, Finance Minister to the younger Louis XIV.
Fouquet held a lavish celebration at his new residence, Vaux le Vicomte, set in an extravagant landscaped park south-east of Paris, however removed from being impressed, his royal boss was insanely jealous. Fouquet was imprisoned on fraud costs and Louis employed Fouquet’s architect and backyard designer to construct him one thing even higher, the palace we now know as Versailles, west of the capital.
The ‘Solar King’ commissioned an unlimited palace and park, the last word in 17th century bling as befitted a style-obsessed courtroom that adopted the monarch’s each whim. Something however homely in ambiance, it’s nonetheless certainly one of France’s must-see Châteaux. So too is the Palace of Fontainebleau, a royal residence from the Center Ages to the 19th century. Renaissance king François 1 turned the city’s medieval fort into an Italianate royal palace that grew to become an Imperial palace after the Revolution and, in 1814, was the scene of Napoleon 1’s abdication.
North of Paris, the huge Château of Compiegne additionally had a royal pedigree, constructed by Louis XV and Louis XVI, however remodelled beneath Napoleon I and Napoleon III. Go to the lavish flats of the First and Second Empire that include most of the unique furnishings and picture your self as one of many 100 visitors invited each autumn by Napoleon III for a month of looking, excursions and concert events.
Additional afield
There are sufficient castles round Paris and the Loire to thrill essentially the most enthusiastic heritage fan, however each area has its personal fascinating properties. Between Paris and la Loire, the valley of le Loir is residence to the luxurious Château du Lude, a medieval fortress that was remodeled right into a Renaissance stately residence and additional enhanced within the 18th and 19th centuries. Owned by the identical household for greater than 260 years, the home, backyard and park provide an actual household time out.
Normandy too is wealthy in trendy properties, some containing sudden gems. The elegant 18th century Château de Vendeuvre homes the most important assortment of miniature furnishings on the planet, displayed in scale-model room units. Greater than 700 small items together with inlaid wardrobes, grandfather clocks and even an ornate cat mattress.
Different properties have distinctive tales to inform. In 1386, Château de Carrouges was the scene of the final authorized duel ordered by the Excessive Courtroom of Justice in Paris, a narrative of honour delivered to the massive display by Ridley Scott in his 2021 film The Final Duel starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Jodie Comer.
And the Château d’Eu on the Normandy coast was the favorite summer time residence of King Louis-Philippe. Right here he twice welcomed Queen Victoria, first British monarch to go to France since Henry VIII. Go to the historic scene of the primary entente cordiale and stroll via the park and formal gardens.
Fascinating plots
Châteaux often stood in massive, wooded parks, however some are famend for the dimensions and intricacy of their formal gardens. Villandry within the Loire Valley is internationally well-known, replanted within the early 20th century to showcase French backyard artwork throughout the ages via seven themed gardens. Anticipate geometric planting, topiary, water options and an entire lot extra.
And on the Château de Chenonceau, recall the lives of two royal women as you stroll amongst the topiary and flowers. Two contrasting gardens had been created within the 16th century for Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henri II, and later by his spouse Catherine de’ Medici who reclaimed the Château from Diane on her husband’s dying. Floral shows contained in the Château are all assembled from home-grown blooms.
However few fort gardens get pleasure from fairly as a lot sunshine because the pink and white Belle Epoque property of Château d’Ephrussi de Rothschild. Overlooking the Mediterranean at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, its lavish inside is matched by 9 themed gardens the place fountains dance to music and each flip within the path presents a brand new view. Home and backyard envy off the dimensions!
By Gillian Thornton, one of many UK’s main journey writers and an everyday author for The Good Life France Journal and web site.
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