|
| Château
de Courtomer
Département: Orne (61)
|
 |
|
| Château
de Courtomer, completed on the eve of the French
Revolution in 1789, is one of the last grand châteaux built in
France. On the site of an 11th century fortress of the Barons of
Courtomer who served the kings of France, the château was built
by the Marquis de Courtomer and his architect, Jean-Baptiste
Benoît de Blinnes favored by the royals. The Château
de Versailles inspired the design of Courtomer expressing the way of
life that ended in 1793 with the execution of Louis XVI. In the
Great Terror that followed, the owner of Courtomer and his family
escaped a similar fate and were freed. They returned to the
château in 1794 to continue its interior work and design. It was
soon pillaged in 1799, only to see the family return yet another time
with the rise to power of Napoléon. In fact, the Marquis,
Antoine de Saint-Simon, became the chamberlain to Empress Marie-Louise,
Napoléon Bonaparte's second wife. In the 1600s the barons had served France in wars, and Jean-Antoine de Saint-Simon and four of his sons died in battle. There is a Protestant temple on the grounds, serving as a monument to the soldiers who saved it from destruction after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1687. The five are buried beneath the temple's pavement. Today, it is locally known as the 'habitable', and had been turned into a pigeonnier and later into stables. The current owners are restoring its roof and windows to return it to its former glory. Château de Courtomer offers self-catering weekly rentals as well as facilities for large group gatherings, seminars, meetings and, of course, weddings. The spacious and elegant Orangerie is perfect for dancing and wedding meals, and, when requested, a marquee can be set up in the parc for formal occasions. The proprietors will be happy to arrange personalized services, an on-site chef, area tours, hot-air balloon rides, wine tastings and more. The estate is vast with a beautiful parkland nestled in the Orne region of Normandy, only two and a half hours drive from Paris. It is situated along an ancient Roman road leading north to the English Channel. With an early Christian history, missionaries left monasteries in Normandy to Christianize the Saxon and Danish invaders of England, preceding 1066 when the Norman dukes became the English kings. The recently renovated Farmhouse, just a short stroll from the Château, provides additional accommodations for eight to ten people, and it is available as a separate, self-catering rental. Literature became the passion of the Saint-Simon family in the 19th century when the orphan Leontine, heiress to the last Marquis of Courtomer, married Astolphe Louis-Leonor, the Marquis de Custine who was a writer and a friend of Honoré de Balzac and François-René de Châteaubriand, father of the French Romantic movement. Châteaubriand became the godfather to Leontine and Astolphe's son. The château changed hands among other family members over the years. In 2005 it was purchased by the current American owners who have lovingly updated and restored the château. Courtomer is a magnificent château and country home offering guests fifteen en suite bedrooms, all of which can be offered with queen-size beds, a grand entrance foyer and sweeping staircase, an elegant dining hall, a smaller more intimate dining room for ten, a fine modern kitchen, two comfortable salons for relaxation, a library with fireplace, an 18th century gentlemen's smoking room, a Catholic chapel in the château and the aforementioned Protestant temple undergoing restoration on the grounds. The Orangerie has a stone chimney and French doors. There is also an intact 18th century ice house, a spring house, stables and an active farm on the estate. In addition to the Orangerie, there is a smaller private meeting room in the château. Guests will experience true French château life at Château de Courtomer. They will appreciate that it has been decorated in appropriate period antiques and furnishings in keeping with its 18th century architecture, aristocratic heritage and important family history. Family reunions, gatherings of friends, and celebrations such as anniversaries and weddings will all find Château de Courtomer the perfect venue in beautiful Normandy. * * * Book this lovely château by contacting au Château and mention 'Courtomer' in the subject line. * * * |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
| Guest
Rooms |
Dining
and Cuisine |
The
Château & Park |
Salon
&
Library |
Orangerie
& Farmhouse |
