Château Shopping (no. 9)
We do not love it and are not quite sure why… Or are we?
It is really hard to believe that it was one year ago that we held our going away soirée at the Mill District in Healdsburg California… the best laid plans! In rapid fire succession we are viewing property after property after property in the next five days. It began with the viewing of a property we were not really sure we wanted to see, but we are so desperate to see potential homes that we agreed to go. The Château we viewed, although impressive in many ways, with beautiful grounds, and a fabulous façade, (Bonnie Jean I just snickered!) this castle was simply trying too hard. A mid nineteenth century castle (1855) that to us, was not sincere, or organic, but more like a movie set built to leave the viewer in awe and dazzled by the bulging of the coin purse… Someone else will adore it and I will understand why, but for us… the glitter did not sparkle, and please do not look behind the curtain! the wizard is very plain and drab indeed.
I will give this Château a blue ribbon for having the best ceiling medallions (ceiling rose to the Brits) I have ever seen in my life. The photographs will not begin to capture the reality of them. All of the medallions in the public rooms were upwards of six to seven feet in diameter and up to eighteen inches in depth, massive works of art in plaster that were more incredible because their sheer size and lack of encrusted decoration. I was so drawn to the medallions that my photographs were almost solely of them, and once we left the public rooms, I realized later, I had stopped taking pictures. Fortunately Phillip had continued to photograph.
I had stopped taking pictures because the magic had disappeared. An entrance hall, a salon, a dining room, and a dark and moody staircase, all picture worthy and then either the money ran out, or we go back to the sentiment above, iced to impress! A coating of fancy that disappeared once you stepped beyond the curtain. (there actually was a curtain!) I have heard it said that when visiting a French persons home that it is acceptable to visit the toilet to partake in its reason for existence, but keeping in mind that toilets are mostly separate from the room of bathing and hand washing, it would rude to visit the Salle de Bain (the room of washing). That concept is this Château. Beyond the places that it is acceptable for a guest to go the trimmings disappear, the fireplaces are reduced to simple and small, the wonderful ceiling treatments do not exist, plain, and unremarkable abounds.
Then came the 1950’s and the first round of… renovations… followed by what apears to be the 1990’s and then even more recent. The Château has been mostly used as an “entire Château” rental focused on weddings, and consequently the renovations have been focused on cramming in as many bedrooms and bathrooms as they possibly could. (in that “oh so European style” I did not say dirty and nasty out loud!, that was inside voice I swear!)
Let’s begin with the spaces I would love for you to feel free exploring…
Château de Seyre
And then the areas that the Butler would definitely question your presence!…
I think it goes without saying that the Fairytale should be an immersion experience without those moments of “please keep looking to the left” as you waltz the evening away. If there are rooms you are not supposed to be, and you can’t help yourself and as you slowly open the door, I will make sure they are full of dusty, fantastical, ancient treasures that are begging to be touched and examined. Behind those doors will be exactly what you hoped you find!
I have said it before, and I will say it again… the search goes on! La Serpent will finally happen on Saturday, followed by a visit to multiple castles in Le Berry, which is five hours north of here. But in the mean time there is a small rumor running around that we are drawing up an offer, but please don’t tell anyone I told you!