CHÂTEAU
DE CORMATIN
Grand Manor Spoils of Nobility in South Burgundy
This
moated chateau in the southern Burgundy region of central France has
some of the most sumptuous Louis XIII apartments in France outside
of Paris. Built between 1606 and 1625 on the foundations of an earlier
medieval fortress as the residence of the Marquis de Huxelles, a favorite
of the queen Marie de Medicis. The Marquis’ father Antoine du
Ble, Baron of Huxelles attained much of his wealth through the prizes
of his military campaigns on the side of the Catholics, the switching
sides captured the town of Tournus with a surprise river crossing,
making his land holdings one of the largest in Burgundy. He 
began
the reconstruction of the earlier building into the present Chateau
as
a symbol of his wealth and power. The chateau was completed by son
Jacques, and orgininally consisted of three residential wings, with
only one wing currently remaining, the others having fallen to fire
and an attempt to build a factory. But few signs of the industrial
age remain to spoil the beauty of this grand monument. The opulence
of aristocratic French nobility in the era of the “Three Musketeers” is
represented in the gold embossed wall decorations, the paintings, tapestries
and furniture of this classic mansion. The formal Baroque gardens of
box-wood and flowers with a maze and outdoor theater offer an opportunity
to feel the life of a French nobleman.
Cormatin
is a small village along the wine road of South Burgundy (Bourgogne)
about 15 minutes from Tournus with its medieval monastery (see Tournus
Abbey) between Lyon and Dijon. Where the northern Burgundy
appellations are noted
for red wines with the wine road almost a staight line (see Chateau
Marsannay - Route des Grand Crus), the southern Burgundy
wine growing region is a mat of winding country roads through the valley
of the Soane
River
and noted for its white wines. Not far from Cormatin is the village where
Chardonnay got its name.
Guided tours are available to the castle from March to November for € 8 for adults and € 5 for Students. Entrance to the gardens only is € 4. You can see some of the interior of the chateau as the doors to some of the lower apartments are left open, but the tour is necessary for the grand décor rooms. Group tours are also available. © Bargain Travel Europe
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Chateau de
Cormartin
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See Also:
BRANCION
MEDIEVAL CASTLE BOURGOGNE
VELO
MUSEUM SOUTHERN BURGUNDY
CHÂTEAU DE CHÂTEAUNEUF-EN-AUXOIS
LESLIE CARON'S HOTEL RESTAURANT BURGUNDY
CHATEAU LA MOTTE-TILLY - DANGEROUS LIASON
