My oldest son grab a brochure from the last place we were, Vignobles Marchais (see post), and saw a castle knowing that I love castles !!! So it was close by and we headed for it. This is a follow up post as again found me older pictures not in my blog that should be My belle France is amazing and each day it grows on you. Let me tell you more of the Château de Goulaine ,part II !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
The Château de Goulaine is located in the town of Haute-Goulaine in the immediate vicinity of the marshes of Goulaine, in the department 44 Loire-Atlantique and in the region of Pays de la Loire of my belle France.
There are wonderful rooms and gardens to see here some of these are the Red room or Salon Rouge 17C, to the big room or Grand Salon 16C, the kitchen 15C, curiosity room or cabinet des curiosités, The King’s bedroom or chambre du roi in Louis XIV style, the French gardens the tour des Archives, and cour du Grand logis inner courtyard, are all magnificent.
The King’s Room was established in the pavilion dating from the 17C, this room closed to the public since 1958, would have welcomed Louis XIV when he came to Nantes in 1661, for the arrest of his Superintendent of Finances, Nicolas Fouquet. This unique piece is the result of successive decorations, over time styles have changed, generations have succeeded each other in this bright living space where beauty is timeless. The Cabinet of Curiosities is from the 16C, some of the owners began to collect and exhibit in specific places rare, scientific, exotic and precious objects, which they brought back from travels. The desire was really to show as many spectacular and curious objects as possible.
Les Cuisines or kitchens from the 15C ,whether in free or guided tours, observe the exhibition of fruits and vegetables evoking the market gardening tradition, in the authentic setting of the old kitchens. Have fun around workshops-games on the theme of cereals or around a medieval quiz.
You have a large one-km driveway lined with lime trees leads to the castle and an esplanade planted with hundred-year-old trees of great variety. The two-hectares French-style garden was redesigned and landscaped in 1969, and during the same period 14,000 box trees were planted.
In a way sad, but hoping for the best, the Goulainais’ owners had put the 3,500 m2 castle and its 7 ha of park and French-style garden up for sale since 2014, a heritage put up for sale at 4.5 million euros. After a thousand years in the same family, the Château de Goulaine has changed hands !!! The transition was done early in 2023 , and now belongs to Hervé Lecesne, a wealthy Parisian industrialist, president of Nactis, a group specializing in aromatic ingredients. Already owner of a castle in Normandy and a private mansion in the city center of Nantes. A catering offer is also being studied. But “no hotel business”. As for communication, it will be reinforced with a “new website” and a “tourist guide”. Thirty generations of Goulaine have succeeded in this property. The last of the Goulaine will be the one who sold the castle. It’s a page that turns. « It was not easy to find a buyer for this type of property. But I think we managed to find someone who will preserve it, » said Christophe de Goulaine. I read the new owner will keep it open to the public and will renovate the butterflies pavilion as well !
The Official Château de Goulaine: http://www.chateaudegoulaine.fr/
The Nantes tourist office on the castle: https://www.levoyageanantes.fr/en/places/chateau-de-goulaine/
There you have it folks, another jewel in the Loire in my belle France , and only a couple hours from me. The Château de Goulaine is a must to visit !! Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Château de Goulaine ,part II !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 