Chateau de Serrant has
a character which externally is formed by the use, as at the
chateau of Angers, of both the local dark schist and white
tufa. The difference here is that you have less of fortress
and more of a grand mansion.
Built over three different
centuries the Chateau de Serrant has somehow managed to keep a
unified look - and stood the test of time -a credit to its
creators and builders.
Charles de Brie was responsible for it's conception aided by the
drawings of Philibert Delorme who also has Fontainbleau to his
credit. Whichever view you take in of this lovely chateau you will
not be disappointed.
The chateau has
beautiful cellars that have been redesigned as kitchens and
medieval halls. You can take a tour of these with the rest
of the of the
chateau and view it's sumptuously furnished apartments displaying
the usual array of tapestries and works of art that befits such a
noble residence.
The staircase is a fine example of Renaissance
design and you will be equally impressed by this and first floor
ceilings as well as it's fine library - apparently housing over
12,000
volumes! You can also visit the Emperor Napoléon's bedroom though he
never actually slept in it! He did visit for a couple of
hours however.
Today the chateau de
Serrant is the private residence of Prince and Princess de
Merode-Waterloo (must be bit of history behind that name!)
who are descendants of the la Tromoille family who had
brought their own history to the place through the marriage
of the duke of Tromoille to Valentine Walsh in 1830. No not
French -- The Walsh family (from Ireland) who had taken
self-imposed exile to France due to their support for the
dethroned Stuarts of Scotland had bought the chateau in
1749.. A number of stories exist that he was given it as
reward for his support of the king against the English and
for providing the ship for Bonnie Prince Charlie to return
to Scotland for the 1745 uprising.
It was the Walsh dynasty that
created the English style gardens and it is their crest you
see on the chateau gates.
Opening times :
16 March to 30 June 2013 and 2 September to 11 November 2013
From Wednesday to Sunday: 1:30pm to 5:15 pm
Sundays and French Bank Holidays: 9:45 to 11:30 (guided tour at 10:30 & 11:30 am )
High Season: 1 July to 1 September 2013
Open every day 9:45 am to 5:15 pm
English Guided Tour at 10:30 a.m. - 15th July to 18th August Only
En
trance fee:
Adults: € 10.00
Children (under 18) + students: € 6.70
Family rate: € 32,00 (2 adults and 2 children and more over 15)
Children under 7 years old: free entry
External links:
Official website of the chateau.
Chateau Serrant on wikipedia
