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CHÂTEAU LE BREUIL
5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & shower room (sleeps 11 + baby)
A little History... Louis Combes, the successor of the great architect Victor Louis, who designed and built most of Bordeaux at the time, rebuilt the château in 1790 in the same Neo Palladian style for Napoleon's composer and 1st violinist, Pierre Rode. He also designed the beautiful Grand Théatre in Bordeaux and the famous staircase at the Opéra de Paris. There are many similarities between Le Breuil and Château Margaux, another of Louis houses, notably about the entrance and the cornices.
Rode's lover at the time was Giuseppina Grassini, a very beautiful soprano known as La Grassini, who was also Napoleon's mistress. Later she went to England and became Wellington's lover. History does not record whether she entertained both men at Le Breuil at the same time!
Pierre Rode La Grassini
Le Breuil is 5 kms from the market town of Marmande, within reach of the Buzet, Duras and St Emilion vineyards and set in seven hectares of park and garden, entered through beautiful wrought iron gates. Bordeaux is 40 minutes from the Château, the airport in Bergerac in the Dordogne, is 50 minutes.
The House
Very much a family home, being there feels as though you are walking back in time. Much of the interior is quite original and still has the Regency style décor and lovely old patterned tiled floors. Do not expect pure luxury; but do expect to be inspired with awe!
After arriving at Chateau Le Breuil, climbing the steps, you enter through the main entrance into the colonnaded grand entrance hall with a magnificent and elegant stone staircase winding up to the first floor.
From the hall, passages lead to the Grand Salon, the terrace overlooking the grounds, the Petit Salon and the Dining Room.
The large living room, the Le Grand Salon, boasts a striking marble fireplace, magnificent book cases and period furniture. The French windows lead out onto the long terrace which overlooks the park providing a stunning vista.
Le Petite Salon is ideal for the younger guests as it is the home of the television, DVD player and music centre. Guests are welcome to bring their own DVDs and CDs. Wi-fi available.
Across the passage from Le Grand Salon is the spectacular Dining Room featuring solid oak dining table capable of seating up to twelve persons. Everywhere you look you can see an amazing selection of antiques and pieces of history.
There is a large kitchen which includes a cooker with five gas rings and a large oven, a large refrigerator and deepfreeze, micro-wave oven, dishwasher and washing machine as well as various other appliances plus a breakfast table and chairs.
The main staircase climbs to the 1st floor landing and is dominated by two large modern paintings. From there landing you have an impressive view of the entrance hall. There are four bedrooms, bathroom and shower room and separate WC on the 1st floor.
The master bedroom, which features a Charles X sleigh bed, overlooks the front garden and entrance to the Château. This room has an en-suite bathroom.
Two of the other bedrooms on the 1st floor are twin bedded and overlook the park at the back of the Château. The fourth bedroom on the 1st floor, between the two twins and also overlooking the park at the back, features a 19th Century four poster double bed.
Finally, there is another bedroom on the ground floor wing of the Château and a bathroom and separate WC.
The Gardens
