I am ending this series of Loire chateaux with La Ferté-Saint-Aubin. It’s my favorite of the three, not so much because of the chateau itself, although it’s beautiful, but because of the young, energetic owner, Lancelot Guyot (is that not the perfect name for an owner of a 17th century chateau?).
Before I say more about Lancelot, here’s a brief history of the chateau. Although there is a history of the family from the Middle Ages, the current chateau was constructed in the late 17th century for Henri de Saint-Nectaire, who was a general and a diplomat. The chateau was later sold to different owners over the next three centuries, and in 1987, Jacques Guyot bought the chateau from his brother Michel, and opened it to the public to help fund the restoration and renovation.
Fast forward to 2016, when his son Lancelot, who had gone to business school and started a web company, became bored and wanted a more challenging career. He bought the chateau from his father with the desire to do something innovative, rather than just retain the chateau as an historic monument.
I met the dashing Lancelot, who I believe is in his early 30s, with sandy blond hair and blue eyes, as he was busily setting up the chateau for a live rock concert that night. As busy as he was, Lancelot was kind enough to personally give me a tour of the chateau and share his vision for the future of it. His desire is to transform the chateau experience, which usually caters to an older visitor, into a living, breathing place, which young people and children can also enjoy. His ideas (some of which are already in place) include fun activities visitors can participate in.
On site games are a big part of the activities, taking place inside the chateau and the in the gardens and forest. They include the Escape Game, where a team of guests are locked in the chateau and have 60 minutes to escape while finding clues and solving puzzles, and the Poison Trail, which dates back from 1682, when there was a rash of poisonings of the royals and the aristocracy under the reign of King Louis XIV, and participants have two hours to either to create their own poison or choose to solve the mystery of poisoner. Every year the chateau sponsors a giant murder mystery where participants try and solve a murder in the chateau and for 2021, the name of the hunt is The Case of the Suitors.
Sir Lancelot
The inside of the chateau has fifteen, sumptuously decorated rooms open to the public. Unlike most other chateaus which have the rooms roped off, many of the rooms of Chateau La Ferté-Saint-Aubin are unencumbered and embrace people using the furniture and using the rooms. When Lancelot explained that to me, I jokingly said “May I take a nap” on the four-poster bed in front of me, and he replied “Why not? On the second floor is a large game room where guests are invited to stay and play. The attic rooms, which were once the servant’s quarters, now have tools and ancient industrial objects from local artisans.
Chateau La Ferté-Saint-Aubin also likes to make use of its kitchen and in summer a specialty of the chateau, Madeleines with honey, are baked in the oven, while visitors can learn how the old kitchen operated and they can also participate in a Madeleine making lesson, where they receive a copy of the secret recipe.
Pavillon de Cerfs (serfs’ quarters) is an historic building on the property turned into a cottage for rent with five bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining room, and three bathrooms. The chateau also has a beautifully decorated space for wedding receptions.
CLICK HERE to watch the video on Facebook I did for Atout France last month that includes footage of my interview with Lancelot.
Did you like Loire Valley Château Week?
https://www.chateau-ferte.com/fr/
Looks very Downton Abbey
Game room\
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