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Wednesday 7 September 2011

A Quick Overview to Luxury French Chateaux

By Andre Boultaire


Chateaux are a typical feature through France. You will be surprised at only how many chateaux for sale there are in the country. In the event you are looking to invest in a French chateau, you need to necessarily have some concept about chateaux, and their varying consequential and architectural values.

In fact the word "chateau" is often misrepresented in English as "castles". This is largely as the two words sound similar. The French word "chateau" really signifies a country house and were built and resided in typically by folk belonging to the nobility. Chateaux also acted as forts, to protect the assets of the nobles.

Different methods have been utilized at various periods of time to construct these chateaux. Chateaux built prior the 12th century used a combination of timber and earthworkr. Many of these chateaux remain untouched, some dating as far back as the 10th century. After the 12th century, stone was the primary material employed in the development of the chateaux. There are numerous different examples of chateaux built during this period with their fortifications still untouched.

During the Renaissance period, new architectural styles poured into France, predominently from Italy. The Chateau de Chambord, situated in the Loire Valley, is perhaps the best example of design influenced by this Italian Renaissance period. Chateaux from the 15th century onwards show a fascinating mixture of the French medieval and Italian renaissance-style architecture. Some of the finest chateaux made in France include the ones at the Bordeaux, Loire Valley and the Vaux-le-Vicomte, not to mention the world-famous Chateau de Versailles.

The French Revolution and the fall of French aristocracy led to lots of the chateaux being deserted. As a consequence, a lot of them were in such a ruined state that they were in need of extensive rebuilding to be fit for living in again. Over the last few decades, an interest has been revived among both foreign investors and Frenchmen alike to save these pretty buildings, and a lot of them have been totally rebuilt to their past glory. You'll find chateaux for sale that are well redecorated as well as the ones that are in need of renovation.




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