CHÂTEAUX 2019 THE GUIDE


The Château de l’Islette was once the secret love nest of sculptors Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin – and now you can fall head over heels with it too


stepping right out of the pages of history to welcome you to her home! www.chateau-hautefort.com


Château de Joux (Haut-Doubs) If it’s drama you’re after, look no further. This brooding fortress in the Jura Mountains looks like a Lord of the Rings backdrop, looming high and mighty over the Cluse de Pontarlier and surrounded by jutting cliffs and forests. Just shy of 1,000 years old, the Château de Joux was built to defend important trade routes through the valley, although it wasn’t always a stronghold. During the 18th and 19th centuries it served as a bleak state prison, its most famous inhabitant being the revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, who tragically died behind bars here. Today, visitors can follow a guided tour en français (brush up before you go!), lasting over an hour, of the fort’s main points of interest – from the courtyard to the


dungeon. Get ready to learn about the fate of Joux’s many hapless prisoners. www.chateaudejoux.com


Château de la Hunaudaye (Côtes-d’Armor)


A far cry from the bustling Loire Valley, you’ll find this medieval fortress in a tranquil corner of northern Brittany. As with most


castles built in the Middle Ages, it was created to defend – in this case, the eastern border of the Penthièvre territory. Sadly, the château was reduced to rubble in a civil war, before a heroic revival in the late 1300s, which saw the introduction of its trademark circular towers. Eventually, at the tail end of the 15th century, it became a


symbol of the Tournemine family’s new-found power and status, cementing itself as a prestigious regional landmark. Compact, easy to navigate, steeped in local history and located in the devastatingly beautiful Côtes-d’Armor département – plus, just €5.50 a pop for adults – the Château de la Hunaudaye makes for a fine family outing. www.la-hunaudaye.com/en


Château de l’Islette (Indre-et-Loire)


Château de Hautefort offers superlative views of the Lourde and Beuze valleys


“Through the trees in the distance, I see the tortuous course of the Indre, and an ancient château, flanked by towers,” wrote Beaumarchais in 1769. Indeed, the first thing you’ll notice about the Château de l’Islette is its captivating beauty: the glowing white tufa limestone; flower-bedecked walkways; dancing reflections cast in the moat. But there’s more than meets the eye to this leafy oasis, for it was also


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IMAGES © CHÂTEAU DE L’ISLETTE, CHÂTEAU DE HAUTEFORT


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