Saturday at a Chateau

We have joined AVF (Accueil des Villes Francaises), an organization subsidized by the French government to help returning French and newly arriving foreign visitors get integrated into their new surroundings. It’s been a great way to meet people from all over the world. AVF also organizes social events and tours, among other things. Last Saturday we toured le Chateau de Dree. Since we don’t have a car, we were offered a ride by Yves and Angelika, two new friends via AVF.



On the way to the Chateau, we stopped in La Clayette to take a look at another chateau. This one was obviously used as a fort and even had a drawbridge! Here are some pix of the chateau; one shows David, Yves, and Angelika in front of it.

Fortified Chateau in La Clayette with David, Angelika, and Yves

Fortified chateau reflected in moat

Showing fortified causeway (and David)

Then we were off to the outskirts of Curbigny and le Chateau de Dree. The Chateau itself dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, and the current owner has done a magnificent job of furnishing it with 18th century furniture and objects d’art. This chateau includes a kitchen, butchery, ice-house, dovecote, stables (I counted room for at least 100 horses), and even a prison in addition to the accommodations for the family and their guests. Our guided tour included the kitchen, the chef’s quarters, a chapel, and several rooms in the main house. We were free to wander around the gardens and various buildings on the site on our own.

Here’s a bit of trivia for you! Did you know that owners of chateaux were required to have accommodations set aside for the king just in case he should drop in on them? No king made it to this chateau; the owner uses that bedroom as his own when he is in residence.


Here are some pictures of the interior of the chateau…

Note the parquet pattern in this bedroom

Formal Dining Room

Our AVF hostess had arranged for all of us to have lunch at an auberge near Chatenay after the tour.  And, what a lunch!  More info and pictures in the next posting.