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What was once a 9th century Viking fortress, is now
the stunning Château L'Isle-Marie and its enchanting 17th century
Manoir, located in the heart of the Norman countryside, close to famous
Sainte Mère Eglise and the D-Day beaches,
an excellent base from
which to explore the attractions of the region.
Château de
l'Isle-Marie is a French country-style place to get away from it
all,
nestled in a hundred-acre park, that has everything guests could wish
for. Meadows and woodlands that invite promenades. Six antiques-filled
guest rooms
with either four-poster or canopy beds incorporating textiles rich in
colour and
design,
folded into a neo-Renaissance castle. Three apartments in a 17th-century
manor house with toile de Jouy bed-curtains sewn by the chatelaine (a
countess) herself. Even an Italianate chapel designed by Mansart, the
architect of Versailles. Sumptuous drawing rooms provide a luxurious retreat at any
time. Guests may enjoy morning coffee, afternoon tea, pre-dinner cocktails or
after-dinner drinks - or simply fall asleep in
the armchairs. In warm weather, the terrace is a fine spot to relax,
over-looking the gardens and the marais or simply the Norman sunsets that can be spectacular.
In winter the fields around the castle flood,
creating the illusion of a lake, a magical landscape of sky and water. In the evenings a log fire is set, and
guests may relax and enjoy browsing the extensive library of art books or
listening to music from an eclectic selection of records and CDs, or from the grand piano
that occupies a corner of the drawing
room.
With an atmosphere that is intimate: refined but relaxed, guests at
L'Isle-Marie are regarded as friends rather than mere residents, and
will be happy to spend some days of
leisure in an artistic and historical setting or maybe find romance rekindled in an atmosphere of blissful peace and
tranquility. |
