Bonnefont.Castle@Gmail.com
Rear of Castle at sun set
"Bonnefont" Castle-Fort, Limoges Neuvelle-Aquitaine, France
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IDEAL FOR WEDDINGS AND GATHERING.
Escape to BONNEFONT Castle, also known as Chateau Du GRAND BONNEFONT, and Chateau de Saint-Just-Le- Martel.
It is nothing like a luxury Intercontinental Hotel, a small but clean Ibis Budget Motel, let alone a rambling manor house. The castle has 6 levels, a total of 7642 square feet, 9 bedroom/suites, accommodating up to 24 guests, 4 bathrooms and 1 guest half bathroom. Bonnefond is a true medieval castle-fort with up to 7 foot thick walls, 7 foot to 14 foot high curtain walls, iron bared front and side doors, adaptive escape tunnel, with electronic security on front gate and castle entrances. The castle is easy to reach. it's next to
porcelain Golf Club, and 4.9 miles east of Limoges which offers train service, International air transportation, with major car rentals available, and all providing transportation to the many attractions of France.
CHATEAU defined, and LOCATION
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a French “Chateau” as “A castle, fortress… or stately residence,” (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/chateau). Thus, a French chateau may be an old stone built property, a royal residence, palace, a fortified manor, or a military fort. This small chateau-fort is listed on French maps as “LE GRAND BONNEFONT” (the place of great water): The road paralleling the estate is appropriately named the Route de Chateau D'Eau (castle of water). The castle is view-able on Google Earth near the commune and church of Saint-Just-Le-Martel, population of 2343, located eight miles by road east of Limoges and once a border to the Bonnefond estate.
CASTLE HISTORY
Bonnefont castle and estate, originally with its 6422.26 acres, dates from the "the 14th century," the medieval period of Europe. “A document, formerly in the office of The Marie (Mayor) of Saint-Just-Le-Martel attested to its antiquity.” The chateau-fort, originally with two towers and now only one tower, was one of several small forts built by the French military to protect the two towns of Limoges, "the City and the Chateau,” which are directly a mile and a half away. The "towns" overlook the strategic Vienne river trade rout. Close by is the town of Saint-Just-Le-Martel where Bonnefond was garrisoned by French troupes for three centuries to help protect the region.
The town of Limoges is North of Bordeaux and South of Paris. It is the capital of Limousine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limousin) in the French Region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The city proper was founded by the Romans as “Augustorium,” circa, 10BC: This was a result of Limoges’ strategic location below the Loire River which marks the start of the southern half of France. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limoges)
“In the mid 1600’s, the castle became inhabited by the Sieur (a French knight given charge of a castle) Lord de Bonnefont, surnamed
‘des Maisons,’ prenom 'Louis,' a lieutenant of the kings ‘Light horses.’ The king Louis XIII sent Lt. (des) Maisons to fight on the island of Re’ to protect royal relatives from the English: The (Des) Maisons of Bonnefont family were a branch of the Capetian dynasty of Francia. A Bonnefont ancestor was advanced to the feudal rank of Viscount. The Des Maisons family's founder, Louis, distinguished himself gallantly and the king awarded him with the rank of "Sieur" in July 1628. Lt. Louis des Maisons then became Sir Louis, Lord of Bonnefont ("pas de seigneur sans terre, pas de terre sans seigneur," thence a feudal Seigniorial property, and received a coat of arms: "Silver with a green oak tree, two houses to its side, which are topped by two green stars," with manorial , not noble, coronet of rank (in French: ‘d’argent a un chene de sinople accoste de deux maisons de gueules surmontees de deux etoiles de sinopleen chef’).”
Bonnefont’s gate house dates from “1616.” Its underground vault has an "artesian spring" which still provides water to parts of the castle grounds. The vault was reportedly built as a reservoir from a spring, and later used as a wine cellar. After the French Revolution, in 1799, the chateau required extensive work. Repairs were completed using portions of the granite curtain wall surrounding the castle and one of the two towers. This was a common practice during the late Middle Ages when damaged castles and curtain walls provided heavy granite building material. The remaining curtain walls are seven to fourteen feet high near “dependencies.”
In the 1800’s the castle was modernized into a livable family manor house with numerous rooms and fireplaces. Additional windows covered with iron security bars were added to the lower floors. Windows in upper floors were enlarged to provide more light for the interior and to assist as requiredn in moving furniture in and out. The medieval age “guardrobes,” (water closets) that once protruded from the walls of the castle are now sealed shut (the outline of two guardrobes can still be identified high up the wall's of the castle): The guardrobes were eventually replaced by “modern” bathrooms with indoor running water. The water was pumped from a well, recently the residence of frogs.
The castle's water conduit also provided an escape tunnel located in the castle’s lower “vault.” It is only reachable by steep granite stairs. The tunnel has partially collapsed. The lower portion of the vault had been filled in with rubble and blocked by a platform. That platform has been removed and the vault and tunnel has been partially excavated by removing the a ton of rubble. The excavation exposed one of many tunnels on the property which require further excavated and stabilizion in order to once again be useful for irrigation and emergency exit from the castle as well.
CASTLE, REGIONAL AMENITIES, Things to SEE and DO
The current estate covers nearly three manicured acres surrounded by rich farm lands divided by rows of mature trees with occasional farms and villas. A quarter mile away, as the crow fly's, is the world class golf course of Porcelaine. www.golf-porcelaine.com. It is viewable from the top floor of the castle, but only after leaves have fallen in autumn from surrounding trees.
“Limoges, with its historic cathedral, museums, medieval center, local palaces, castles, and forts of Rochechouart, Montburn, Coussac-Bonneval, Pompadour, and the recreational lakes of Saint Pardoux and Vassiviere, all offer a variety of fun exploration. The wineries of Limousin produce world class Mille et Une Pierres, Vin Paille, and Verneueuil Rose wines. The neighboring Departments of Correze, Dordogne, Charente, are equally interesting and can be reached by auto, bus or train in 45 minutes to 3 hours, depending on attraction. Besides famous historical sites, a world-class golf course, and superb French cuisine. There is a river for canoeing, fishing, bicycling, and hiking. Necessary equipment rentals are available during the summer along the river and in the city.
The city of Limoges, with a population of 142,000, has several colleges. The largest is the University of Limoges, founded in 848 CE and currently has over 14,000 students: 3,600 students are postgraduates with over 1,600 in doctoral programs of Medicine “school founded in 1626,” Law, Theology, “Computer Engineering,” and The Arts. The University maintains active educational programs for English speaking students. The University also has foreign exchange programs.
LIMOUSINE, is now the northern portion of NEW AQUITAINE
Limousine, with a population of over 860,000, has absorbed its artistic and cultural heritage from a rich religious and military past. From wars fought between the Roman Empire, circa 100 to 400 CE, and various “barbarian hordes,” to the Hundred Year War, 1337 to 1453, fought between the French and English, to the “Great Wars” of the last century. These wars waxed back and fourth over the Loire River. The most significant European wars of the feudal period were fought between the Dukes of Aquitaine (later, the kings of England), and the catholic kings of France: Both factions trying to solicit the support of the Viscounts of Limoges because the viscounts controlled a major trade route and waterway in Southern France.
One of the most famous, if not infamous, kings of England during this period was Richard The Lion Heart. Limousine is considered the center of Richard’s historic route through France. This venture ended with “Richard R’s” death by a “bolt” shot by a young crossbowman at the siege of the bastion of the Viscounts of Limoges, the Chateau Chalus-Chabrol. Bonnefont is near this historic route as well as being on the pilgrims’ trail to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. This is where the relics of “Sainti Jacobi” are believed by many of the faithful to be interred. “Scallop Shells” once in bold relief in the castle outer structure are now only recognizable as carved into the ancient oak mantel over the fireplace in the dining room. Scallop Shells attest to Bonnefond being an acknowledged stopover for pilgrims seeking food and safe lodging for the night.
HOW TO REACH BONNEFONT CASTLE
The chateau-fort is easy to reach: It is about twenty-five minutes by cab from Limoges–Bellegarde International Airport (LIG). The airport serves Paris and London with direct flights to the United States. Limoges-Benedictine train station is about fifteen minutes away from the castle and offers direct SNCF rail service to Paris and Bordeaux. Car rentals are available for pick up at the Bellegarde airport and Benedictine train station.
BONNEFONT'S Chateau RATING
3 Star out of 4 Star rating (no elevator) from Limoges Bureau of Tourism
$1045 per night with two nights minimum stay!.
Property is ideal for weddings and private gatherings.
Beautiful views of the sun setting in the west from entertainment area.
Property is near world class Porcelain golf course, airport, road ways, and train station.
Discounts for returning and first seasonal guests.
Catering, and ground transportation can be arranged.
For further information please provide dates and number of persons to bonnefont.castle@gmail.com or property manager at hiltoss@gmail.com
Bonnefont Castle
$1,045.00
