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PRIVATE ACCESS TO THE CENTRES OF FRENCH LUXURY
FROM KING LOUIS XIV TO PRESENT TIMES
hosted & guided by Countess de Vanssay
9 days in the footsteps of the “Sun King” (1638-1715) :
* After-hours visits of famous XVIIth century chateaux & gardens.
* Invitations to lunch, dine and even reside with the owners of some still
privately owned chateaux.
* Discover art collections normally closed to the public.
* Visit a famous haute couture workshop,
* Luxury shopping, the LVMH foundation and
* Farewell dinner at the totally private and inaccessible “Jockey Club”!
Friday September 16th : ARRIVAL in XVIIth century style :
- * Arrival at privately owned chateau hotel, Château de Bourron,
a pure XVIIth century château by Fontainebleau, and welcome
cocktails with owners Count and Countess de Cordon
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- * Dinner at Les Prémices in the Orangerie of Chateau de Bourron
* Night at Chateau de Bourron
Saturday September 17th : THE INSPIRATION FOR VERSAILLES :
Contrast Fontainebleau Royal Palace and Vaux le Vicomte
- * Morning visit of Chateau de Fontainebleau, including boudoir of
of Madame de Maintenon and Renaissance corridor, prototype to the
Hall of Mirrors, and boat trip to the Pavillon built by Le Vau.
* Light Lunch opposite, in XVIIth c restored vaulted cellars.
- * Vaux le Vicomte : VIP visit with owner, the Comte de Voguë,
including rooms unopen to the public
- * Candlelit dinner in the gardens of Vaux le Vicomte
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* Night at Chateau de Bourron
Sunday September 18th : FRENCH COUNTRY CHATEAU LIFE :
as VIP guests in still privately owned Loire Valley chateaux
perpetuating XVIIth century court refinement and taste
- * VIP visit of the most magnificently furnished chateau of the Loire,
Château de Cheverny, with owner Marquis de Vibraye including
many private rooms not open to the public, followed by
- * Lunch hosted by the Marquis de Vibraye in person.
- * Arrival at Château de la Barre. VIP welcome by Count & Countess
de Vanssay
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* Buffet supper and night at Chateau de la Barre
Monday September 19th : GARDENS & WINE....
- * Garden Picnic chic lunch at Chateau de Valmer with it’s XVIIth
“Jardins à la Française”, including winetasting in the vineyards with
Count & Countess Aymar & Alix de Saint Venant.
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- *Return to Château de la Barre for champagne cocktails and Grand
Siècle Dinner, with prestigious wines from the Counts’ private cellar,
followed by brandy in the Grand Salon, decorated for the wedding of
the IVth Marquis de Vanssay in 1778
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* Night at Château de la Barre
Tuesday September 20th : FROM COUNTRY NOBILITY TO COURT LIFE.
* Visit of the medieval Plantagenêt city of Le Mans including 2 luxury
shops : Malicorne porcelain and Hervé N, master designer for Hermès.
* Lunch at private XVIIth century Château Chêne de Coeur
hosted by Comte & Comtesse Ogier d’Ivry
* Visit of Maintenon Castle, home of Louis XIV’s second wife.
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* Dinner and Night at Trianon Palace in Versailles.
Wednesday September 21st : FROM ST GERMAIN TO VERSAILLES:
* Retrace Louis XIVth life beginning with the Royal Palace of St
Germain en Laye.
- * Lunch at Chateau du Val, the King’s “maison de plaisance”.
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- * Coffee and private visit of the “Hotel de Noailles”, where Lafayette
married Annette de Noailles with its’ present day owner.
- * Exceptional after hours visit of Versailles palace, including the
royal apartments, the Queens’ room, the Royal Chapel and the
Royal Opera as well as the Hall of Mirrors
- * Night at Trianon Palace
Thursday September 22nd : XVIIth c ART DE VIVRE :
Art collections of France’s great families. French elegance & sophistication
* Shop and Lunch at the “Bon Marché” luxury department store owned
by the Louis Vuitton group.
* Afternoon private tour of the Manufacture des Gobelins tapestries
and State furniture.
- * Private evening visit of Chateau de Breteuil, and it’s art collection
followed by
- * Dinner hosted by the Marquis de Breteuil
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- * Night at Trianon Palace
Friday September 23th : COMMERCIAL & ARTISTIC GREATNESS :
The Legacy of Louis XIV who established France’s dominance in the
luxury market still today
- * Private visit of Yves St Laurent workshop
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- * Brunch at “Dalloyau”, famous patissier founded in 1682
- * Afternoon free for shopping
- * Night at Hotel Mansart, Place Vendôme
Saturday September 24th : XVIIth c. URBAN PLANNING : residential
neighbourhoods, and decorative arts.
* Morning visit of Louis Vuitton Foundation.
** Light Lunch at “Le Frank”, the chic and trendy foundation restaurant.
* Visit to the Louvre concentrating on XVIIth century masters and the
- table de Tischen, recently sold by the Marquis de Breteuil to the Louvre.
* Followed by visit of the Hotel de Lauzun, normally closed to the public.
* Dinner hosted by Count de Vanssay at France’s most exclusive private
club, the “Jockey Club”, only open to French authentic and proven
aristocracy.
* Night at Hotel Mansart, Place Vendôme
Sunday September 25th : Departure