Places: A Magical Château in the Dordogne, France

If you close your eyes and conjure up the most perfect chateau you can possibly imagine in the French countryside, it will probably have a long winding gravel driveway edged with lavender and clipped box hedging. As you draw nearer you’ll begin to see glimpses of the chateau itself in honey-hued stone with tall, elegant windows and shutters. Once inside there will be sweeping staircases, marble statuary, elegant grey panelled walls, parquet floors, crystal chandeliers, marble fireplaces, gilt mirrors and Louis furniture upholstered in shades of grey-blue and dusky pink.

So how lovely that this vision of the perfect chateau actually exists in the form of Chateau La Durantie in the Dordogne in South West France. It was built in the mid-19th Century for the Duke of Isly and has been renovated and decorated beautifully in recent years, making it a most elegant backdrop for weddings and family gatherings.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of owning your very own chateau, here is a visual masterclass in how to create the perfect French chateau . . . —Louise

Notice how symmetry has been used to give a sense of balance and elegance in the interior (above) and in the grounds (below) . . .

Palest grey with a hint of blue has been used throughout the chateau on walls and in furnishings to give a sense of calm elegance. Warmed up with the gold tones of gilt, it’s the perfect colour combination.