Chateau Grezan (France)

Along the entire skyline stretches the vineyards, which sleep in winter. The walls of Grezan Castle, where medieval tournaments were held, underwent alterations in the nineteenth century. The battlements were added to the old languedoc dwelling later. This was at a time when, thanks to grapes, the region became a veritable El Dorado. At a time when the wine culture was so prosperous that one harvest was enough to erect a castle.

Grezan is one of the most beautiful monuments of that golden era. Its current owner is Marie France Lanson. And she has long strived to preserve the winegrowing traditions of Grezan. Currently, Château Gresan has two owners. One owns the Grezan Château vineyard and cellar, and Marie-France owns the property.

To continue to develop the château despite the loss of the vineyard, Marie France Lanson opened guest rooms, achieving complete independence. She still remains in the family castle, although Grezan has become a tourist enterprise. Before becoming a destination for visitors from all over the world, Gresan was in the Middle Ages one of the stops of the pilgrims on their way to Santiago. The castle was also the main stronghold of the Templars in the region, and after the death of these knights it passed to the Order of Malta. After the French Revolution, the history of the castle is much less connected to religion.

In 1824, the Mirpua family bought this French chateau of Grezan. Over the years, they rebuilt it, expanded it, connected structures that were not connected, built, caulked, opened, closed, made everything necessary. For example, the bell tower was built in the 19th century. The bell tower regulated the work of the castle owner. The bell rang at exactly one quarter, one half, three quarters, and stopped ringing at night. At that time it would stop ringing at six o'clock in the evening and start again at six in the morning to harness the horses to the carriage. But now the bell tower rings from eight in the morning until eight in the evening.

The entrance to the castle. Underfoot is a history that dates back to the age of the Templars, that is, the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It must be said that in the nineteenth century changes were made which led to a reduction in space. Therefore, the small courtyard, where the well was located, gradually turned into a courtyard. After the internal works were completed, the courtyard was surrounded on all sides by rooms and turned into a kind of the center of the castle.

The fireplace existed already in the Middle Ages. It functioned remarkably well, because there are still black marks underneath. It was a country house and people came here a couple of months a year in good weather, so the fireplace was not strictly necessary, it had more of a decorative function and was in keeping with the spirit of the times. This castle was on the pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela, so you can see the seashells, the distinctive mark of the pilgrims. Next is the Knights Templar Cross, indicating that the owner of the castle was a knight of that order and, after the order was abolished, a knight of the Order of Malta. Then the owner, who owned the castle in the nineteenth century and carried out the restoration here, left his initials (G. M.).

All the rooms of the main wing overlooking the park are designed to receive guests, just as in the 19th century. This is evidenced by the attention paid to the decor.

The dining room overlooks the west side of the park. It's amazing in the morning, so they serve breakfast here. It's very beautiful here. This room has been preserved in its original form. The fireplace is decorated in the style of Henry II. It's not from that era, but it's done the same way. It's inlaid with real marble.

The dining room continues with the grand hall, which was not always just a ballroom. Originally it was a gambling hall. And since gambling was played in the evenings, and the room faced west, the windows were often closed, which explains the good condition of the wall carpets. The fireplace was in use until 1892. It is truly a nineteenth-century interior masterpiece. It has a woodwork and uses a circular ornament with the sign of the Maltese order and the initials of the owner of that period, Mr. Mirpua. It is ebony, and on the sides is rosewood, with a species of tree from the south of the Alps next to it. So very good materials were used and time has not touched them at all. In the center is marble. It is real marble, because there are many marble quarries in this region. The two columns of the fireplace are made of the same marble as the columns of the Grand Trianon of Versailles. Here again one finds the initials of the owner of that era, Mr. Mirpua. And on top is a mosaic representing the emblem of the Maltese Order, which, thanks to the inlay, is very different from the others. It is thus a fireplace, but also a decorative element.

The commander's red room. This is actually the guest room of the castle. They slept here after the game. The walls are decorated with red velvet and ornaments. The ceiling is a typical French ceiling with wooden crossbars and paper of matching color. We left the family furnishings because it adds to the family feel of this family home. And guests feel as if they are visiting distant relatives in Languedoc.

In the French Château Grézanne, grand events are held, weddings are celebrated, various events are held. Everything is planned for several months in advance.