Château de la Grande Noë

The Château de la Grande Noë is truly a gem—the idyllic setting, the superb decor, and the genuine warmth of welcome are just what you’ve always dreamed of finding. The castle, dating back to medieval times, has been in the same family since 1393. You enter through stately gates into a manicured front garden overlooked by the handsome two-story château with intricate brick trim decorating the windows, a steep, gray-slate roof punctuated with gabled windows, and a profusion of tall chimneys. Behind the château horses frolic in the meadow. As you walk up the steps into the reception hall, you feel you have entered into the exquisite home of a friend. Throughout there are beautiful draperies, family portraits, English-style slipcovered sofas, and heirloom antiques. A staircase leads to the guestrooms. All are lovely but my favorite of the three is a large room decorated in tones of pale peach, soft green, and yellow. Pascale de Longcamp is a woman of amazing talents: not only did she decorate the rooms, sew all the drapes, make the bedspreads, and wallpaper the rooms, but she also tiled the bathrooms herself. The most exquisite room in the house is the gorgeous 18th-century oak-paneled dining room, where breakfast is served.