A couple of years ago, I spent a week in southern France studying the cities of the Department of Garda. The city of Nimes, where there are numerous historical Roman sights. Uzes, the first duchy in France. And Pont du Gard, the aqueduct, which is considered one of the highest parts of Roman architecture. But my love for the gardens made me look for any references to beautiful villas and gardens that would be available for viewing in this area. The dry Mediterranean climate of southern France does not always favor the richly decorated gardens. But I found it. Private villa and garden, located in close proximity to the Pont du Gard. In the castle of Chateau St Privat there were only a few links on the Internet. So, when I arrived at the Bond, I called and made an appointment to visit the castle.
When I entered the castle, I was immediately met by a small bird, similar to a woman with red hair and piercing eyes. She squinted at the floor, eagerly waiting for me.
“How did you find out about my castle?” She says, looking straight into my eyes.
"I conducted research on the Internet about the gardens of southern France and saw the mention of Chateau St Privat."
I continue to explain how I found information about my garden on the Internet, and then visited Pont du Gard to ask at the tourist office. The tourism office finally provided me with information on how to contact her for permission to visit the gardens.
"Of course: the Internet." She speaks and sees satisfied and turns away.
"Come with me!" She commands and disappears through the castle corridors.
Our destination is a long garden with exquisite wrought iron doors that open onto the 1st terrace of the gardens. The afternoon sun brightens and warms the room. The red Persian carpets, the yellow furniture of Louis XV and the red marble tables fill the room. The walls are covered with ornate wooden panels. Despite the French antiques, the room feels alive. On the one hand - a wicker chair, tilted upside down when it is corrected. Papers are scratched over the tables, and my little terrier is surrounded around my legs.
Wrought iron doors open onto an intense terraced garden. The park, like the installation of the upper terrace, extends outside with an unobstructed view of the large gray statue of Neptune lying in the middle of the pond. Ancient yew and cypress trees form the back with a canopy that perfectly decodes Neptune. Along the perimeter of the upper garden are several statues that look towards the castle and Neptune. Their origins seem almost lost in history, as many aspects of the garden date back to the 1600s.
When we walk in the garden, Madame Fenwick begins to tell me about her childhood and grows up in a castle with his grandfather.
“When I was a child, the castle, the surrounding area and the vineyard were part of our estate. Opera, would invite artists and musicians from the opera to come to the castle to enjoy a break from the city. ”
Her grandfather, Jacques Rush, married in one of the oldest French perfume families, LT Piver. In 1896, he became the Administrator of a perfume company and patented Amil Salicylate, the first synthesized flavor. He was also one of the driving forces prompting JT Piver to name an international brand. After success in the perfume business, he became director of the Paris Opera. His dedication to rejuvenating the striking Paris Opera forced him to become known as “The Man Who Saved the Paris Opera”. He remained director from 1914 to 1944.
When I look back to the castle, the wrought iron doors almost disappear into the massive facade of the castle. They are no longer the main focus, and the castle with its huge ocher color exterior and towers now attracts all attention. Even Neptune disappears to an unimportant point in the landscape. There are no sounds except for the singing of birds. In the far right corner, the Gardon River forms the border along the edge of the gardens, and it sneaks through the forest. You will probably notice kayakers when they are floating on the river.
We go down to the lower garden through a series of stairs. The pavement extends perpendicular to the retaining wall leading from the castle to the furthest point of the garden; where a greenhouse and a tall ornate fountain meet to form the boundary of the property. Red geranium bins create a border along the sidewalk leading to the back of the garden.
Madame Fenwick and I climb the stairs back to the upper level of the garden. She returns to the castle while I stay taking pictures. After a few minutes, she returns and asks if I would like to see the interior of the castle.
The castle is located on the site of an ancient Roman villa. His Roman connection has always been maintained for centuries. Three kilometers from the castle is Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct that is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For centuries, the aqueduct and castle were owned and maintained by the same family. However, the cost of maintaining the aqueduct became unmanageable, and at some point, in the early 1900s, the aqueduct was sold to the French government.
The most famous room in the castle is the place where Richelieu signed the peace treaty in Ales in 1629. In the center of the room is a massive hand-carved wooden table and chairs with leather trim, which were passed down through the centuries to each successful owner. On the wall is a portrait of King Louis XIII of France. Richelieu was considered the first Prime Minister of France and helped Louis XIII consolidate his power during the 17th century. The walls of the room are painted in dark red. During this period, wooden slate ceiling is very characteristic of French castles.
For over 400 years, the castle belonged to the noble Fare family. They were one of many Protestants who inhabited this region. The growing influence of the Protestants along with the Huguenots opposed the Catholic population, which led to a series of wars that tried to prevent the Protestant religion from becoming famous. Chateau St. Privat was the place where the world of Ales was signed in 1629 between Richelieu and the Protestants. The treaty granted religious tolerance to Protestants.
As we approach the end of the tour, Madame Fenwick enters a small modern living room with a mini-fridge and offers me a chair. She opens a bottle of French rose wine and pours us both a glass. When we relax, she continues to talk about her grandfather and her friends, the Duchess of Tie and Viscount Moger. She draped herself in a recumbent position, pressing a hand to the back of a vertical chair, and her legs point to an angle. At first I look, wondering what she does. Then I understand; she puts on like old-fashioned movie stars; gracefully picking them up on a chair.
Information about Chateau Saint-Privat
Chateau St Privat is located in the Pont du Gard park on the northeast side of the bridge near the village of Vert-Pont-du-Gard. There are small gates, which are located a short distance from the Pont-du-Gard bridge, which says: “Without violations” Their contact telephone number is 04-66-37-36-36, and the entrance fee is 8 euro. In addition, the main office for the park can assist in providing directions if you need help finding a place.
Rentals in Languedoc France
