subject: Chateaux and Architecture [print this page] Chateaux and Architecture Chateaux and Architecture
With this vast assortment of time periods represented within French architecture, how do you choose which style of chateaux is best for you? While this is largely a matter of personal taste, there are some styles and looks that are more popular than others. Chateaux were typically the homes of French royalty or bourgeois, therefore these properties are, as a rule, elegant and stately. The trick is to find the degree of elegance that most suits your taste. Below are some helpful suggestions.
If you are looking for a piece of history, purchasing a chateau can be a very wise move. Some chateaux date back to Medieval times, and as such, reflect Medieval architectural themes. This includes the many castles constructed during this time period. Despite the similarity in time periods, there was a wide variety of different style applied to these buildings, most dependent upon what the upper-class family sponsoring their construction fancied. The Gothic movement has many characteristics still apparent in French architecture. Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy is a brilliant example of this.
The word chateau has gained a much more broad usage over the years. While originally applied to the vast properties of French royalty, chateau now defines any large home or estate within the borders of France. This includes more recent constructions as well. A chateau is any large property residing in a country area. As such, chateaux are generally extremely secluded. Some of the more recently built chateaux are domiciled in the Loire valley. While this area boasts some chateaux dating all the way back to the 10th century, there are also 20th century chateaux in the area. These buildings gained the valley the nickname "the valley of the kings."
Bordeaux, famous for its vineyards, also boasts many modern chateaux. In this area, almost any estate that produces wine will bear the title chateau, thus leading to many large homes earning this distinguished title. The Roman villa style is very popular in this region, such as the Chateau Logorce in Haux.
Chateauesque, also known as the Francis I style, is another popular style. A more recent phenomenon, some people consider these properties to be impure since they are built in a revival style. These properties are extremely influenced by both the Gothic and the Italian Renaissance styles, but by definition they are not true chateaux, mostly because they are more recently constructed. Despite their many similarities, these properties also have exceeding roofline breaks and facades made of advancing and retreating planes. Still, these properties are quite beautiful and will suit the purposes of most. Depending on what you look for in a chateau, these properties are generally just as beautiful and can be purchased at a much lower cost.
