Château d'Artigny

Description:

• This is the grandest address in the Loire Valley. About 1.5km (1 mile) west of the hamlet of Montbazon, the château was built between 1912 and 1920 for perfume and cosmetics king François Coty, who lived and entertained lavishly. Set in a forest, overlooking formal gardens, in an obscure villa near Paris, the Château de Champlatreux, the château combines Jazz Age ostentation and 18th-century French aesthetics. The drawing room and corridors are furnished with fine antiques, Louis XV-style chairs, and bronze statuary. The grounds contain acres of parks and a large garden with a reflecting pool. Guest rooms are outfitted in period style, with many antiques, comfortable mattresses, and all the perks of upscale country living. Only 31 units are in the main building; the others are in four annexes -- a former chapel, gatehouse, mill, and staff dormitory.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010