My imagination was running wild as I lay looking around me. It is impressive how powerful your senses are when working at peak performance. I seemed to be able to hear every creek as if it was magnified 100x. Yes, it probably was my imagination working overtime but this was my first experience spending the night in a castle. As comfortable as the bed was I couldn’t help but reflect on the life and activity that took place here over the centuries. For example, on May 27, 1564, Catherine de Medici, of the famed Medici family from Florence, stayed here, accompanied by the King Charles IX during her “Tour de France.”
When we arrived the Duchess de Saint-Seine greeted us. It was the Saint-Seine family that purchased the property back in the 1800s however the foundation of the castle goes back as far as the 1300s. The castle was transformed back in the 1600s and finally completed around 1757. The very room I was staying in, as well as the rest of the castle, was the incarnation of that period.
When our friends came over to Europe from North America, we were thinking of what we could do to make their trip memorable. Spending the night at the Château de Longecourt was the perfect idea. It had been years since our first visit so therefore we were also excited by the prospect.
As luck had it the castle was still active and being run by the family Saint-Seine, now managed by the Duchess’s son Roland de Saint-Seine. We booked a few rooms and made our way off to the Burgundy region of France. The castle is situated about 15km from Dijon right in the heart of the “Côte d’Or” (Golden coast), as it is called, and home to many of the countries most famous vineyards, cellars and wines.
When we arrived the Château stood as majestic as ever with its surrounding moat, 16th century turrets and its 18th century stucco interior décor. The immense grounds, flanked by the Burgundy Canal provide all the peace and quiet of the countryside. We were greeted by Roland de Saint-Seine, and in keeping with his family tradition, was incredibly hospitable.
Many people dream of having a fairytale castle, such as this one, however it was easy to see the amount of effort and expense required to take care of the place. As Roland told us, “many people see this as a gift, but I sometimes see it as a curse.” However, having kept it in the family all these years I could see he was still proud as he showed us around and explained the history of his family and their association with the castle. Furthermore, the fact that it is family run, and so accessible makes the experience that much richer, as opposed to staying in one with a hotel décor.
As we walked around the interior of the Château I stood in the stunning salon (walls inlaid with marble, sculpted and gilded ceiling). As I did on my first visit, I gained an appreciation of what life must have been like back centuries ago. We took a tour of the grounds and went to visit the Chapel, which was incorporated into the structure of the castle.
In the evening the view was mystical as the lamps illuminated the castle, and as luck would have it we had the view of the moon just above. The night in the castle was much more peaceful than it had been with my vivid imagination years before but no less satisfying. In the morning they offered croissants, fresh bread, juices and coffee.
It was always on my bucket list to spend a night in a centuries old castle in Europe. It is an exceptional opportunity to travel back in time and have a unique experience that I would recommend to any avid traveler. This one is a hidden gem!