Spectacular 19th Century French Chateau, One Hour From Paris
The magnificent neo-Renaissance, and also neo-Gothic Château de Dampont is set within a vast 173 acre domain in the Vexin National Park, some 30 miles northwest of Paris.
It was built between 1853 and 1873 by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, a prominent French architect known to the general public for his work restoring medieval buildings and chateaux across France, including the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
Commissioned by Charles Guy Kersaint, the property was built on the site of the old manor of Damont, on lands inherited from his wife Laure du Tremblay of Saint-Yon.
In 1911 the grounds surrounding the chateau was transformed into a park by the famous French landscape architect Édouard Redont, known for his parks and gardens across Europe.
He created a series of follies and gardenscapes along the river Viosne, including a chapel ruin, a temple of love (complete with 6 Corinthian columns), bridges, gardens, and a pond, fed by the river.
Inside, the opulent French chateau offers over 17,000 square feet across 6 levels and features original parquet floors, fireplaces, painted and gilded ceilings, marble paving and mosaics.
The unique castle is built around a large, rectangular 4-storey tower, flanked with 2 smaller, 3-storey, turreted towers.
The apartments are located on the top floors of the chateau, and the reception rooms and lounges on the ground floor have a nearly 6500 square foot blueprint, with incredible volumes and featuring ornate detailing.
All of the furniture has been designed for each room according to its size, and reflects the bygone grandeur of the French art of living.
In the library, an interior balcony is adorned with sculpted Atlaneans at its four corners.
In another reception room, a large stained-glass bay window opens out to a balcony terrace with a double external staircase.
With the sale of the estate is included: a large stable and a charming barn, and several renovated dwellings, including a caretaker’s house and habitable orangery.
All photos belong to the listing agency.
