Chateau Montfort

The Chateau can sleep up to 18 guests in beautiful formal rooms. In the old stable block there is a heated swimming pool and pool house. Daily maid service is included in the rental price of the chateau.The outside of the Chateau has been untouched since it was originally built in the 16th century and enlarged around 1720. The interior is fully modernised, though. It has had a fascinating history, from being used as a safe house for aristocrats being smuggled out of France during the revolution, to being used by the Resistance during the Second World War. Since the war the property has had a much more refined and tranquil existence, but has also played host to guests such as the Aga Khan and the Dalai Lama.

Accommodation
The garden floor comprises of a large modern kitchen and scullery, and a huge family room with direct access to the garden for the summer, an enormous fireplace to sit round for the winter, and a dining table which can easily seat 10-12 people. The formal rooms are on the ground floor, including a large salon, a smaller salon, and the formal dining room that seats 16.  At the back there is a large terrace overlooking the formal French garden and the fountains. On the terrace, there is a table which can seat 12 for meals.

On the first floor there is one suite (double bedroom with a connected salon) and two double bedrooms, all with their own en-suite bathroom. On the second floor there are four double bedrooms, two twin bedrooms and three separate bathrooms.

Two pavilions mark the extremities of the French formal garden. One of them is a fully restored chapel. In addition, there is the old stable block which is now a pool house, with two changing/shower rooms, a large modern kitchen, and a function room with a gallery which can seat 26 people for dinner. There are three other buildings located on the grounds, including the caretaker's house, which are not available for guests.

The chateau is set in about 50 hectares of grounds. About seven hectares is used for the formal gardens, which include the formal French garden (with 36 topiary yew trees and a huge fountain), the walled Italian garden, the orchard and the avenue leading up to the chateau. There is small house in the garden where children can play and a swimming pool (12m x 6m) and pool house for showers and changing rooms. There is ample parking space outside.

Interior Info:
First Floor:
1 double bed suite (with parlor)
2 double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
Second Floor:
4 double bedrooms, 2 twin bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
There are also 2 separate guest WCs on the ground floor and 2 shower rooms in the pool house.

Location
The nearest port to the chateau is Le Havre (25km) and the nearest town is Beuzeville (3km). About three minutes drive from the chateau there is a small market town which has 2 supermarkets, a great market on Tuesdays, and several good restaurants. If you want to try slightly further afield (just another 10 minutes) you will find two 1 star Michelin restaurants, and another one at Deauville.

Normandy has a huge amount to offer – and most of it is within a reasonable drive of the chateau. It has something for everyone from old cities, Monet's garden, the landing beaches and historic sites such as the Bayeux tapestry to beaches, holiday resorts and casinos.

The area is well supplied in terms of sports facilities - for both participants and spectators. In particular, it is well known as a hub for equine pursuits - there are numerous studs, including the Aga Khan's, and in the summer there are horse auctions and Horse Racing and Polo at Deauville.  There is also Horse Riding available locally. There are many golf courses within 30 minutes of the chateau (including Etratat situated on top of the cliffs overlooking the channel).

Other day trips include the Landing Beaches, the Bayeux Tapestry and Monet's Garden. Honfleur is a fishing and sailing port located in the Seine estuary about 10 minutes from the chateau. Deauville is great for smart shops, cafes and people watching. This cosmopolitan sea-side resort has a large and beautiful beach, a marina, and a casino.

Normandy is rightly famous for its food - especially the cheeses such as Livarot Camembert, and Pont l'Eveque - and Calvados, the apple brandy. The French love of good food means that all ingredients also have to be of the highest quality.  Seafood is fantastic and local producers are famous in the area for quality, taste, and price. 
Local markets are fantastic and are often the major source of food for the locals. - Honfleur on Saturday, Trouville on Sunday, Pont Audemer on Monday and Beuzeville on Tuesday. There are many restaurants in nearby villages.