Beaumesnil is a French village located between the Orne and Eure river regions. It is part of an austere countryside, a land of opulent forests, dewy meadows, and scrubby woodlands.[1]
Beaumesnil is perhaps most famous for the Beaumesnil Castle, which sits on a plateau[2] and encompasses close to 150 acres of grounds.[3] The castle is unanimously touted as one of Normandy’s most outstanding country houses. It was built by Jacques, Marquess of Nonant, and his wife Marie Dauvet Desmaret, sometime between 1633 and 1640. It is a rare masterpiece of the Louis XIII[4] baroque style with its comedia dell’Arte masks and monumental chimneys. The dungeon stronghold is also surrounded by moats and box trees.[5]
The Beaumesnil Castle today is owned by the Jean Furstenberg Foundation, an organization named after the art critic who purchased the estate. The castle houses an extensive collection of priceless pieces from the National Library. It also hosts a bookbinding museum,[6] boasting one of the most important ancient bookbinding ensembles in the world. Several bookbindings date back to the 16th century. The interior of the castle is rich with furniture, paintings, wood paneling, and fireplaces. Outside the abode, you’ll find a restored 18th century formal French garden designed by the same person who landscaped the Versailles Gardens. The Beaumesnil gardens incorporate the dual themes of “four seasons” and “half moon”, fronted by an enormous water pond.[7]
References:
“Castle Beaumesnil.” <http://72.14.203.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.chateaubeaumesnil.com/accueil_francais.html>
Gaudez, René, Hervé Champollion, and Angela Moyon. Tour of Normandy. Rennes: Éditions Ouest-France, 1996. ISBN: 2737317185.
[1] Gaudez, 75-76
[2] Id. at 76
[3] Castle
[4] Gaudez, 76
[5] Castle
[6] Gaudez, 76
[7] Castle
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