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| Le
Pavillon at Château de Tocqueville
Département:
Manche (50) Special
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great pleasure we present the Pavillon at Château de Tocqueville
in Normandy. The château is rich in family history and
formerly
the country home of Alexis de Tocqueville, the highly-acclaimed
political
thinker, historian and 19th-century author, perhaps best known for his
extraordinary work, Democracy in America (1835) following his
travels
in America. His English wife, Mary, designed an English garden
incorporating
the pond that is still there today for everyone's enjoyment. The
château is a pleasant combination of architectural styles from
the
16th, 18th and 19th centuries and is a national landmark listed among
France's Patrimoine
Nationale. When de Tocqueville inherited the property from
his
father in 1836, he and his wife decided to renovate the property and
park.
Later, his grandson rebuilt the first main tower, which has evolved
into
today's Pavillon.
Other history was made near Château de Tocqueville, when in 1120 in the English Channel off Barfleur the Blanche Nef shipwrecked on its maiden voyage, and it took with it the heir to the British throne and one hundred fifty members of Norman England's most prominent families. This white ship was praised as being ahead of the technology of the times, but it is said that it was moving far too fast and unnecessarily struck an object in the Channel. Two hundred years later, in 1346, saw the landing of Edward III of England's troops near Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue marking the start of the Hundred Years War. The family and estate survived the French Revolution unscathed, as they had an excellent relationship with local villagers. The only damage was to the dovecote roof which was removed as it was a sign of the power of the aristocracy. And, during World War II, despite the château's proximity to the war zone, it had the good fortune to be spared any serious damage, and some restoration was needed following the war. Two German blockhouses remain in the park and mark a part of what was known as the Atlantic Wall. This coastline was heavily fortified, and on D-Day the entire coastline was covered with troops of the 82nd and 101st US Airborne Divisions to surprise the enemy. Later that day the US 4th Infantry Division stormed ashore on Utah beach to begin the liberation of Europe. Château de Tocqueville can boast that Ernest Hemingway, who was a correspondent arriving with American troops a few days after D-Day, stayed at the château. Today, the château is the private home of the great-great-great-grand nephew of Alexis de Tocqueville and his wife, Count Jean-Guillaume and Countess Stéphanie de Tocqueville d’Hérouville, and their children. The Count de Tocqueville, is a member of the New York bar and practices law in Paris and is also a founding member of United Way in France. Countess Stéphanie de Tocqueville heads the association that awards the International Prize for political literature, the Prix de Alexis de Tocqueville, once every two years. Since the prize's inception in 1979, it has been awarded at the Château to a person who has demonstrated outstanding humanistic qualities and attachment to public liberties and seeks to perpetuate Alexis de Tocqueville’s ideals. An outstanding jury, headed by former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, selects the recipients. The Count and Countess have recently renovated the Pavillon to accommodate guests, using quality period family furnishings to make each and every room inviting and comfortable while maintaining the elegance of this historic home. On three floors and offering five spacious en suite bedrooms, modern conveniences in the Pavillon have not been overlooked. An elevator (lift) permits easy access to all three floors of the Pavillon, while the original circular stone stairway can still be used. The modern, equipped kitchen, elegant dining area, and sophisticated salon make a week or longer at the Pavillon absolutely delightful. Especially interesting is the installation of state-of-the-art geothermal heating. Guests will appreciate the fine appliances, including a washing machine and dishwasher, as well as the convenience of WiFi, Internet, and satellite television. A stay at the Pavillon of Château de Tocqueville on Normandy's Cotentin Peninsula will prove to be beyond your highest expectations. Walk the park in the footsteps of Alexis de Tocqueville who wrote to his wife, "I can never imagine it as anything other than a refuge of peace and happiness...I have never been as happy for as long, anywhere else." * * * Book this lovely château by contacting au Château and mention 'Tocqueville' in the subject line. * * * |
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| Exquisite Salon | Cuisine and Dining | The Château & Pavillon | Elegant Bedrooms | The Park |
