Bourgogne-Franche-Comté · Saône-et-Loire, France

Château de Cormatin

Behind a sober moated exterior in southern Burgundy hide the most sumptuous Louis XIII interiors in France — gilded, lapis-blue painted apartments of the 1620s that somehow survived every fashion since. The vast open-well staircase was among the most daring of its day.

At a glance

Built: 1605–1625
Style: Louis XIII château with painted apartments
Commissioned by: Antoine du Blé d'Huxelles
Signature feature: The gilded and painted apartments of the 1620s, uniquely intact
The staircase: Monumental open-well stair, an engineering showpiece of its era
Gardens: Elaborate parterres and yew maze, recreated by the current owners
Rescue: Bought near-derelict in 1980 and restored privately
Visiting: Open to visitors (seasonal calendar)