7Providing intimate insight into life in a French ch teau, this volume takes readers on an insider's tour of the Ch teau du Lude, a private residence that features its original decorative interiors.

Nestled in the idyllic Loire Valley, the Ch teau du Lude is one of the most historic ch teaus in France; Bluebeard besieged the castle on his way to join Joan of Arc's crusade, and it earned the rare distinction of having survived the French Revolution intact. Today, the Lude is inhabited and impeccably maintained by the Count and Countess Louis-Jean de Nicolay, whose family has owned the property for over 250 years. They invite readers to discover the ch teau's well-preserved interiors and gardens, which feature a medieval kitchen, an Italian Renaissance studiolo, and exceptional horse stables, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of the ch teau's inhabitants, past and present. Newly commissioned photographs offer unprecedented access into the hidden corners of the estate otherwise closed to the general public.