Château de Galleville
Built in 1680 for M. Roque de Varengeville, counsellor of Louis 14th and his ambassodor in Venice, Galleville is a magnificent example of the classical grand manner. The park surrounded by a double row of secular beeches, the two court-yards, the old walls and dry moat, leading to the majestic house, all show the same perfect unity of style as well as unquestionable elegance in the skilful use of flint and stone and the varied hues of rose brick Jeanne-Angélique de Varengeville inherited Galleville when she married King Louis XIV's renowned warrior, the Marshal Duke de Villars. Since she sold the property in 1769 it has not been alienated. In the house the visitor may see furniture and paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries, token of remembrance concerning the imperial court of Vienna, decorative stuccoes in the chapel, the original unchanged kitchen. Pleached lime-trees, long hedges of hornbeam clipped so as to form arches and pillars, vast lawns adorned by yew and box topiary correspond to the traditional park "à la française", whereas the flower-garden and several small secret gardens, are a riot of colour with many perennial and annual plants. In the enchanting kitchen-garden, curtained off by espaliered apple-trees, box-edged plots show alternate rows of vegetables and flowers in matching colours.
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