Chateau de Garibondy
- Historic château in Cannes -
About the château
The Full Story
From a hunting lodge to a home for aristocracy
Unlike the Loire Valley there are few turreted chateaux in the south of France affording wedding guests, holidaymakers and corporate clients the unique combination of all that the Cote d'Azur has to offer with the farytale baronial backdrop. The oldest tower is the west-facing octagonal tower which is thought to date back to the 16th century to the time of Francois 1er. The chateau later stood as a substantial property in Garibondy in 1750 when it was taken over by the Bishops of Briognole who used it as their hunting lodge.
In the late nineteenth century Lord Alfred Paget who was famed for leading the charge in the Battle of Waterloo ascquired the chateau. He was Chief Equerry to the Royal Household and the 6th child of the1st Marquess of Anglesey. He married Lady Cecilia Paget who was lady-in-waiting and wardrobe mistress to Queen Victoria, who visited the chateau and planted the pine tree that provides shade to the main terrace in honour of the birth of her godson. The Paget family owned the property for almost 100 years enjoying the local climate and entertaining guests with high teas, summer drinks and eccentricly frugal dinners.
Hosting holidays for royalty and star guests as a unique family home
In 1953 the chateau was bought by the Douglas family from Arizona, USA, who were responsible for the construction of the large oval swimming pool, en suite bathrooms and spacious wardrobes.
Subsequently the chateau was the home of the Comte and Comtesse de Chambrun (Raine Spencer, the stepmother of Princess Diana who visited with her sons during holidays to the south of France). The chateau still contains Spencer furniture from Althorp, the Spencer family home in Northamptonshire.
The château is presently owned by an English family who have restored the chateau and modernised its facilities including the recent installation of air conditioning.
