A nother of the Loire Valley's fine manor homes, the Château was built for Jean le Breton, prime minister under King Francois I. Though this was the site of a fortress in the 1100's, the present structure is very much ornamental. It did not arise from function, but rather from form. The only evidence of its military past is in a small part of the original fortress which is incorporated into the main building. Unlike other castles with moats to protect them, the function of water here is to link different sections of the property together. The supply begins in a pond, then flows through ornamental gardens and eventually passes near the buildings in channelized form. Those secondary buildings were erected in the 18th century when the property was owned by the Marquis de Castellane. He also left his mark in a negative way. Castellane had most of the ornamental spires and turrets removed to make the building resemble what was then contemporary architecture. After World War II, a Spanish businessman bought the property and restored it, including adding a magnificent formal garden with a dizzying array of mazes and geometric plantings.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
