Last Sunday Trish and I went to visit Aude at her Chateau in St. Addresse (next to Le Havre - {link}) and have some lunch. We had a great time, great food and great company. We chatted away the afternoon, and almost forgot that we were to meet some friends of Aude which we had met on a prior occasion; the Marquis de Persan.

They have a lovely 16th century chateau at Gommerville (close to the Seine river) which is open for visits during the summer. So we headed up to their castle to have a look-see.

At the entrance you'll find this:



When you walk on through the driveway, you'll notice the chateau. They have been in repairs for three years now, restoring the outside completely. Already you can notice that this is a very fine castle:



The castle is called Chateau de Fileres. They gave us a guided tour of their well preserved castle. Normally you're not allowed to make any photos, but I was allowed to make one:



All the furniture are originals. They all belong to previous inhabitants, and are all dated back centuries ago. There are many paintings from relatives on the wall. The couple still live in the castle.

Outside is a magnificent garden and forest. In one side are the pastures for some 600 cows. On the grounds of the castle are the tracks used during WWII for the V1 bombs. The whole launch path and tracks are made out of concrete.



They have several buildings on their grounds used by the farmers of the land:



The castle itself used to be surrounded by a moat. But when gunpowder was brought to France, the small moat was of no use and was abandoned.



All around the flowers were in blossom.



Around the main garden there were some very high walls, part of the protection:



The castle is open every afternoon from Easter to 1st of October on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Open every days in July and August. €5 per person. The Marquis de Persan personally will guide you through the castle.