Château de Pierre-Levée, Heritage castle in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France.
Château de Pierre-Levée is a castle in Les Sables-d'Olonne surrounded by large formal gardens decorated with statues depicting figures from Greek and Roman mythology. The landscaped grounds follow a design inspired by Versailles and feature sculptures of Hercules, Venus, and Apollo among trees and pathways.
Construction began in 1770 when merchant Luc Pezot hired architect Nicolas Ducret to design his residence following models from Versailles. The project grew from one man's ambition to create a grand estate modeled on the royal traditions of his era.
Summer performances on the grounds feature local participants in period costumes who reenact regional history through theatrical scenes set to music and light. These events bring the park to life during warm evening hours and draw both residents and visitors.
The best time to visit is from July through August when guided tours and evening events operate in the park. Plan for several hours if you want to explore the gardens and also attend an evening performance.
The name Pierre-Levée comes from two standing stones that once marked this location before the castle was built. These ancient stones gave the site its name long before it became a grand estate.
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