Château de Lacroix-Laval, Medieval castle in Marcy-l'Étoile, France.
Château de Lacroix-Laval is a castle in Marcy-l'Étoile spread across about 115 hectares of land featuring valleys, meadows, ponds, rivers, and wooded areas. The grounds combine stone structures, cultivated gardens, and natural forest, all arranged as a connected whole for visitors to explore.
The castle's foundations trace back to the 12th century, establishing its long presence in the landscape. Until 2007 it housed a Doll Museum, after which the building took on a different role.
The garden displays plants traditionally grown in the Lyon region, giving visitors a sense of the area's agricultural past through what they can see and walk among. Local botanical knowledge shapes how the outdoor spaces look and feel today.
You can enter the estate through several different gates depending on which side you approach from. Good walking shoes are helpful since you will spend time moving along natural paths and across open ground.
Since July 2024, the estate includes four quiet zones with hammocks and loungers where visitors can listen to natural sounds in the park. These areas offer a deliberate place to pause and experience the grounds in a slower way.
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