Château de Maubreuil, Heritage château in Carquefou, France.
Château de Maubreuil is a stone castle in Carquefou near Nantes that now operates as a luxury hotel with fourteen suites, three apartments, a spa center, and fine dining restaurant. The buildings have been restored while keeping their original stonework intact, with modern facilities integrated into the historic structures.
The castle was built in 1815 by Felix Cossin, a wealthy merchant and shipowner from Nantes, replacing an earlier structure destroyed during the French Revolution. Its construction came during a time when the region was recovering and trade was reviving after years of upheaval.
The private chapel from the 17th century reveals the family's religious life and faith practices within their home. Visitors can also see the dovecote and hunting lodge, which show how aristocratic families organized their daily activities and leisure around the estate.
The estate sits near Nantes and is surrounded by grounds worth exploring on foot. Visitors should plan time to walk around the different buildings and areas, including the chapel and hunting lodge, as they are spread across the property rather than clustered together.
The building had an unexpected past as a sanatorium from 1938 to 1972, then later operated as a rehabilitation center before becoming a luxury hotel. This transformation shows how historic estates adapted to serve medical and therapeutic needs during the 20th century before finding new purpose today.
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