Oud Amelisweerd: hoofdgebouw, Eighteenth-century noble estate in Bunnik, Netherlands
The main building is a two-story structure with a loft and four chimneys topped with traditional Dutch tiles, set in a U-shaped plan. Inside are a functional kitchen with period features, storage rooms with vaulted ceilings, and an eighteenth-century hand pump in the back room.
The site gained recognition as a noble residence in 1537, though the current building was constructed between 1765 and 1775 on earlier foundations. From 1808 to 1810, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte owned the property, resulting in detailed records of its features from that period.
Two rooms inside display original Chinese wallpaper from the 1700s with detailed motifs of plants, animals, and landscape scenes. This elaborate decoration reflects the wealth and taste of those who once lived here.
The rooms are furnished with original pieces and closely arranged, which makes for a slower pace of viewing the interior. Be prepared for cooler temperatures inside, particularly in the basement areas and upper floors where ventilation is limited.
Owner Louis Napoleon Bonaparte left detailed records from 1808 to 1810 about the estate, offering a rare window into its precise layout and furnishings of that era. This documentation makes it easy to understand how the building looked and functioned during that specific time.
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