keys to the castle
castle, chateau, crib, call it what you will but the good news is we’re going in! tomorrow night hgtv is going to air a new season of ‘keys to the castle‘ where they take us inside these living fairytales.
this is one they feature, i don’t know how many we’ll tour per episode but it looks like pure bliss
check out more of the gardens here (this shot from perseverando on flickr)
below is chateau brissac, another fantasy come to life
how exciting to get to go inside!
of course i got off the track researching this endlessly inspiring topic. below is chateau d’ usse, said to have inspired Jean Perreau to write fairytale “Sleeping Beauty”. i didn’t see this one listed on the series but got pulled into it anyway.
and i just fell in love with this picture of chenonceau castle by eric rousset on flickr
maybe we weren’t the lucky ones born to live in these beauties, but staying in one is closer than you may think. for a special occasion, visit castles for rent and maybe live the dream yourself one day!
ps: special thanks to bonnie for all your help on this post with links and pics! ok back to reality in sunny san fran!
the paris apartment 
Judith replied:
Oh! I’m in heaven…I’m going to set my DVR right now! Thanks for the heads up and the beautiful post! You’re a girl after my own heart!!!
xoxo
Judith~
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January 17, 2009 at 9:43 pm. Permalink.
petunia replied:
I hadn’t heard about this show. Imagine me not knowing when castle tours would be on TV! The DVR has been set. Thanks, Claudia! Your pics of SF are great. I love the sidewalk cafes. Actually, I love everything about that city. Once I spent a whole day walking around eating a huge bag of fortune cookies I bought in China town. I had a big stomach ache by dinner time but now, the taste of them takes me right back there. It’s all good!
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January 17, 2009 at 11:48 pm. Permalink.
Jamie replied:
love the castle peeking out behind the trees
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January 18, 2009 at 12:26 am. Permalink.
renne replied:
My God, that last castle (chateau) looks like something painted by Vincent Van Gough!
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January 18, 2009 at 1:00 am. Permalink.
Monica Furniture Removal replied:
Renne, you are so right there that does look just like one of his paintings its absolutely breath taking and wow what a program that allows one inside,
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October 12, 2009 at 9:11 am. Permalink.
renne replied:
OOOPS…sooo sorry, that’s van Gogh!
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January 18, 2009 at 1:04 am. Permalink.
clarice replied:
Sighhhh, I can not imagine living in such beauty and grandeur. Talk about a storybook. Clarice
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January 18, 2009 at 1:14 am. Permalink.
Paul replied:
Wow, absolutely gorgeous, Claudia!
Amazing photos.
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January 18, 2009 at 1:45 am. Permalink.
Visual Vamp replied:
I’ve seen the promo commercials for this show, and i hope the show is better than the corny moats and renaissance fair decor they are showing ha ha.
Your photo essay is beautiful.
Wish you were producing the show ha ha!
xo xo
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January 18, 2009 at 6:02 am. Permalink.
Isa replied:
Since seeing a commerical on TV for this, Poor Tired Husband and I have been waiting for weeks to see this show! I’m in heaven seeing these photos as a tasty little appetizer! That Rousset photo is unbelievable! It’s so surreal. Gorgeous!
I hope the show does justice to the properties. I have it all set to tape, so if it’s wonderful, I can watch it over, and over, over again. :)
xo Isa
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January 18, 2009 at 1:18 pm. Permalink.
The Lil Bee replied:
OMG how gorgeous. I could get happy lost for days in a garden like that. And that top photo is enchanting.
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January 18, 2009 at 4:19 pm. Permalink.
Amy replied:
I was going to say ‘ooooooh – I’d love to live in that castle!’ but then I thought about my pets. They’d have a nervous breakdown trying to find me all the time. A Golden who already has separation anxiety when I throw out the garbage – can you imagine in a castle? eesh…LOL
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January 18, 2009 at 8:37 pm. Permalink.
Y. replied:
Incredible! I don’t think I’d want to leave.
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January 19, 2009 at 1:27 am. Permalink.
theparisapartment replied:
hey guys! can’t believe it but they don’t have hgtv in my hotel, how bourgeois! looks like i’m gonna miss this episode so let me know how it was. if it’s not up to your standards, we’ll do our own version! =]
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January 19, 2009 at 1:37 am. Permalink.
Bonnie replied:
You’re welcome Claudia! I just love seeing these kind of places. Everybody are you watchin it? Im watchin it right now! It’s really good, I like it! Interesting how they interview the families who live in them. Very informative too. Makes my potential renovating challenges seem like a piece of cake! My kitchen doesn’t really need renovating for another 100 years. And maybe I can just turn my water damage problems into a moat! Get some gators and that will solve my security issues… I hope they show more castles like these in a series. There are plenty of more in other countries too!
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January 19, 2009 at 4:36 am. Permalink.
Kelli replied:
Looks like you are having a wonderful time in SF. It is truly a wonderful city!
The show was beautiful and I plan to post a recap tomorrow. I wish we could do our own chateaux tours, that would be a dream come true!
Bisous
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January 19, 2009 at 5:29 am. Permalink.
The Red Velvet Shoe replied:
So glad I stopped by, sounds like a great way to spend some time (besides the fact we’re snowed in!)
Michelle
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January 19, 2009 at 1:42 pm. Permalink.
Isabel ~ Maison Douce replied:
Oh, my goodness, I can’t miss that show… Thanks for letting us know!!
Isabel
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January 19, 2009 at 3:36 pm. Permalink.
Bueller replied:
Just found your blog! Fabulous!!
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January 19, 2009 at 5:39 pm. Permalink.
theparisapartment replied:
sounds like it was as fab as we all hoped! guess i’ll be watching for it to re-run when i get back. kelly i’m looking forward to your post about it. glad you found me bueller, and stay warm michelle!
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January 19, 2009 at 5:49 pm. Permalink.
The Learning Connection! replied:
Sounds wonderful!
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January 19, 2009 at 6:39 pm. Permalink.
Kathleen replied:
I saw this last night…it was divine, wasn’t it? I love to dream of the day I’ll visit storybook castles with my Prince Charming…one of these days!
Have a happy week!
;-D
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January 19, 2009 at 11:46 pm. Permalink.
renee finberg replied:
you are living a super exciting adventure my dearie !!!
i am loving this post !!
xxxxxxxxxx
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January 20, 2009 at 4:06 am. Permalink.
theparisapartment replied:
oh you know it renee! i’m on the go go go! truth is i can’t wait to get back and sit still awhile…
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January 20, 2009 at 6:05 am. Permalink.
Chessa replied:
I watched it! It was so great. I would feel a bit overwhelmed but I liked how one of them had separate living quarters that seemed more like a home and really down to earth. And, what would I do for that wine cellar?!
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January 21, 2009 at 2:20 am. Permalink.
Di Overton replied:
This programme must be hugely popular in the US where you have no castles. I love to enter these places that seem to have stopped in time. We are surrounded by them in Northumberland many of which are just ruins but some that are beautifully preserved.
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January 21, 2009 at 10:42 am. Permalink.
Casey replied:
Oh, thanks for the nostalgic smile on this very cold day. We visited both Villandry (where they have my ideal, boxwood-walled lawn) and Chenonceaux, which was just a flower-girl’s dream, and the thoughts of them fill one with a warm glow. I’m so sorry that I missed the show, but hopefully they’ll re-run.
Cheers!
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January 21, 2009 at 5:11 pm. Permalink.
theparisapartment replied:
i’m banking on the re-run too casey, and it seems we’re the only ones who haven’t caught it yet :(
oh, and di, i can only imagine you living among the castle relics…maybe you should host a version in the uk!
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January 21, 2009 at 7:04 pm. Permalink.
Eric Rousset replied:
Bonjour, evitez de prendre des photos sous copyright sans demander la permission de l’auteur .Merci par avance
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June 28, 2009 at 9:30 pm. Permalink.