Located in the heart of the Ubaye valley, on a mountainside, the Château des Magnans, an extraordinary "Mexican villa", was built by Louis Fortoul, founder of Las Fabricas de Francia in Guadalajara, between 1903 and 1914.
Designed by the architect Ramelli, "erected on a powerful base of rustic rusticated rubble stones, the imposing white silhouette recalls the Palace of Monaco and some stately palaces of Italian cities (we also think of the Neuschwanstein Castle of Ludwig II of Bavaria). It concentrates on the southern elevation all the elements of fancy Gothic architecture: square tower topped by a belvedere, gallery supported by false machicolations, crenellated turret and three-lobed, twin or triple-lobed bays under moulded discharge arches.
A monumental double outside stairway, with straight flights and openwork railings, sets off the main access. More modest and picturesque of a different order, the access to the farmhouse situated at the entrance to the castle, on the right, is treated with rockery (imitation of branches made of cement), combining the garden furniture on the terrace in the same technique.
Inside, a monumental glass roof illuminates the stairwell. A neo-gothic work by the Grenoble glass painter Louis Balmet, it is part of the archaeological pastiche logic of the architectural program.
The castle is now a guest house.
The residence comprises 64 apartments, 15 of which are in the castle, fully equipped to accommodate 2 to 8 people.
Heated panoramic swimming pool, solarium, spa.
The Château des Magnans
189, Ascent of the Magnans,
04850 Jausiers
Tel: 04 92 33 99 27 - 01 42 71 66 67
http://www.jausiers.com/chateau-des-magnans--village27.html
