| Product: |
Trevarez Castle |
| Date: |
13/05/06 (171 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Gloriously colourful display of plants and history coming alive.
Disadvantages: Avoid if it is raining.
The chateau of Treverez has become part of my life, in that it is situated not far from where I live, and I visit regularly. First let's tell you something about it's checkered history, though to me, the importance of Treverez lies in today and the way in which it enriches the visitor at various times of the year.
The idea of the chateau was conceived in 1894, and the ideals and visions of the owner was to integrate many of the architectural features that were commonplace at the turn of the century, and he achieved that, although it is difficult to say which countries his ideas were taken from. Looking at the chateau and comparing with other buildings of a similar time frame, it is actually unusual for brick to have been used and although many of the styles used are typically french, the use of brick in this area of France is not.
Bombed during the second world war by the Royal Air Force, the damage that was done was overwhelming, although at the time necessary as the chateau was occupied by the German invaders. Rebuilding it has been a long and costly job, though the results are astounding.
Importantly to me, what stands out about this chateau is its stature as a building, though more than that, I love the grounds upon which it stands. Over the years, the gardens have been extended and improved upon and walking through them is a trip through the seasons. In Autumn for example, the golds and reds are predominant. In Spring, the flora is colourful and inviting as all the azaleas come into full bloom. Summer is the time for the Hydrangea and here there are many species that I have never seen before.
There always seems to be something to see at Trevarez and even right up to Christmas, the park has activities that encourage the visitor through the gates. Their huge success is well known in this part of France when they show nativity scenes from all over the world, which take you into a journey of adventure and understanding about how Christmas is celebrated all over the world.
On entering Trevarez, you may be fooled into thinking that the first building you see is the chateau. I was, although this added to the pleasure, because the real treat waited for me, and half way around the gardens, I was suddenly greeted by this immense and impressive building that actually took my breath away. It's towers are enchanting, and the way in which it dominates the horizon really is impressive. The first building on the estate is actually where exhibitions take place, and it also has a cafe with food at reasonable prices of the snack variety, as well as refreshing drinks of a non alcoholic nature.
There is a shop where species that have been developed at Trevarez are sold at reasonable prices, and here I was astounded to see a Rhododendron that was bright orange, and missed the opportunity by minutes as someone else bought it.
From the cafe area, paths lead either directly to the chateau itself, or downwards into the gardens. I always take the lower path which leads through woodlands, past the hude Gunara plants that always surprise me, and around the water feature area which climbs steeply over a rocky path towards the formal gardens of the chateau. This is the only area of Trevarez which is unsuitable for the disabled, although there is still plenty to see for visitors that have mobility problems. Toilets are provided which cater for the disabled visitor.
The formal gardens are less to my liking, although do give a fine entranceway to the chateau itself which offers the tourist information, as well as housing exhibitions of the history of the chateau, and a tourist shop which I found quite pricey.
There is no actual visit to parts of the chateau that would have been home to the owners of the property which is a great shame, and the whole of the ground floor is devoted to telling
people about what story lies behind the chateau rather letting the visitor have an insight into what it would have felt like to live in an astounding building such as this. From the size of the rooms and the layout, I would imagine that life in such a place would have depended upon fires being stoked 24 hours a day as they are vast and a little impersonal.
Events which are worthy of note are the seasonal ones, and I visit most of these, as the modest entrance fee of 4 Euros seems well worth a day out in a marvellous place. These include :
Festival of Camelias)
19th to 21st March.
Festival of Rhododendrons
du 5 au 8 mai
Minature Gardens
28th May for one week.
Festival of Hydrangea and Fushcia
14th to 17th July
To me, these are the moments that are the best, when each area of plantation that is hilighted is at its best. The miniature gardens are something that is relatively new, and for me proved disappointing, whilst the best time I have had here has been in the Spring during the Festival of the Camelias which are beautiful flowers, though sadly so shortlived. In between the Festival of Camelias and the Festival of Rhododendrons, there is a wonderful display of azaleas, and even though the site for Trevarez only lists these events, I can assure visitors that other times offer just as much as these that are hilighted, because a garden is an evolution, and at each stage of that evolution, the colours and atmostphere is dictated by nature.
Guided visits are free (after having paid the standard entrance fee of 4 Euros (around 2.50 GBP), although I am never keen on guided visits as I prefer to find my own way around gardens like those at Trevarez. There is also a train that takes those who are unable to walk the whole distance from the entrance gate through the grounds and up to the chateau and back. This may seem like a distraction for those wanting to find peace and solace, although it really does not seem to be noisy or intrusive to other visitors.
Opening Hours : From 1 - 6 Out of season.
11- 6.30 July and August.
In finishing my review of Trevarez, I would conclude that this is a treasure of a place, and one that has never disappointed me. It is situated outside Gourin in Brittany, and is well signposted, has adequate free parking for cars and coaches (and in the shade), and to me is the ideal for family visits and visits by people seeking somewhere that offers a day out in a place that isn't overrun by tourists. The only snag from a transport point of view is that there is not public transport in this region though visiting by car or coach is well worth it. 85 hectares of land offers space and you can actually walk for miles without seeing another tourist, even though the visiting numbers are enormous, which makes a refreshing change.
Trevarez has so much to offer the visitor. Why not try it ?
I did, and I shall be going back there tomorrow to see the display of Azaleas, which never fail to impress me.
Rachel
Summary: A wonderful day out.
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