Travel and Lifestyle

A Renaissance chateau with a fairytale romance behind it

Sully is one of the largest chateaux in the region. Although its origins date back to the Roman era, the house grew into its current magnificence during the sixteenth century in the hands of the Saulx Tavannes family. Two centuries on, Sully passed to Charlotte le Belin, dame d’Eguilly, who had married an Irish doctor called John MacMahon. His ancient lineage was recognised by Louis XV and he was given the right to use the title Marquis d’Eguilly, which became Marquis de MacMahon. His grandson Maurice was granted the title Duc de Magenta as a reward for his victories on the battlefield in the mid-nineteenth century. Maurice later became the third President of the French Republic (1873-1879).

The ceiling and decorative panelled walls in russian green set a grand tone in the ballroom.

Paul Massey

A Renaissance chateau with a fairytale romance behind it

Paul Massey

Thirty years after that meeting in the ballroom, Amelie, who became the Duchesse de Magenta when she married in 1990, remains the proud chatelaine of Sully. It was here, with its moat, countless bedrooms and wonderful state rooms, stunning courtyards and vast and varied outbuildings, that she and Philippe, who died in 2002, raised their two children. Pélagie, 25, now works for an events company in London, and Maurice, 23, the 5th Duc de Magenta and 10th Marquis de MacMahon, is currently in Lyon working and studying to become an ingénieur. ‘He’s at one of France’s most prestigious ecoles Arts et Métiers,’ says Amelie. ‘And, yes, his mother is extremely proud!’ Keeping Amelie company while her children are away are her dogs. Her fox terrier, Gyulai, was named after the Hungarian commander of the Austrian troops that Maréchal Maurice de MacMahon defeated at the battle of Magenta in 1859.

A large marble fireplace faces a low table in the dining room. The dusty pink tablecloth matches the details on the...

A large marble fireplace faces a low table in the dining room. The dusty pink tablecloth matches the details on the chairs and maya blue rug.

Paul Massey

In order to ensure the future of the chateau, Amelie opens it to about 25,000 visitors each year. She puts on lively tours and Hallowe’en visits for children, and for the past 12 years, she has enlisted the skills of the performer Thomas Volatier, a man with great talent for telling a story, making people laugh and generally making visitors see things differently. ‘It’s far better than having them trudging round with speakers in their ears, eyes glazing over at yet another list of dates or a history lesson,’ she says. There are also gala evenings, celebratory dinners and all kinds of spectacles to keep the place brimming.

Amelie and her fox terrier Gyulai in the drawing room. The plaster walls have a trompe l'œil design to make them look...

Amelie and her fox terrier Gyulai in the drawing room. The plaster walls have a trompe l’œil design to make them look like wood panelling.

Paul Massey

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