Château des Jamonières

The Château des Jamonières, also known as Château des Marais, is a castle located in Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu. It lies about 20–25 km southwest of Nantes, on a beautiful 12-hectare estate with ponds, a small forest, meadows, and vineyards, offering views over Lake Grand-Lieu.

History

The estate has a rich history spanning over 500 years:

In the 15th century, the domain belonged to the de Laval family. It later passed to Jehan de Craon and the infamous Gilles de Rais, before returning to the Le Ferron family.

At the beginning of the 18th century, it entered the Juchault family through the marriage of Christophe Juchault (lord of several estates) to Geneviève Marquise Prudence Bouhier de La Vérie.

After the French Revolution, it belonged to Louis Marie Juchault des Jamonières, who also owned the nearby Clermont estate.

In 1855, it passed to the heirs of Léon Arthur Patas d’Illiers and Laurence Mathilde Juchault des Jamonières.

Arthur Antonin Juchault, Baron des Jamonières, had the current castle built in 1881 on family land (the original building had been destroyed during the Revolution).

In 1882, the famous shipowner Fernand Crouan (who commissioned the tall ship Belem) acquired the property. It remained with the Crouan family and later passed to the Padiou family.

In 2020, it was purchased by Olivier Marais (OMEFI group) and transformed into a hotel. It has since been renamed Château des Marais.

Architecture and Current Use

The castle is a neoclassical-inspired building constructed in the late 19th century. It now functions as a private luxury hotel / mansion with:

Accommodation and event spaces (ideal for weddings, seminars, or stays)

Its own vineyard producing AOC Muscadet Côtes de Grand Lieu wines

An art gallery

Regional product sales

The location is convenient: around 20 minutes from Nantes Airport and 35 minutes from the Atlantic coast.