Providing intimate insight into life in a French chateau, this volume takes readers on an insider's tour of the Chateau du Lude, a private residence that features its original decorative interiors. Nestled in the idyllic Loire Valley, the Chateau du Lude is one of the most historic chateaus in France; Bluebeard besieged the castle on his way to join Joan of Arc's crusade, and it earned the rare distinction of having survived the French Revolution intact. Today, the Lude is inhabited and impeccably maintained by the Count and Countess Louis-Jean de Nicolay, whose family has owned the property for over 250 years. They invite readers to discover the chateau's well-preserved interiors and gardens, which feature a medieval kitchen, an Italian Renaissance studiolo, and exceptional horse stables, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of the chateau's inhabitants, past and present. Newly commissioned photographs offer unprecedented access into the hidden corners of the estate otherwise closed to the general public.