A Horse riding, horse breeding, horse racing ... Did you know that in France horse racing is the biggest entertainment and business? It is true, the highest biddings can be made in a combination of one  leader, two or three in a row or a multiple winners in a tobacco shop or directly at most of the hippodromes.  Due to the danger of contamination the races whether we are talking of any discipline such as galloping or trotter, flat and jumps horse races has been stopped in France and in all the EU countries, but not in Sweden... Which has remained a secure platform for the jockeys and their trusted favourites to train, show themselves, race and even to win . That was the case for “Grandissimo” - young stallion (only of 2 years old) who is the youngest of the horses that belong to HRH Princessin Angela von Hochnenzollern. “Grandissimo” has won the first prize without getting any getting any injury! HRHPrincessin   often pays her visits to Normandy and Paris  for visiti...

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Have you ever thought? Have you ever dreamt of living in the Castle, not just a Manor House but a real Fortress with walls of over 2 meters  up to 3,5 meters thick.. And did you envision that being inside such Castle walls is absolutely gorgeous... absolute sound proof  a dream for those who love having a feeling of securiness, playing music instruments whether it is a bass, piano, keyboard, violin, drums, saxophone, acoustic or electric and not to have complaining neighbours... absolute fabulous to expressing  yourself playing, singing, listening  to the music with or without amplification with a sense of no need to limiting yourself depending on time of day or night ... If often happens that way in the music room in Montbrun Castle...  the music is heard during the day and sometimes, depending on inspiration, during the nightly hours... when the family members play various music instruments, compose and share their skills with friends and guests.  ...

Starting today we changed the website URL (name) of our blogs-website… Initially “ castlelifes.com " now “ castlesouls.com " The reasons are that 1.“lifes” is not a proper English word, nut was used because of availability of domain names. 2. We are and will be talking about people who live in castles or at least are associated with the         circles of its castle-lords… but also about history and the ones who build them as well who spent their lives within such walls in the near as well as distant past. Hence we thought that relating to their souls was a more appropriate approach. In order to emphasize this, we are posting today 2 youtube videos about the history of the 3 historical people that are associated with the origins of Montbrun Castle and the nobility of the Angevin Empire. They basically tell the same story with a somewhat different view and leave out certain facts or adjust them according to the presenters views and purpose. ...

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    In todays post, let’s talk about some history and the people connected to the origins of Montbrun Castle. According to one story (and as you may suspect there are many; some true and others more ambiguous) the request to build the stronghold came from the English queen: Eleanor of Aquitaine… who was set to defend her ancestral Aquitaine against the conquests of her former husband King Louis VII of France. Some time ago we stumbled on this YouTube video above. After meticulous study, the conclusion was that, although many events in her life were committed and also the description of the demise of her son King Richard I (the lionhearted) remains unclear and erroneous, as is her relation to her other (living) son John Lackland who succeeded Richard. But overall it gives a good picture of who and how she was… and the way she spent her life. That Richard was closely concerned with Montbrun is widely known and undisputed… but Eleanor’s role remains in the cloud,...

YOU may recognise some of them....  it was a beautiful year where an elite of castle-owners came together multiple times at Montbrun Castle and vice versa.... Feel free to share your comments below...

Adalberto Vanghese, the 6th Viscount of Lucca Last week, the Baron of Montbrun received a call from his old friend and associate Adalberto Vanghese, the 6th Viscount of Lucca ( whose family roots go back to the grandson of Boniface in the 9th century ).   Although Adalberto (or Tino, for his friends) has often been involved in unusual and intriguing situations during his eventful life, which he usually handled with great verve in his own typical way… he was now, at the age of 77, near desperation. During this conversation, he revealed to the baron that he did barely sleep anymore and kept walking around during the long hours of the night wandering through the labyrinth of corridors and halls in his palazzo in Lombardy without being capable of resting his mind. In 1991, kept secret from his family and the community of the Italian noblesse, he entered into a love affair with a young woman: his then secretary Isabella di Maggio . In his position, being an energe...

While the Corona Virus Pandemic 👑 continues and restrictions remain… no wonder that you feel tired.  However: there are situations and places that have not been infected and that are a wonderful means for an escape to unforgettable holidays, whereas no danger has been registered there.  That is where lots of Castle Dwellers escape for a break and a change of air. Obviously everyone needs so now and then a different ambiance...         Let us share with you a secret that until now is held by celebrities and nobility: Svalbard ...haven’t  heard about this secret destination before?  We are glad to reveal this fantastic archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, under the sovereignty of Norway.  There are no roads to connect its various settlements.  Instead snowmobiles, aircraft, and boats serve as local transport.  Svalbard Airport: “Longyear” is the main point of entry and exit. The island has...

In spite of whatever, May is always such is marvelous month… and the factual start of the season. It also is important because of major historical and internationally celebrated events such as: Labor Day,  the 75th Victory Anniversary of the defeat of the Nazi Regime and the end of World War II, ( where all world leaders have, as usual, given act of presence and among them Queen Elisabeth II of England and Willem Alexander from the Netherlands who gave fantastic emotional speeches and laid wreaths for the victims and the brave soldiers who risked, and often gave their lives ), the 76th Veterans Day of Battle in Normandy, the ( this year unfortunately postponed and to be held later without public ) Annual Cannes International Film Festival,  the ( this year sadly aborted ) Berliner Carnival of Cultures, the MONACO Historical Grand Prix ( this year unfortunately also cancelled ) and a few others that all Castle Lords and their guests are used to attend… However 2020 ...

At Chateau de Montbrun, the castle lord and his family continue to spend their time in a patrician manner… hosting dinners for their friends and associates, while respecting the rules on social distance, with up to 5 persons at the table. Obviously the pandemic measures are highly valued and taken in consideration before any gathering takes place in the main dining room. Normally there is seating for 25 people on the large table, now evidently reduced to 5…. The table setting is a very serious concern whereas each time it has a different theme, depending on the chosen dinnertime ingredients. Last night it consisted of a vibrant fuchsia linen tablecloth and napkins with luxurious 24 kt gold-plated crockery ( exclusively made for the Montbrun barony by l’Ancien Royale Porcelain factory of Limoges in Aix sur Vienne ), crystal “Bohème” produced glassware, sophisticated “Solingen” cutlery and floral decorations.  All together, in the surrounding area with its antique ta...

… horse riding, horse breeding, horse racing ... Did you know that in France horse racing is the biggest entertainment business?  It is true, the highest biddings can be made in a combination of one leader, two or three in a row or a multiple winners in a tobacco shop or directly at most of the  hippodromes. Due to the danger of contamination the races, whether we are talking of any discipline such as galloping or trotter, flat and jumps horse races, have been stopped in France and all the EU countries, except for Sweden... which has remained a secure platform for the jockeys and their trusted favourites to train, show themselves, race and:  to win . That was the case for “Grandissimo” - a young stallion ( only 2 years old ) who is the youngest in the horse stable of HRH Princess Angela von Hochnenzollern .  “Grandissimo”   won a first prize in one of the Swedish races, without even getting any injuries!  The princess often pays visits ...

Since years no one could remember such a silence around... There is a beauty in purines of the surrounding nature and bird’s songs making the start of the spring very inspiring ... As at the moment and more likely possible that the lockdown would continue until at least of mid June... all of us indeed need to remain isolated and avoid any contacts( apart from those you have been with) during the last 6 weeks ... Deapite the measures for avoiding contamination would be less restricting starting from the 11th of May ... We would truly advice not to rush seeing friends and attend public places for another 3-4 weeks ... You may ask why ? Most of you would have an answer to this question ... which you could leave below at the comments sectio for a discussion... In the meantime enjoy reading , doing some research and home barbecue ...As the moth of May won’t be yet a month to go out ... Looking our of the upper floor window seeing no vehicles passing by, no horse riders, no even loc...

What do we do in these silent and complicated situation... The caretaker(s) of the Castle are awaiting that activities will restart as of old... Yet, other than an occasional visit by helicopter from the Castle Lord and Lady and some intimate friends, it remains closed up. But please keep on coming back here, as we will keep you updated for when Castle Lifes becomes dynamic again... we are certain that it won't take long and even though, plenty of events may still take place involving all our genuine friend and guests outside the Castle odder in the estates of their own. So do not go down because of this crisis, but party on the loose and enjoy from Castle Lifes 👆

The current global situation makes the habitats to remain mostly indoors, keeping warm and enjoying the sound of the fireplace ... 👆