The history and pastoral beauty of Limousin are embodied in the Château de Saint Germain, a historic monument whose origin is traced to the 12th Century. Three lakes; a moat with a drawbridge; an orangerie; and a host of outbuildings, parkland, and meadows are among the features of this ancient estate, established by the Foucaulds in 1182. The water system that feeds the moat predates the castle’s construction and is thought to be of Roman origin. The château was rebuilt in the 13th and 16th Centuries, and over the following 200 years, it was destroyed and rebuilt on at least two occasions. A 20-year restoration in the mid 1800s defined the building as it stands today, a magnificent structure spanning 16,000 square feet on three levels. The objective of the 1999–2004 restoration was to create a luxurious family residence. Modern elements, such as plumbing and central heating, coexist with architectural elements that have evolved over five centuries. From the splendor of the grand Gothic staircase to the state-of-the-art technology of the cinema, this lovingly restored castle blends the ancient and the modern to create a unique home for contemporary living. The contents of the château can be acquired through separate negotiation