Berry: Saint-Amand -Montrond
Château de la Commanderie L A
D O L C E
V I T A
The Berry region is defined more by state of mind than geographic boundaries. As with most of France’s traditional pays, which existed long before bureaucrats divided the country into modern departments, inclusion is determined by subjective,“know it when you see it” criteria.To say that rural Berry is the heart of the hexagon is literally and figuratively correct, and Château de la Commanderie has been at this epicenter since the eleventh century.The village of Farges Allichamps is a convenient distance from the north-south chain of highways that intersects the country from Calais on the English Channel to Montpelier on the shores of the Mediterranean—a fitting coordinate for a château that welcomes visitors with all its heart. Guests are immediately put at ease by co-proprietor Laura Ronsisvale’s laughing eyes and spontaneous warmth. Umberto and Laura Ronsisvale embody the best of European hospitality: Italian by birth, Spanish by ancestry, and Francophile to the core.They acquired La Commanderie in 2002 from the Jouffroy-Gonsans, an aristocratic family who had owned it since the seventeenth century.The Ronsisvales were captivated by the château’s domestic charm and are determined to preserve the ambiance of a family home. Umberto, an international lawyer, has lived and worked throughout Europe, as well as in China and the United States, while Laura, a Bologna native, was a police officer in her former life.The couple discovered French château d’hôte (château guest house) hospitality as tourists and were impressed by how much friendlier they are than comparable villa bed112