“During the summer of 2020, photographer Luna De Vittorio traveled across France in search of locations with distinctive interior design, discovering along the way architectural gems known to only a few, such as Château Bourmont, Manoir Equivocal, and Château Autigny. Luna’s photographs gave rise to a project that is still ongoing: her Insiders Project, in which she seeks to bring visibility to lesser-known places that, in her view, deserve recognition. Today, the focus is on Manoir Equivocal, in the province of Côte-d’Or, in Burgundy.”

‘Its thick and welcoming walls offer hospitality in a place where silence and nature reign supreme. The building, set among woods, grain fields, and the vast vineyards of the Route des Grands Crus, embodies the perfect balance between 15th-century architecture, modern design, and sustainability,’ the photographer explains.

The village enjoys an ideal location that invites wine tastings and cycling trips. While the historic building has been completely restored, the new section was created under the guidance of owner Irene Lenoir and architect Sylvain Gast. In the brand-new area called Cabanes de l’Oré, the rooms are small cabins made from natural, locally sourced, and sustainable materials. A walkway connects the sleeping area level to a large kitchen that opens onto a glass-walled living room.’

extract from ad italia, april 2021

“Interiors with unique, timeworn design, places still little known to mass tourism, captured in the photographs of Luna De Vittorio.”

‘Château Bourmont is a bed & breakfast located in the small village of Bourmont-entre-Meuse-et-Mouzon, in the Haute-Marne region. As soon as you step into this idiosyncratic 18th-century palace, you feel as though you’re entering a place rich in spirituality and magic: the walls still bear the marks of time and continue to resonate with the stories of those who once lived within them. The current owner, Peter, a former teacher and musician, was so struck by the building that he decided to leave his native Amsterdam to devote himself to its care and restoration,’ explains the photographer.

‘The property boasts as many rooms as there are details that have remained untouched and faithful to the past. Visiting the château is like visiting a museum with a homely atmosphere. There are vintage, romantic, lived-in details everywhere you look.’

Highlights of a stay at the B&B include homemade jams made with local ingredients, yoga retreats, and village tours personally led by Peter. A haven for writers, artists, and musicians, it is the ideal place for exchanging ideas and discovering new interests.

Extract from ad italia, march 2021

“The photographic tour across France by Luna De Vittorio continues. Today, the focus is on Château d’Autigny-la-Tour, a romantic castle with timeless charm.

Today, the spotlight is on Château d’Autigny-la-Tour.

“This castle, rebuilt in the 18th century by the Count of Gondrecourt in the heart of Lorraine, introduces us to the lifestyle of the aristocratic classes of the 17th and 18th centuries. It is located at the entrance of the picturesque village of Autigny-la-Tour, built in a basin carved out by the Vair River. Among the distinguished guests of the palace was Prince Albert (the future George VI of England). The château overlooks a French-style garden and a two-hectare park filled with trees and enclosed grounds, where there is also a water basin dating back to the time of its construction,’ explains the photographer.

The rooms, each distinguished by a different theme (for example, the blue room and the Chinese room), are rich in baroque and opulent details. They are reached by ascending the monumental staircase in the entrance hall, which opens onto a large dining room with windows overlooking the regal main courtyard. A stay at the château includes gastronomic experiences, hiking, and hydrotherapy.’

A curious detail: the place is rich in secret relics that cannot be documented; the owners invite guests to discover them in person due to the uniqueness of their mysterious stories.”Una curiosità: Il posto è ricco di reliquie segrete non documentabili che i proprietari invitano a visitare di persona data l’unicità delle loro misteriose storie.”

extract from ad italia, april 2021

2020