Clockwise from top left:

Clockwise from top left: Sitting kitchen 1, dining room, theatre, It would be hard not to love the chateau - from the windows of the ground floor grand salon with its comfy sofas and grand piano you can see the chateau vineyards. Family photos line the piano and there's one of the late British Queen Mutoo. I tell him they have a photo of her at the Chateau du Lude not too far away. "She certainly seems to have got around" I say and he tells me she loved France and made many private visits. Another photo is of the Duke's wife, a former ballet dancer with the Vienna ballet, in it she is being held aloft by a male dancer in tights "not me" the Duke says hastily. In the chapel is his wife's wedding dress and press cuttings showing their fairy tale wedding. It's an intimate view of the life of an historic chateau that you don't often get. En route to the wine cellar for a tasting of the wine that the Duke produces from his vineyards, we spot a dog looking longingly at us through a door. The Duke lets him out and the friendly dog is exuberant, panting with pleasure to meet new people. "19" says the Duke "behave".

oom, kitchen 2 When one time owner Jacques de Brézé caught his wife with her lover, he murdered them both. Legend has it that the adulterous couple still haunt the chateau He explains the dog was a stray, it turned up at the chateau running through rooms causing mayhem. Nobody knew where it came from, the Duke tried to find the owner but couldn't and his four children begged to keep the little dog. It was the 19th December muses the Duke, he couldn't resist, the dog stayed and they called it 19. Christmas is a special time here at the Chateau, which hosts one of the oldest Christmas markets in the west of France and certainly one of the most original. The castle is decorated, artisans and food producers tempt with delicious gifts, food and wine, a unique event and very festive. The chateau has a lovely cafe and cellar where you can taste and buy delicious wine. I'd recommend you allow at least two hours to appreciate everything and extra for the gorgeous gardens. It's a glorious castle, uniquely tall among the many Loire Valley Chateaux and well worth a visit. Details and opening hours: Chateau de Brissac. Information for local area: Angers Loire Tourism