The T's Are Second Group of Americans to Make Limesy History

Dateline Normandy -- Our visit with the de Bagneuxs included a tour of their photo and portrait salon where they proudly display the picture (above) of Gen. Eisenhower while he was staying at the family chateau in Limesy during the liberation of France. The U.S. Army set up Camp Gold at the family compound not long after D-Day, chasing out the German soldiers who had forced out the de Bagneux family and took over the chateau, eventually pillaging everything before the arrival of the allies. This was the same group that we assume led to the hasty departure of the soldiers that occupied our own Chateau Blanc. During the time the U.S. army was stationed on the grounds, Louis, a young boy at the time, got to know all the officers and one of them made a book of drawings of everyone in the family and fellow officers and presented it to the de Bagneuxs (photos above), which is a treasure souvenir. After the army cleared out, Louis's father decided to raze the whole castle, disgusted by what the German soldiers had done to it. He then built the "new chateau'' (photos in entry below), which is simply breaktaking, situated on a hill and overlooking the rest of the domaine which includes their own 17th century chapel as well as the empty grounds where the old castle stood. It's a touching site to see the de Bagneux's faces light up when they start talking about the liberation of their home by the allies and gratitude they still harbor. So we're proud to be the "second" group of Americans to be welcomed there... ~30~