Fit for an empress: Château Choully

Approach Château Choully today, and, from the exterior at least, you’ll be viewing it much as the Empress Joséphine, first wife to Napoleon Bonaparte, did when she stayed here in the late 18th century. In fact this spectacular property, 30 minutes west of Geneva in the village of Choully, retains the same form as when it was built in 1721 by Genevan nobleman Charles Lullin.

Positioned discreetly at the foot of the Jura mountains, breathtaking views of Mont Salève and Mont Blanc can be enjoyed from virtually every room. The region’s world-renowned vineyards have – collectively with neighbouring Bordigny and Peissy – earned it status as a Swiss National Heritage site.

“The property itself is incredibly private,” says Alex Koch de Gooreynd, a partner in Knight Frank’s Global Super Prime Residential team. “Safety, stability and outdoor lifestyle are the big draws to Switzerland. Locals head to the mountain region for skiing in winter or go hiking up the Jura Hills. Geneva airport is 15 minutes from the house, perfect for weekend getaways.”

The house stayed in the Lullin family for 300 years, until 1968, when it passed to the Turretinis, another prominent local family. The current owners took over in 2007 and embarked on a decade-long, no-expense-spared restoration respecting its historical past and equipping it for the 21st century.

The entire château was painstakingly redecorated, with every floorboard lifted, the roof and plumbing replaced, and smart heating and electrical systems installed throughout. Notably, each of its 13 fireplaces is now working for the first time since the 18th century. Outside, new LED spotlights have been positioned around the grounds to illuminate the property after sunset.

Yet its history remains: The glistening centrepiece of the château is the Gold Salon; a grand, 570 sq ft reception room with oak parquet flooring dating back to the property’s earliest days, and lined in carefully restored gold leaf. The Joséphine Salon still contains the bed the Empress slept on, along with the secret doorway she may or may not have used leading to the principal suite. Even the original wallpaper, designed by acclaimed artist Jean Jaquet, has been revived.

The gardens have been modelled on its original 18th-century design, something Charles Lullin was unable to complete at the time. Divided into three sections by tree-lined alleys, there’s a mix of manicured lawns and rose gardens, dotted with sculptures of mythical figures, including Dionysus, god of wine. A newly upgraded swimming pool and tennis court lie just beyond. “While there are similar types of houses in the area, none have been restored to this quality,” Alex adds. “It now very much feels like a family home.”