COURTABLEAU HOUSE

                is surrounded by  lovely park-like gardens of flowers,banana trees, cedar, Australian willow, Cannas, crepe myrtles, palm trees, fig, persimmon, Japanese loquat, blackberry bushes, sprawling wisteria, elephant ears, roses, and, of course, wonderful Catalpa trees! 

The old French Colonial Era, Creole plantation (circa 1820) once owned by Jean-Batiste LaFleur, has now been re-incarnated as, COURTABLEAU HOUSE PLANTATION B&B. Eerily reminiscent of a French West Indies sugar plantation house, Courtableau House is centrally located and rests on a hillside two blocks off of Main St. downtown, in Washington, La. on Carriere St.

Guests climb a cement staircase, to encounter a rusty, hand-tooled, iron gate covered with vines. Until recently, it was the only aperture  through which one could peek for a look at the beautiful and solitary old house, the first sale of which property, dates to 1842!  Surrounded by a wall of greenery and aproned with a large front gallery of white balustrades and colonettes (upon which are rocking chairs and small tables scattered against a sunlit wall of orange and yellow) she resembles an old nanny watching over the neighborhood 'kids' of newer houses, while awaiting anticipated guests. 

Long, vertical flags of dark green board 'n baton, strap-hinged shutters, mocked by swaying yellow-green banana trees, add interest and mystique to the happily painted face of the grand gallery. A turning staircase at the end of the porch, conveys the great age and period of this house!

 Two, very old French doors at the center of the gallery, above which hangs a large, wrought-iron lantern, opens into an elegant foyer beckoning guests to enter a forgotten world of earthly and culinary delight! Bienvenu chez Courtableau House!

 Very tall, orange, daylilies greet all guests as they stand facing the vine draped, picket fencing on the elevation leading up the concrete staircase. A charming, hand-painted, shield-shaped sign, with a waitor's "arm" graciously offering a cup of steaming cafe-au-lait from the right, and the other holding up a delicious-looking "cake" from atop of this elegant hand-made sign, informs and excites the weary traveler, and clientele, alike.  Walk around the corner of the house towards the alley of crepe myrtles leading right-side the gallery, and your eyes are drawn to another surprise in this park-like garden. It's an alluring, circular pond encircled by a 'curtain of banana trees' where guests relax with summer cocktails.

Courtableau House offers three private suites each equipped with private bathrooms, individual AC units, lovely French and Louisiana antiques, art and lavish drapery and bedding. An ironing board and iron are available for guests in the rear armoir.

All of the rooms, including bathrooms, are adorned with beautiful, unique and varied floral arrangements taken from the gardens, and designed by Mark Gillis, Courtableau House's Concierge and one-time host of Chretien Point plantation. Mark maintains a private greenhouse and nursery out back and often leads our tours round about Washington.

The PARIS SUITE, elegant, with its' burgundy colored walls and gold filigree trimmed boiserie panels. Rectangular and square forms complement the heavy rich cut velvet drapes lined with gold fringing and cut acanthus leaf of gold and black. Adorned with an authentic Louis xvi bed, in burled walnut and detailed, 'or moulu', with matching armoir, one realizes he/she has stepped into the likes of a fine 19th C French hotel suite!  La belle chambre flows into its' own private bathroom which features a most unusual, clawfooted, 'Princess tub' for guests' relaxation and comfort, in an atmosphere of lovely accountrements.

The Paris Suite enjoys the use of the Orleans Room, (recently re-decorated) the main parlor of the plantation, directly across the spacious foyer separated by two sets of French doors. This doubled parlor features fine French antiques and American Empire furniture. Beautiful!

Elegant, fresh floral arrangements, from the gardens outside, grace each room! The furnishings throughout the home, along with the art, old and new, is fabulous!

The CARIBBEAN CREOLE SUITE, trimmed in rich, dark chocolate framing, with azur blue beamed ceiling,  French chandeliers, West-African masks and French doors which open on to the large, balconied gallery, create the sensation of being in the gulf stream, connecting Louisiana to its French and Caribbean roots. Indeed, the rich French country furnishings and fabrics in this suite complete an ambience of comfort, and offer a true confrontation of a world lost, but hidden, among the mango colored walls of this unique sitting room.  

It, too, has its' own charming bath with another large claw-footed tub and pedestal lavatoire across from the bed chamber covered in rich floral bedding and drapery! Yellow doors and waxed, hardwood floors, grace this intriguing bed room. 

This bedroom, known as the 'petit cabinet', at the back of the mango-colored sitting room, offers an antique porcelain, forged iron bed, complete with flowing mosqito net and hand-crafted,1800s French armoir. This elegant Louisiana Creole bed chamber also has antique Louisiana ladder back chairs.

The GARCONNIERE, is an upstairs room of half-timbered, red cypress and plaster walls of pale green. Equipped with two, full-size antique beds of white,painted iron and fitted brass finials, guests enjoy a private bath behind a 'secret passage' . Our more youthful (and agile!) guests climb a sturdy, but steep old staircase to enjoy the amazing ambience which awaits them.

Call us today at 337 331 5688 or 331 5681!or email us at: info@courtableauhouse.com

 (garden & plantation tours must be scheduled 3wks in advance of arrival)