View printer entries


Local Attractions

Monday, May 16th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

WELCOME

Local Attractions: 6 Things to do while staying at Bocage Plantation

Bocage Plantation is situated conveniently between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Our location gives you easy access to some of the most remarkable sights in all of Louisiana. You’ll never be at a loss of things to do. So, make sure to bring a camera, because when you stay at Bocage Plantation, you’re sure to make some memories!
Here are our 6 favorite local attractions.

1. Plantations along River Road
Take a tour down old River Road to get a glimpse of the romantic history and gorgeous architecture of Louisiana. The Smithsonian Institute refers to River Road as a museum of the American south as it has more than 120 registered items. You’ll see gorgeous plantation homes, haunted swamps, and historical points of interest as you tour this scenic area of New Orleans. See the same towering homes and breathtaking oak trees that Mark Twain once wrote about.

2. Mall of Louisiana
This 1.6 million square foot mall is the largest in the region, and it contains more than 175 retailers as well as a movie theater. The Mall of Louisiana offers something for everyone, and with its convenient location in Baton Rouge, this is the perfect way to spend your day when staying here at Bocage Plantation.

3. Perkins Rowe
This unique Baton Rouge district has been described by some as “Louisiana’s answer to California.” The Perkins Rowe district is dotted with boutique shops, fine restaurants, and an assortment of entertainment options. It’s hip. It’s fresh. It’s trendy. And there’s always something fun and exciting to do in Perkins Rowe. So, come enjoy this exciting new community during your Bocage visit.

4. The Old Louisiana State Capitol
From the mid 1800s until 1929, this building housed the Louisiana State Legislature. Designed by New York architect James Dakin, the Old Louisiana State Capitol boasts a Gothic Cathedral style that includes stained glass windows, towers, and a general castle feel. It’s one of the most distinguished examples of Gothic architecture in the entire country, and with its downtown Baton Rouge location, it’s situated not far from Bocage Plantation.

5. LSU Tiger Stadium

Originally nicknamed “Deaf Valley”, the outdoor football stadium of the LSU Tigers opened all the way back in 1924. But don’t let that fool you. Renovations have made this football stadium current and huge. It seats more than 90,000 fans, making it the 9th largest stadium in the NCAA. Geaux Tigers!

6. Louisiana State Museum
Soak in the diverse aspects of Louisiana history and culture by taking a trip to the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge. There are two permanent Louisiana-themed exhibits as well as a constant rotation of new exhibits showcasing the area’s unique history. You’ll learn about everything from the Louisiana Purchase to Mardis Gras during your museum visit.

Still looking for more exciting things to do while at Bocage Plantation? We can help. The list of exciting sights goes on and on.
Plan your trip to Bocage Plantation today!

FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION CONTACT:

General Manager, ; 225-588-8000

Le Reve Bocage™

TOURS

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

TOURS

TOURS (Tours by: Le Reve Bocage LLC)
Wednesday through Sunday, 12 – 5 p.m.
$20 per person, no charge for children under 12
Group Discounts Available
Call (225)588-8000 for appointment.


DRIVING DIRECTIONS

FROM NEW ORLEANS
Take Interstate 10 west. Take exit number 179, LA Hwy 44, marked Gonzales. Turn left onto LA Hwy 44 and go 3.8 miles (through three traffic lights). About a half mile after you cross LA Hwy 22, you will turn right onto historic Old River Road, LA, Hwy 942. Continue 2 and half miles until you reach Bocage.

FROM BATON ROUGE
take Interstate 10 east. Take exit number 179, LA Hwy 44, marked Gonzales. Turn right onto LA Hwy 44 and go 3.8 miles (through three traffic lights). About a half mile after you cross LA Hwy 22, you will turn right onto historic Old River Road, LA, Hwy 942. Continue 2 and half miles until you reach Bocage.


VICE PRESIDENT and GENERAL MANAGER


225-588-8000

Location: 39050 Highway 942 | Darrow, LA 70725 | Phone: 225-588-8000 | Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Le Reve Bocage™

WEDDINGS

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

WEDDINGS

Bocage Plantation – A Magical Wedding Experience
Imagine your special day at a National Historic Landmark. The Bocage Plantation began its legacy over 200 years ago. We know you will cherish this day for the rest of your life as you share this with your friends and family.

Let us help you plan the wedding experience of a lifetime as we take you back to Louisiana as it was in the 1800’s. Bocage is a 7000 sq. ft. historic building that allows for a glorious backdrop for a romantic and memorable setting for your wedding.

Accommodations at Bocage are perfect for the family and within minutes are a number of
brand hotels for friends.

To schedule appointments and tours of our historical home and grounds, please
call
(225) 588-8000. Experience the Extraordinary, Experience Bocage.

Let the journey begin……

You may use your own caterer and wedding vendors or wedding coordinator. We will provide a magnificent backdrop for your wedding at a very reasonable price.


ADDRESS
39050 LA Hwy 942
Darrow, LA 70725

TELEPHONE
225-588-8000

GENERAL MANAGER
Vice President and General Manager

225-588-8000


Location: 39050 Highway 942 | Darrow, LA 70725 | Phone: 225-588-8000 | Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Le Reve Bocage™

LOCATION and CONTACT INFORMATION

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

LOCATION and CONTACT INFORMATION

ADDRESS
39050 LA Hwy 942
Darrow, LA 70725

225-588-8000

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

FROM NEW ORLEANS
take Interstate 10 west. Take exit number 179, LA Hwy 44, marked Gonzales. Turn left onto LA
Hwy 44 and go 3.8 miles (through three traffic lights). About a half mile after you cross LA Hwy 22, you will turn right onto historic Old River Road, LA, Hwy 942. Continue 2 and half miles until you reach Bocage.

FROM BATON ROUGE
take Interstate 10 east. Take exit number 179, LA Hwy 44, marked Gonzales. Turn right onto LA
Hwy 44 and go 3.8 miles (through three traffic lights). About a half mile after you cross LA Hwy 22, you will turn right onto historic Old River Road, LA, Hwy 942. Continue 2 and half miles until you reach Bocage.


GENERAL MANAGER

Vice President and General Manager

225-588-8000


Location: 39050 Highway 942 | Darrow, LA 70725 | Phone: 225-588-8000 | Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Le Reve Bocage™

WELCOME

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

WELCOME

Considereddd the best and most original interpretation of American Greek Revival architecture in the nation, Bocage is an historic treasure not to be missed. Steeped in history with ties to Christopher Columbus and the early colonization of America, the magnificent mansion was designed by famous architect James Dakin and built in 1840. (The original 1801 Creole cottage on the site burned.)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Bocage is well documented in many books and it has been used as a Hollywood movie set.
It has long been considered one of the jewels of the River Road plantations between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Dr. Marion Rundell, a native of Louisiana and a well-respected pathologist has returned the mansion to its original splendor. "The plantation has never been open for public tours," he said. "When I purchased Bocage in 2008 my goal was to open it for the public to enjoy. It is a unique property that maintains an important role in the history of the great plantation houses of the United States. Now you can visit it and see why it holds such an important historical role."

Now an elegant bed and breakfast, the stately mansion is open for tours and group functions. No expense has been spared to furnish the mansion in fine antiques and accessories, from the great furniture makers such as Mallard, Belter, Roux, Lee, Meeks and others, to grand Baccarat and Waterford chandeliers. "We have paintings by famous artists such as Rembrandt Peale and Thomas Sully, and even a fine clock signed by Tiffany. We are also proud of our fine collection of Old Paris porcelain vases," Dr. Rundell explained.

The second-level grand rooms overlook the levee that fronts the Mississippi River. Handsome double parlors open onto the front gallery that provides a panoramic view of the 100-acre plantation.

Located about an hour from New Orleans, or 20 minutes from Baton Rouge, Bocage is on the East Bank of the Great River Road, approximately 47 miles from New Orleans and just a short distance from Interstate-10 (turn off I-10 at Highway 22).


Location: 39050 Highway 942 | Darrow, LA 70725 | Phone: 225-588-8000 | Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Le Reve Bocage™

BED & BREAKFAST

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

BED & BREAKFAST

BOCAGE PLANTATION OPENS FOR TOURS AND BED & BREAKFAST GUESTS

Always a private home, Bocage Plantation, located on the east bank of the Mississippi River 47 miles west from New Orleans, will open to the public for the first time for tours and as a gracious bed and breakfast on October 1.

The unique historic mansion on 110 acres features a grand mansion that was built in 1837. The mansion has been completely restored to its past grandeur with four rooms available for overnight guests. Here you will sleep in a grand antique bed, with a modern private bathroom, and enjoy a walk back in time when plantation life was in full bloom.

“We have spared no expense in restoring every detail of Bocage to its original glory,” explained Dr. Marion Rundell, a native of Louisiana and a Houston pathologist, who purchased the property in 2008 with a dream of creating a grand bed and breakfast along the east bank of the historic River Road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

“I have been collecting fine antiques for the past 20 years with plans of someday owning a Louisiana Plantation house,” he said. “Bocage takes its place alongside eight other grand plantation on both the east and west bank of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that are open to the public.”

The home is furnished with many pieces created by the great furniture makers of the period such as Mallard, Belter, Roux, Meeks and Lee. “Bocage will always be a work in progress because I will never stop searching for great antiques to use in the home,” Dr. Rundell continued.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and considered the best and most original interpretation of American Greek Revival architecture in the nation, Bocage will be available for weddings, meetings, luncheons, teas and dinners.

Bed and breakfast guests are treated to a grand breakfast served on Limoges china with sterling silver flatware and crystal glassware to add to their pleasure.

AMENITIES

  • Full breakfast made to order
  • glass of wine on arrival
  • Evening snacks
  • Lord & Mayfair bath amenities
  • Hair dryer
  • Complimentary high-speed internet
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Steam showers
  • Double shower heads

BOCAGE – BATHROOMS WITH STEAMSHOWERS
Bathrooms were designed to be up to date; with Rohl satin nickel fixtures acceptable in a 19th Century plantation. The lighting is always adjustable to add ambiance. Some bathrooms have crystal chandeliers. Countertops are granite. Floors are marble.

All bathrooms have a state-of-the art steam showers usually associate it with a workout area or spa use. By having a steam unit in the shower, you are able to take a steam shower everyday, and having two temperatures of water coming from shower head and hand held units allows you to cool certain parts of your body (like your head) while the rest of your body is warm. The steam surrounds you evenly so that when you turn it off, you still feel nice and warm. Your back doesn’t get that drafty cold feeling you usually get in a regular shower.

When you use the bathrooms at Bocage, you feel you are in a clean and luxurious environment – fitting a plantation as grand as Bocage.

BOCAGE – BEDS
The mattresses were made specifically for Bocage Plantation. They are custom made to be extra firm with a pillow top. In addition, a small amount of memory foam was used on top – about 1-2-inches. Then a hypo-allergenic mattress pad was added on the top of the memory foam. Any pure foam mattress sleeps hot. The hypo-allergenic topper adds a layer of air between you and the foam, making it cooler. At Bocage, because of the possible allergy to down, we use a hypo-allergenic mattress topper and then cover over everything to protect and keep it all clean. This makes the mattresses firm but it gives a few inches. Generally, the foam mattresses everyone sells today are encompassing – you sink deeper, and sleep hotter. The systems we use at Bocage are firm, yet soft enough for you to feel comfortable, and to sleep cooler.

FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION CONTACT:

Vice President and General Manager, ; 225-588-8000
Location: 39050 Highway 942 | Darrow, LA 70725 | Phone: 225-588-8000 | Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Le Reve Bocage™

FURNITURE

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

FURNITURE

Dr. Marion Rundell, owner of Bocage Plantation, has been collecting antique furnishings and accessories for over 20 years. He has searched the best antique shops in the United States, and has been an avid antique auction bidder. Today he has a 21,000 square foot of air-conditioned warehouse where he keeps his treasurers. For his collection at Bocage he has selected some of his favorites. Below is a list of most of the major furnishings, keeping in mind that Bocage will always be a work in progress as Dr. Rundell acquires new fine antiques and accessories, or just rotates things around for the joy of displaying them in an historic plantation.

UPSTAIRS

Double parlors

  • 12-piece set by John and Joseph Meeks (usually credited as J and J Meeks),
    noted New York City furniture makers, circa 1855.
  • The set is named Stanton Hall after Stanton Hall in Natchez.
  • Two turtle-top center tables, attributed to famous New Orleans furniture maker
    Prudent Mallard.
  • Turtle top center table, circa 1855.
  • Baccarat chandeliers, 19th century.
  • Tiffany mantel clock (in front parlor), 19th century.
  • Old Paris porcelain vases, circa 1850, on either side of clock.
  • French oak bookcase, circa 1895.
  • Meridienne window seat in the Henry Clay pattern by famous New
    York furniture maker John Henry Belter, circa 1850.

Red upstairs front bedroom

  • Three-quarter tester bed by Mallard.
  • American Empire mahogany armoire, circa 1840.
  • Waterford chandelier.
  • Marble-topped dresser by Alexandre Roux (pronounced “Roo),” circa 1850.
  • A native of France, Roux was one of the leading furniture makers of the Victorian era in America.

Blue upstairs front bedroom

  • Three-quarter tester bed signed by Charles Lee.
  • Armoire by Meeks.
  • Wig cabinet with 2 cupboards for wigs on either side of a crown of crotch mahogany,
    circa 1840.
  • Ladies rosewood writing desk attributed to Roux, circa 1855.
  • Night table by Roux, circa 1855.
  • Pair of antique Italian chairs, circa 1870.
  • Thomas Sully portrait over desk, circa 1840.
  • Sully was one of the most famous portrait painters of the 19th century.
  • Waterford crystal chandelier.

Gold upstairs back bedroom

  • American Empire four-poster mahogany bed, circa 1835.
    (From the family of Duncan Kenner who owned nearby Ashland Plantation.)
  • American Empire mahogany armoire, circa 1830.
  • American Empire mahogany chest, circa 1830.

Sable-colored upstairs back bedroom

  • Bed by Roux, circa 1850.
  • Single door armoire, circa 1855.

Rear gallery

  • Causeuse, circa 1860.
  • Wicker furniture, late 19th-century.

 

DOWNSTAIRS

Double parlors

  • Nine-piece heavy carved Italianate Revival parlor set, circa 1880.
  • Steinway piano, 1907.
  • French round claw-foot center table, circa 1850.
  • Bronze dore chandelier with alabaster shades.

Dining Room

  • Portrait of Napoleon by famous Philadelphia artist Rembrandt Peale,
    circa 1812 (Son of famous artist Charles Willson Peale).
  • English walnut dining table, circa 1840.
  • Austrian mirrored cabinet, circa 1850.
  • Etagère by J and J Meeks, circa 1850.
  • French chandelier cut and frosted crystal shade, circa 1895.
  • Large collection of American Brilliant cut glass.

Downstairs Venetian Bedroom

  • Italian ebony bed, armoire and secretary, elaborately inlaid with
    rosewood and ivory, circa 1880
    .
  • Walnut and bone game table, circa 1890.
  • Bronze dore mirror.
  • Painting by Pal Fried, well-known Hungarian artist.


Location: 39050 Highway 942 | Darrow, LA 70725 | Phone: 225-588-8000 | Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Le Reve Bocage™

HISTORY

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

HISTORY

Bocage Plantation was a wedding gift from St. James Parish planter Marius Pons Bringier to his eldest daughter, Francoise “Fanny” Bringier (just 14 years old), upon the occasion of her marriage to Christophe Colomb (a native of Paris, France, who claimed to be a descendant of Christopher Columbus), in January 1801.

Fanny was born March 9, 1786 at White Hall Plantation in St. James Parish.
Christophe was born October 1770 in Corbille, France. The couple had eight children – Louis Arthur, Christophe Jr., Virginia, Amelina, Cedalie, Leapold, Pons, and Henry Octave.

Local history states that Christophe was more interested in the finer things of life, music, painting, entertaining, etc., than working a plantation and that it was Fanny who took over the operations of Bocage. She handled everything from the management of the house to the cane fields.

Fanny passed away May 10, 1827 at Bocage Plantation, several years before Christophe died. Upon his death, in 1832 their son Luis Arthur Colomb and his wife Mathilde de Lauzon Thibaut inherited Bocage.

For many years, it was believed that the current house was the result of a full remodeling of the original 1801 structure that took place around 1837. However, the recent renovation of the home, which in some places involved the removal of exterior stucco and interior plaster, revealed no hint of the remodeling of an earlier structure. During the process, the bases of four symmetrically placed chimneys surrounded by extensive charred remains and fragments of brick and broken glass, were discovered buried about 40 feet behind the house. Experts involved in the recent renovation believe that these remains are of the original 1801 home and that the current structure was constructed to replace the one that burned.

Luis Arthur and Mathilde were fortunate enough to have obtained the services of James Harrison Dakin, (1806-1852) a New York architect who had relocated to New Orleans, for the design of their new home. (Dakin was one of the most distinguished American architects of his time. He was equally fluent in Egyptian, Greek or Gothic style. He designed the Louisiana Capitol in Baton Rouge (1847-52) as a daring Gothic Revival structure.

The design is a masterful blending of the familiar Creole floor plan (the main floor being one above the ground and rooms opening into rooms with a complete lack of hallways) and contemporary, mid 19th-century design. Elements of the homes façade, such as the square columns and massive entablature, along with the decorative elements of the interior are typical of Dakin’s work in New York and New Orleans.

In 1941, Bocage was purchased by Dr. Anita Crozat Kohlsdorf, whose brother, Dr. George Crozat, had recently purchased neighboring Houmas House.

Dr. Kohlsdorf oversaw a massive renovation to repair the damage caused by having been vacant for several decades, while adding the necessary kitchen, bathrooms and electricity.

The marble pavers, currently seen throughout the ground floor of Bocage, came from the famed St. Charles Hotel, which was then being torn down. The family for weekend getaways used the home, until sold in January 2008 to its present owner Dr. Marion M. Rundell, of Houston, Texas.

Today Bocage Plantation consists of 110 acres. The home has been thoughtfully restored. It is open for tours and as a bed and breakfast.


Location: 39050 Highway 942 | Darrow, LA 70725 | Phone: 225-588-8000 | Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Le Reve Bocage™

MEETINGS and SPECIAL EVENTS

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

BOCAGE PLANTATION

MEETINGS and SPECIAL EVENTS

PLAN YOU SPECAIL EVENT OR MEETING AT BOCAGE

The beauty of the 110-acre-Bocage Plantation on historic River Road that hugs the banks of the Mississippi River, offers a unique setting for your next special event or meeting.

BOCAGE’S STAFF WILL GUIDE YOU

The courteous staff will help you every step of the way to prepare a memorable occasion.

DOUBLE PARLORS ARE AVAILABLE

Double parlors, both upstairs and downstairs, can be configured for meetings and events to meet you needs. Handsome antique chairs can be arranged in lecture style or around tables for note taking. .

FAMILY REUNIONS WELL SUITED TO BOCAGE

Small family reunions are especially well suited to be held at Bocage, with accommodations for guests provided in the five magnificent bedrooms. Breakfast is served in the Lafayette dining room on the finest imported china, with silver flatware and crystal glasses. Your guests will marvel at you good taste in selecting Bocage as the setting.

THE BROAD BALCONY WILL DELIGHT ALL

The broad balcony is also available for meetings or events. It can be configured to meet your special needs, as can the lower porch.

GARDENS PARTIES ARE IDEAL

Garden parties are encouraged. The courtyard in the front of the mansion is ideal to use as a stage to present musical programs.

100-CAR PAVED PARKING IS PROVIDED
Parking for more than 100 cars is provided free of charge on the grounds for events and meeting

Press Release

July 23, 2010
Why Use Bocage Plantation for Your Louisiana Meetings and Special Events?
From weddings to fundraisers, all types of events can be held at the historic Bocage Plantation.
Read more…

GENERAL MANAGER

225-588-8000



Location: 39050 Highway 942 | Darrow, LA 70725 | Phone: 225-588-8000 | Mon – Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Le Reve Bocage™