Château de Chastellux

Located in Burgundy, Château de Chastellux has remained in the hands of the same family for nearly a thousand years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited family estates in France.

Built on a rocky outcrop approximately 130 feet high, the château was originally constructed as a defensive stronghold. Until the 15th century, it helped defend the Duchy of Burgundy against the County of Nevers, an ally of the Kingdom of France.

Following the incorporation of Burgundy into the French crown, the Lords of Chastellux entered the service of the Kings of France. By the reign of Louis XIII, the château had lost its military role and became exclusively a family residence.

The oldest section of the château dates from the 11th century. Expanded over successive generations, it now combines architectural elements from the 15th, 17th and 19th centuries. Its distinctive triangular plan reflects the shape of the rock on which it was built.

The Chastellux family includes several figures who played important roles in the history of France and Burgundy. Among them was François-Jean de Chastellux (1734–1788), known as the Chevalier de Chastellux. A relative of the Marquis de Lafayette, he joined the French expeditionary force led by the Comte de Rochambeau during the American Revolutionary War and served as a major general. Through his friendship with George Washington and his participation in the Yorktown campaign, he contributed to the development of French-American relations.

About the Project

On May 30, 1975, a devastating fire destroyed nearly two-thirds of the château’s roof, severely damaging the historic triangular section of the building. While emergency reconstruction efforts successfully restored the roof structure, much of the château’s interior still bears the scars of the disaster fifty years later.

The current project focuses on the restoration of the 17th-century Portraits Room, one of the spaces most heavily affected by the fire. Its richly decorated interior suffered extensive damage from both the flames and the water used to extinguish them. The room’s painted paneling, decorative woodwork and historic canvases all require conservation treatment.

Particularly significant is the restoration and reinstallation of four allegorical ceiling paintings dating from the first half of the 17th century. Removed following the fire, these works have remained separated from their original setting for decades.

The Portraits Room holds exceptional historical importance for the château and the Chastellux family. Its thirteen portraits trace the lineage of the château’s owners from the Middle Ages through the 18th century, culminating with a portrait of César-François de Chastellux, father of the Chevalier de Chastellux.

The project is divided into three phases:

• Restoration of the painted paneling and decorative architectural elements;
• Conservation and reinstallation of the allegorical ceiling paintings;
• Restoration of the thirteen ancestral portraits.

Château de Chastellux Today

Today, Château de Chastellux remains the home of Count Philippe de Chastellux, representing the twenty-eighth generation of his family to steward the estate. Since 1995, he has undertaken an ambitious program of preservation and restoration to ensure that this remarkable heritage can be transmitted to future generations.

While continuing to serve as a family residence, the château has welcomed visitors since 2008, sharing its rich history, architectural heritage and unique French-American connections with guests from around the world. The restoration of the Portraits Room will not only preserve an important chapter of the château’s history but also celebrate the legacy of one of the families that helped shape the enduring friendship between France and the United States.