France

An exceptional historic monument in the heart of Nuits Saint-Georges vineyards, the Château du Clos Vougeot is both a testament to the region’s winemaking heritage and one of the most prestigious tables d’hôte in France. 

Site History
The origins of the Château du Clos de Vougeot date back to the 12th century, when the monks of Cîteaux built the cellar and winery to support Burgundy’s growing viticultural tradition. The château itself, a Renaissance-style mansion with square towers, was constructed in 1551 by Dom Jean Loisier, the 48th Abbot of Cîteaux. In the late 19th century, Léonce Bocquet acquired the château and restored it in keeping with the architectural styles of the time.

During World War II, the château suffered significant damage. In 1944, it was entrusted to the young Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, which undertook its restoration, preserving its cultural and historical significance. Listed as a historic monument in 1949, the château has since become an iconic site for wine culture and hospitality.

About the Project
The first phase of restoration efforts focused on consolidating the château’s northeast tower, which overlooks the vineyard slopes toward Dijon. Built in 1551, the tower comprises three floors: a vaulted room on the ground floor, a chapel on the second floor and an attic chamber with an antechamber on the third.

The current phase centers on the château’s historic chapel, which features remarkable 19th-century wall paintings and architectural details. The project includes structural conservation, preservation of the unique wall paintings depicting the coats of arms of the daughters and the abbots of Cîteaux, and the restoration of the Renaissance-style floral keystone. A key objective is the reinstallation of the Saint Vincent stained-glass window, a significant artistic and religious element of the space.

Château du Clos Vougeot Today
Thanks to the prestige of the Chevaliers du Tastevin, the château has become a symbol of French hospitality, hosting renowned wine events and gatherings. It welcomes visitors from around the world eager to explore its rich history and viticultural legacy. La Table de Léonce, named for the man responsible for the château’s 19th-century restoration, offers a tasting lunch with paired wines. 

Since 2015, the Château du Clos de Vougeot has served as the headquarters of the Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that exemplifies the unique wine-growing practices of the region. The ongoing restoration efforts ensure that this remarkable monument will continue to celebrate Burgundy’s heritage for generations to come.

A masterpiece of the Belle Époque, the Petit Palais was built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle to celebrate the arts and the city of Paris.

Site History

Like the neighboring Grand Palais, the Petit Palais was built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. A masterpiece of the Belle Époque, the trapezoidal building houses a collection of sculptures and murals dating from 1903–1925. Designed by renowned architect Charles Girault, it blends traditional and modern architecture, as evidenced in the natural flow of the space and the bold openings onto the Jardins des Champs-Elysées and the inner courtyard garden. Girault sought to create a building with the grandeur and dignity of an official palace, with the aim of celebrating the arts and glorifying the city of Paris. The Petit Palais features decorative murals, painted ceilings, mosaics and stained-glass windows. Magnificent frescoes by Paul Albert Baudouin (1844–1931) adorn the peristyle in the inner garden. The permanent collection includes paintings and sculptures acquired by the city of Paris since 1870, along with the Dutuit collection of premodern works.

About the Project

The restoration concerns the frescoes in the peristyle of the inner garden. Restoration work will be carried out in four phases, corresponding to four areas of the peristyle’s vault. For each of these phases, the restorers will carry out consolidation, cleaning and dust removal; filling of cracks; and color and pigment reintegration. The Petit Palais financed the first emergency phase and the preliminary study of the garden peristyle up to €200,000.

The Petit Palais Today

The Petit Palais offers free entry to the permanent collection. It also serves as a stunning venue for private events—including FHS’s 40th anniversary gala in 2022.

Abandoned shortly before the Second World War, the 18th-century Château de Vaux underwent numerous renovations prior to its acquisition by Edouard Guyot, who is restoring the interior to reflect its original state.

Site History

The Château de Vaux was built in 1721 for Jacques d’Aubeterre. The plans for the château were commissioned from Germain Boffrand, the celebrated architect behind the Châteaux de Lunéville and de Haroué and the Hôtels de Soubise, de Craon and Ferraris. Architect Philippe Delaforce took over in 1752 and modified the plans. The stone was transported on mules from the quarries of Tonnerre (Burgundy) and the slate by boat from Paris. However, the costly construction plunged the owner into financial ruin, and the work was interrupted shortly after his death for lack of funds.

The Montmort family bought the estate shortly before the Revolution and kept the château until 1855, when it was sold to Charlemagne-Emile de Maupas, Prefect of Police under Napoleon III. He remodeled Vaux without touching the exterior architecture. After his death, the castle passed to his daughter. The estate was abandoned shortly before World War II, and the buildings fell into ruin. Philippe Vallery-Radot purchased it in 1970 and renovated the outbuildings to house a center for girls with disabilities. A heritage enthusiast, he installed metal sheets to protect the main structure from water infiltration, as well as wooden supports to prevent collapse. In 2015, Edouard Guyot bought the estate, with the aim of renovating it and opening it to the public.

About the Project

The château has been in a perilous state since World War II. The interiors suffered from water infiltration for over 50 years. The roofs were restored in 1995, allowing for the current restoration of the rooms of the château. This project will restore the flooring on the second and third floors of the east wing and east pavilion. 

Château de Vaux Today

Since 2015, the château and 60 hectares of park were sold to Edouard Guyot, a 22-year-old entrepreneur whose family has a long history of buying and restoring historic châteaux to breathe new life into them through viable commercial projects. His first step was to make the outbuildings available for event rentals, the proceeds of which provided funding for the initial restoration work and allowed him to open the site to the public. He has also prioritized the preservation of the surrounding forests and the sustainable use of local resources.

The region’s only estate devoted exclusively to wine production prior to the French Revolution, Château de Rochefort has undergone few modifications since its construction in 1764 and is in urgent need of restoration.

Site History

The Château de Rochefort was built just after the Seven Years’ War by Charles de Goyon-Rochefort. He was drawn to the land for its rocky, south-facing slopes overlooking the Sèvre Nantaise river. Wishing to replicate the success of his Bordeaux ship-owner counterparts a few years earlier, he planted a vineyard and had wine presses and cellars built, as well as Louis XV–style offices from which to manage his land. The château, a magnificent Louis XV–style residence was built in 1764, likely based on designs by architect Jean-Baptiste Ceineray from Nantes. At that time, and until the French Revolution, Château de Rochefort was the only example of an exclusively wine-producing estate in the region. It is a remarkable ensemble that has been modified very little over the years, which explains its enormous need for restoration today.

About the Project

The project centers on urgent restoration of the roof of the château and outbuildings to protect from water infiltration. The frame, remarkable in itself, is rotting in places, and the lightning rods installed in the 19th century no longer hold, putting part of the roof in danger of collapse. In addition, a large part of the limestone façade has been infiltrated by water, causing it to crack, which poses threats to the building. Masonry work is needed to restore a fireplace and all the pillars that support the house, two of which have pronounced cracks.

Château de Rochefort Today

The château has been in the same family for over 250 years, passed down from generation to generation through women. Since 2018, it has been in the hands of Guillaume and Marine de Rosnay, who are working to breathe new life into the estate. The site is an integral part of local daily life thanks to the many events held there. It hosts guided tours and conferences in partnership with the Pays du vignoble nantais and the municipality, and it is open to the public in the summer.

A little-known château built in the classic French style, the Château de Purnon was neglected for over a century prior to its purchase by the current owners, who are committed to saving it from ruin.

Site History

The Château de Purnon and its outbuildings were constructed between 1772 and 1791 for Antoine-Charles Achard, Marquis de la Haye. The Marquis was only able to enjoy his newly built château for a brief time, as the French Revolution forced him to emigrate in 1791. Built in a classic French style, the château is little known, having always remained in private hands; only three families have owned it since its construction. It was acquired by the Marquis de Rochequairie in 1893. World War I marked the end of a flourishing period and saw the gradual deterioration of the main buildings of the estate. In May 2020, after more than a century of abandonment, the property was purchased by an Australian couple in love with France who are determined to save the château and live there.

About the Project

The restoration concerns the stonework of the façades; waterproofing; painted and sculpted decor, including sculpted busts; the slate roof and gutters; and the oak framework of the roof, which was constructed in the style of Philibert Delorme. The owners are prioritizing the quality of the restoration work to ensure that the Château de Purnon remains an impressive example of splendid 18th-century architecture.

Château de Purnon Today

The current owners, Felicity Selkirk and Tim Holding, are devoting themselves full-time to the restoration of the château.

An architectural ensemble classified as a historic monument and “Remarkable Garden,” the Château de Poncé features French and Italian gardens, a labyrinth and the striking Caroline Terrace.

Site History

The Château de Poncé is a stunning architectural ensemble classified as a historic monument and “Remarkable Garden.” The château was constructed starting in 1530. After four centuries in the same family, it was restored by new owners in the early 20th century. The château is particularly famous for its coffered staircase from 1542, its labyrinth and its gardens, including the Caroline Terrace, with its astonishingly original decor resembling that of an opera house or theater. A precursor of the troubadour Gothic style fashionable among the Romantics, the Caroline Terrace is connected with the work of Prosper Mérimée and more generally with the rediscovery of the Middle Ages, which had considerable repercussions in painting (Ingres, Delacroix), in literature (Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott, and Notre-Dame de Paris, by Victor Hugo) and in music. 

About the Project

The project will restore the Caroline Terrace, an architectural folly constructed in 1830 by Amédée de Nonant in honor of his wife. Built against a limestone cliff, the folly, made of brick and stone on three levels, measures 30 meters high by 80 meters across. Its beautiful ribs, balconies and battlements give it a monumental appearance. The central section collapsed in the 1980s, and its restoration is necessary to prevent the collapse of the entire edifice, which could endanger the château below it. The work involves securing the structure to the cliff against which it leans. The carved limestone decorations require extensive repairs, while important stones in the battlements and the rampart are threatening to collapse. Reconstructing the collapsed sections requires significant funds.

Château de Poncé Today

The Château de Poncé has been open to the public since its major restoration in the 20th century; today, it is an important stop on the route of the châteaux of the Loire Valley. In 2010, the new owners began another restoration campaign, with the aim of opening the site to contemporary art. The project includes the development of exhibition rooms in the 18th-century outbuildings, which host exhibitions in the summer. The village of Poncé-sur-le-Loir is also home to artisan workshops and the Centre d’art contemporain des Moulins de Paillard, which along with the château and its gardens draw artists and tourists to the area.