Historical Buildings

Built in the early 17th century, the Château de Villers-en-Ouche is a rare and authentic ‘maison des champs’ (country house), with remarkably preserved commons, gardens and a 15th-century dovecote.

Site History

The estate originally included a fortified house, of which the octagonal dovecote (15th–16th century) survives. The present château was built in the early 1600s by the Beaurepaire de Louvagny family, nobles of the sword. The symmetrical layout included a cour d’honneur flanked by commons; a French formal garden with pavilions and walls in brick, flint and cob; and, later, an English-style park with garden features and a folly known as the “Trianon.”

Inside, the monumental oak staircase dates to the 17th century, while salons and woodwork reflects the Louis XVI style. The current mansard roof is the result of 18th-century modifications after a fire. The estate is also home to a chapel known as “Petite Hollande,” a cider press and an Orne-style farmhouse.

The château and its outbuildings have been successively protected as a historic monument: inscribed in 1974 and 1989, with classification extended in 2005 for its rare 18th-century painted wallpapers. In 2024, the protection was increased to cover the entire site.

About the Project

Following a full architectural study in 2023, the restoration has been divided into four phases (2025–2029), beginning with the clos-couvert (roof, walls and openings). The specific phase supported here concerns the dormers on the second floor, encompassing consolidation of their brick surrounds, repair and partial replacement of woodwork, and renewal of glazing. These dormers are not only structurally compromised but also central to the château’s aesthetic harmony. Their restoration will ensure weatherproofing of the upper floor, protect interiors from water infiltration and preserve the architectural integrity of the façades.

Château de Villers-en-Ouche Today

Acquired in 2002 by Stéphanie and Luc Domergue, the château is managed through a family société civile immobilière and has been progressively restored. It is open to the public in July and September and by appointment year-round, with 100–300 visitors annually. The site participates in the Journées du Patrimoine and the Nuit des Châteaux.

Activities include guided and self-guided visits, seasonal rentals, weddings and short-term stays (the château sleeps 25 people). Projects underway include the creation of a group gîte with accessible facilities and the formalization of cultural programming through the newly founded Association des amis du Château de Villers-en-Ouche. The restoration of the dormers marks the first visible step of a major preservation program, ensuring that the château remains a vibrant part of Normandy’s heritage and a welcoming site for cultural and community life.

Dating to at least 1379 and in the de Farcy family since 1647, the Château de la Villedubois is a rare example of a Breton estate that evolved from a fortified manorial house into a 19th-century château surrounded by an extensive landscaped park.

Site History

La Villedubois was first recorded in 1379 as belonging to the Chouan family before passing by alliance to other lineages. The de Farcy family acquired it in 1647 and has owned it for 12 generations. The present house retains elements from the late 15th century, notably in the north façade and interiors, and was described in detail in a declaration of 1622.

In the second half of the 19th century, Louis, Count of Farcy, undertook a vast program of modernization: He demolished the basse-cour and replaced it with new farm buildings, moved the vegetable garden, created an English-style park and a new oak avenue leading to the south façade, and remodeled interiors. The library tower was added in the early 20th century.

The estate also includes a dovecote attesting to its seigneurial rights, a chapel rebuilt after 1622 and a preserved painted ceiling from 1660 bearing the Farcy arms. The château, chapel, commons, park and landscape features were inscribed as historic monuments in 2014.

About the Project

A diagnostic survey carried out in 2023 by Christophe Amiot, Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques, identified urgent interventions to restore the dovecote, grange, chapel (including campanile) and northwest wing of the château. These structures are in critical condition, with collapsed or sagging frameworks and failed slate coverings.

The first phase of the project, scheduled for 2025, focuses on restoring the dovecote, chapel roof and northwest wing of the château. It will include dismantling unstable structures, replacing timbers, repointing masonry and complete reslating. Without these interventions, parts of the estate will soon be lost.

Château de la Villedubois Today

Since 2017, Emilia de Farcy and her husband, Allard Hoog, have managed the property with her father through the Société civile immobilière La VDB. They opened the château to the public in 2014 and restored the château’s interiors in 2018–2020. Today, they welcome around 100 visitors annually for guided tours in summer, participate in the Journées du Patrimoine and organize cultural events such as equestrian night shows, storytelling by the fire and foraging walks.

Since 2019, the estate has operated five guest rooms, hosting about 500 tourists annually (70% of whom are international). It can accommodate private events such as seminars, concerts and weddings. Future projects include opening restored outbuildings to schools and developing an “Historial de Bretagne” to present regional history in an engaging way. The planned restoration of the dovecote, chapel and château roof will secure the estate’s survival, enhance visitor reception and sustain its role as both a family home and a cultural hub in Brittany.

Built in 1665 by François Mansart for André II de Guiry, the Château de Guiry-en-Vexin is a remarkable example of classical 17th-century architecture. Still in the same family today, it has retained its authenticity and stands at the heart of a property listed as a historic monument since 1944.

Site History

The Guiry family has occupied the site since the Middle Ages, playing an active role in defending the Vexin region of Normandy. Constructed in 1665 by François Mansart, architect to Louis XIII, the château reflects the rigor and elegance of French classicism.

The estate includes formal gardens, a water mirror and parklands. Archaeological excavations in the ruins of the medieval château have enriched knowledge of the site. Since the 19th century, the property has been transmitted through the female line, most recently to the de Montfort family. Successive generations have maintained the château, gardens and commons with care, enabling it to survive in exceptional condition.

About the Project

The project, directed by Alice Capron-Valat, Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques, includes restoration of the 21 oak windows of the château’s west façade, encompassing replacement of damaged glass, repair of woodwork and repainting with historically documented pigments; restoration of three windows of the southern commons; and full restoration of the grille d’honneur (honor gate). Later phases (2025 onward, pending approval by the Direction régionale des affaires culturelles) will address the east façade, gable windows and remaining commons, for an estimated total of €300,000.

Château de Guiry-en-Vexin Today

The château remains a private residence, inhabited year-round. Open to the public since 1980, it welcomes about 5,000 visitors annually, with offerings including guided tours and private visits. In addition to participating in the Rendez-vous aux Jardins and Journées du Patrimoine, it hosts theater productions, concerts, seminars and film shoots.

Cultural partnerships enrich the château’s activities, which include concerts with the Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise, events with the Musée archéologique du Val-d’Oise, biodiversity programs with the Ligue pour la protection des Oiseaux and inclusive access projects with Escapade liberté mobilité. In 2024, the owners launched the association Châteaux privés du Vexin, bringing together 12 privately inhabited châteaux to promote their heritage and create shared cultural events.

Built in 1783 by Claude-Étienne Chaillou des Barres, auditor at the Conseil d’État and later a prefect under the Empire, the Château des Barres is a refined late 18th-century residence. With its chapel, remarkable library tower, and park designed by Louis-Martin Berthault and later restructured by Achille Duchêne, it embodies both Enlightenment architecture and the great French garden tradition.

Site History

The château was built for Claude-Étienne Chaillou des Barres, who married Marguerite Nicole Nompère de Champagny, daughter of Napoleon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Duc de Cadore. Retiring to the château after his prefecture, Chaillou became a historian of Yonne’s castles, writing works still cited today.

In the 19th century, the estate passed by marriage to the Kergorlay family. The house was enlarged with a west wing and the remarkable circular library tower, which houses collections including 18th-century encyclopedias and 19th-century original editions. The chapel was decorated with grisaille murals, restored with the prix Mollier from the Vieilles maisons françaises. The estate’s gardens were originally laid out by Louis-Martin Berthault, landscape architect for Empress Joséphine at Malmaison and Compiègne, then redesigned by Achille Duchêne in the 19th century.

Protected as a historic monument since 1997, the château has been in the same family since 1874. Today, it is owned by Charles de Couëssin.

About the Project

The roofs of the west wing and library tower are in critical condition, with missing or broken slates, rusted hooks, failing zinc work, degraded chimneys and water infiltration that risks new infestations of dry rot. The project will fully restore the coverings, rebuild the chimneys and reproduce the distinctive oeils-de-boeuf.

This work follows earlier campaigns, encompassing restoration of the chapel roof in 2015, grisaille paintings in 2019–2021 and the central corps de logis roof in 2020. In 2010, the château underwent a conversion to renewable heat.

Château des Barres Today

Open for guided visits since 2005, the château sees about 500 visitors annually. It hosts outings of the Vieilles maisons françaises, concerts, theater performances, fashion shoots and seasonal rentals. It also partners with local tourism offices and wine tour operators.

In addition to heritage visits, the estate offers creative residencies and workshops in music, painting, yoga, gardening, cooking and photography, strengthening its cultural and economic role in the Puisaye-Forterre region.

Originally constructed in the 14th century to defend the bastide of Revel, the Château d’Aguts was dismantled during the Wars of Religion before being transformed into a residence of leisure in the 17th and 18th centuries. Abandoned in the 19th century, it was saved from ruin by its current owners, who have undertaken an exemplary decades-long restoration.

Site History

The first mention of the Château d’Aguts dates to 1405. The château is believed to have been built to protect the town of Revel, founded in 1342. After resisting during the Wars of Religion, it was dismantled by royal order in 1622. In the 17th century, it was rebuilt as a château de plaisance (pleasure castle), then enlarged and embellished in the 18th century by Paul d’Avessens and Gabrielle de Riquet.

The château fell into abandonment in the mid-19th century and was acquired in 1977 by Alain and Véronique Chavagnac. Over nearly 50 years, they restored roofs, frameworks, floors, ceilings, painted decorations and structural walls, transforming the ruin into a lived-in family home and vibrant cultural site.

Classified as a historic monument in 2014, the château is one of the few remaining noble residences of its type in the Tarn.

About the Project

The bridge linking the château to the surrounding grounds is its only point of entry. Its masonry is failing, with deterioration of the intrados posing both security risks and danger of collapse. The project will dismantle unstable elements, rebuild the masonry with traditional techniques and incorporate an accessible passage for visitors with disabilities.

The work will be carried out by Chevrin-Géli, a family business specializing in heritage restoration. With nearly €1.8 million already invested in restoration, the current project ensures both preservation and safe access for visitors, securing the continuity of cultural programming.

Château d’Aguts Today

Open to the public since 1987, the château welcomes about 400 visitors annually over 40 days in summer, during the Journées du Patrimoine and by appointment. It hosts guided tours, concerts, exhibitions, author events and gatherings of the association Vieilles maisons françaises. Partnerships with the commune and the communauté de communes strengthen its role as a cultural hub.

Created between 1924 and 1939 by the Anglo-American landscape designer Lawrence Johnston, Serre de la Madone is a masterpiece of 20th-century garden design, classified in its entirety as a historic monument. Conceived as a “garden of green rooms,” it combines botanical experimentation with the aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Site History

Lawrence Johnston, already renowned for creating Hidcote Manor in England, acquired an agricultural property above Menton in 1924. Over 15 years, he transformed it into an experimental acclimatization garden of international scope, introducing rare species from his botanical expeditions to Africa, Asia, India and the Americas. He organized the site into terraces with pools, pergolas, belvederes and paths, creating successive “rooms” of plants designed as living tableaux.

After Johnston’s death in 1958, the garden passed through private hands and declined, losing much of its original character. Saved from disappearance, it was classified as a historic monument in its entirety in 1990 and acquired by the Conservatoire du littoral in 1999. Initial restorations were undertaken in the 2000s, and in 2022–2023, management of the site was entrusted to the Association pour la sauvegarde des jardins d’exception du Mentonnais (ASJEM), in partnership with the City of Menton.

About the Project

A four-phase master plan, validated in 2022, guides the restoration:

• Phase 3 (2025–2026; current project): restoration of the villa, paths, fountains, basins, benches, pergolas and statuary; replanting of key botanical ensembles; and installation of new interpretive signage

Phase 3 is critical to recovering the historic coherence of the garden and to providing visitors with a complete cultural and educational experience.

Serre de la Madone Today

The garden covers nearly nine hectares of terraced slopes above Menton. Its design interweaves architecture, water features and three national collections of plants recognized for their rarity and diversity.

Since 2022, ASJEM has revived the site’s cultural and scientific mission, with guidance from a committee chaired by Laurent Le Bon, President of the Centre Pompidou. Open 11 months out of the year, Serre de la Madone now welcomes about 10,000 visitors annually, plus 3,000 schoolchildren. It participates in the Journées du Patrimoine, the Rendez-vous aux Jardins and special centenary events. Activities include guided tours, conferences, artist residencies and educational workshops.

The restoration of the villa, fountains, paths and statuary will consolidate Serre de la Madone as an international reference for heritage gardens, reconnecting the site to Johnston’s original vision as a place of acclimatization, experimentation and transmission.

Built in the 15th century and enlarged in the 17th century, the Manoir de Coupesarte is one of the most emblematic half-timbered manors of the Pays d’Auge. Surrounded by a moat on a quadrangular platform, it boasts preserved painted interiors, towers and a rare ensemble of dovecotes and commons.

Site History

The original manor dates from 1453 and was later expanded in the 17th century after a fire, which led to the addition of the south wing, watchtowers and painted decorations. The manor suffered damage during World War II, when a bomb destroyed part of the building.

In 1961, Paul and Marie Julien, then tenant farmers, acquired the property and saved it from ruin, earning national recognition in the TV program Chefs d’oeuvre en péril. Their daughter and son-in-law continued their restoration efforts, and since 2017 the manor has been managed by their grandchildren, who have launched the most ambitious restoration campaign in its history.

Classified as a historic monument in 1947, the manor stands as a quintessential example of Norman rural architecture and a strong symbol of the Pays d’Auge.

About the Project

The first phase (2025–2027) concerns the restoration of the 15th-century wing (€1.28 million). It includes the consolidation of façades, complete restoration of the south tower, repairs to chimney stacks, replacement of exterior joinery, and interior works such as floors, walls and chimneys.

The south tower, whose collapse would endanger the rest of the structure, will be entirely dismantled and rebuilt, with conservation of authentic materials wherever possible.

Subsequent phases (2027–2030) will address the 17th-century wing (estimated €1.72 million).

Manoir de Coupesarte Today

The manor is open free of charge year-round for exterior visits and receives about 10,000 visitors annually. Since 2023, the interiors have also been partially reopened during the Journées du Patrimoine and special events, drawing thousands of visitors.

Future plans include developing seasonal rentals and hosting cultural events (craft fairs, concerts, conferences) to generate revenue for restoration while keeping the park and exteriors freely accessible.

Created between 1867 and 1870 by Baron Paul von Derwies, the Domaine de Valrose is one of the most prestigious estates of the Belle Époque on the Côte d’Azur. Classified as a historic monument and included within the UNESCO World Heritage perimeter of Nice, it includes châteaux and gardens, with rare garden follies such as the isba, a traditional Russian chalet imported from Kiev.

Site History

Baron Paul von Derwies, a wealthy financier of Baltic origin, began creating the Domaine de Valrose in 1867 by uniting parcels of land in what was known as the Vallon des Roses or Vallaurosa. Within three years, he built the grand château, the petit château and extensive gardens designed by the landscape architect Joseph Carlès. The estate became a center of aristocratic and musical life, hosting Queen Victoria and the Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia.

In 1870, the baron imported a traditional Russian wooden house (isba) and reassembled it on the estate. Its carved decorations were likely designed by architect David Grimm in the néo-russe style.

After passing through several owners, the estate was acquired by the City of Nice in 1962 and transferred to the French Ministry of National Education. Since 1965, it has housed Université Côte d’Azur’s science campus. The entire domain, including the isba, was classified as a historic monument in 1991.

About the Project

A diagnostic study of the isba by Antoine Madélenat, Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques, in 2024 identified alarming decay: rotted logs, deterioration of carved festoons, ruined balconies and loss of ridge crestings. Previous cement patching aggravated the damage. The interiors remain relatively sound, but the façades and roof require urgent intervention.

The project includes the restoration of log walls by splicing, rebuilding of floors, reconstitution of missing decorative elements, limewash treatment of façades and replacement of the roof’s ridge crestings. Once restored, the isba will be repurposed as a welcoming house for international students, enhancing both heritage and campus life.

Domaine de Valrose Today

Today, Valrose is both the headquarters of Université Côte d’Azur and a 10-hectare historic park, open to the public on more than 48 days annually. In 2024, it welcomed 2,670 visitors. It hosts cultural events such as the Printemps des Poètes, Journées du Patrimoine and Rendez-vous aux Jardins, as well as exhibitions, concerts and alumni celebrations.

The isba project is part of a broader strategy to enhance Valrose’s heritage, increase international visibility and engage students and the community with this exceptional site.

Built in 1771, the Château de la Moustière is a pure and harmonious example of late 18th-century aristocratic architecture that has remained in the same family for 250 years.

Site History

The estate of la Moustière was acquired in 1746 by Louis Joseph Edmond Lepestre de Neubourg, related to Sébastien Le Prestre, Marshal of Vauban. The château was completed in 1771 by the architect Joseph Abel Couture, pupil of Le Carpentier, and reflects the refined classical style of the late Louis XV period. Built in tuffeau stone with mansard slate roofs, it was flanked by symmetrical commons in tile and slate, a chapel, an orangery, a dairy, an icehouse and farm buildings, forming a complete rural ensemble.

The château passed intact through the French Revolution and has remained in the same family since 1781, transmitted without interruption to the present 10th generation. It retains its original layout, façades and interiors, making it one of the most authentic examples of 18th-century architecture in the Indre. The site is protected as a historic monument.

About the Project

A 2023 diagnostic study mapped all structural disorders of the estate and identified six restoration phases. The current application focuses on the dovecote, whose structure and roof are dangerously unstable following previous invasive repairs. The project will restore the masonry, carpentry and roof to ensure the building’s survival and safe integration into the visitor circuit. This restoration is part of a larger campaign to secure the château, commons, dairy and farm outbuildings.

Château de la Moustière Today

La Moustière is open to visitors about 40 days per year, with guided tours led by the family across three generations. Highlights include the icehouse, the chapel and the rural outbuildings. Around 200 people visit annually, particularly during the Journées du Patrimoine. The estate, set within a 550-hectare rural domain of farmland, woods and ponds, remains a rare intact ecosystem.

The owners are also developing the “Château du Répit” program, set to open in 2025, to host respite stays for vulnerable groups along with socially engaged seminars. This initiative combines heritage preservation with a public mission: “Restaurer les hommes, restaurer les pierres” (Restoring people, restoring stones). Restoring the dovecote will secure both the built heritage and the continuity of community and cultural activities, ensuring that the château can be transmitted in good condition to future generations.

An important symbol of France’s historic and artistic heritage, the complex of Les Invalides encompasses a military hospital, museums and monuments, and the church that houses Napoleon’s tomb.

Site History

The Hôtel National des Invalides, a vast complex of buildings in the heart of Paris, was created by Louis XIV to serve as the first veterans’ retirement home and hospital in Europe. Today, along with those functions, it contains museums and monuments related to the military history of France. The complex is also home to the Dôme des Invalides, the tallest church in Paris, which contains the tombs of some of France’s most celebrated war heroes, most notably Napoleon. 

Designed by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart and famous for its gilded dome, the Dôme is an exemplar of French classical architecture. It has fulfilled a range of functions since it opened in 1706. During the reign of Louis XIV, it was the venue for the royal mass; it became the temple of Mars during the French Revolution and a refuge for Allied pilots in World War II. In 1840, Louis Philippe I had Napoleon Bonaparte’s remains transferred from Saint Helena to Les Invalides. A large area was excavated in the center of the Dôme, and Napoleon’s remains were placed there in 1861. 

About the Project

May 5, 2021, marks the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death. To celebrate the occasion, the Musée de l’Armée and the Fondation Napoléon have joined forces in an international appeal to help restore, at the Hôtel National des Invalides, the monuments associated with the Emperor and his brothers Joseph, King of Naples and later of Spain, and Jérôme, King of Westphalia and Governor of Les Invalides. The most prominent restoration work concerns Napoleon’s tomb, including its mosaic floor and marble bas-reliefs. 

The restoration and refurbishment of these monuments are part of a larger “Napoleon Season,” which includes a major exhibition, concerts, talks and many other events throughout 2021. All of these activities are open to the public and will be a major focus of the cultural life of Paris during the bicentenary. 

Les Invalides Today

The Hôtel National des Invalides retains its original function as a hospital and hospice for badly injured and disabled war veterans. In addition to the military hospital and the Dôme, it houses the Musée de l’Armée, the military museum of the Army of France; the Musée des plans-reliefs; the Musée d’histoire contemporaine; and the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération. The site receives more than 1.2 million visitors a year.

A prestigious girls’ school since the 19th century, the Maison d’Éducation is part of the cloister of the Saint-Denis Basilica, the earliest masterpiece of French Gothic architecture and former royal necropolis.

Site History

Located in the cloister of the historic Saint-Denis Basilica, the necropolis of the French kings and queens, the Maison d’education de la Légion d’honneur is part of a small network of schools created by Napoleon I in 1805 to educate girls whose father, grandfather or great-grandfather had received the Legion of Honor. The first of the schools, the Château d’Écouen, was founded in 1807. Two years later, anxious to fill an educational void for young girls of soldiers fallen in battle, and convinced of the preponderant role that women would have to play in society, Napoleon decreed the creation of a second house of education in the former Royal Abbey of Saint-Denis. 

While tradition attributes the founding of the Royal Abbey of Saint-Denis to Dagobert I, King of the Franks from 629 to 639, the church was likely built in the 5th century, atop the tomb of Saint Denis. King Dagobert had the saint’s relics interred in the abbey and was himself buried there. From then until the 19th century, the abbey served as the place of burial for 43 kings and 32 queens. In the 12th century, the basilica was rebuilt under Abbot Suger, an advisor to Kings Louis VI and VII, leading to the earliest expression of the new Gothic style in 1144. (Before the term “Gothic” came into common use, it was known as “the French style”) During the French Revolution, the tombs were desecrated, and the basilica was used for grain storage. 

In 1809, Napoleon I signed the decree for the installation of the Maison d’education de la Légion d’honneur in the abbey’s old monastic buildings. The school opened in 1811. Shortly thereafter, Napoleon commissioned the architect François Debret to restore the basilica. Debret was eventually replaced by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who completed the restoration. 

About the Project

The current restoration work concerns the repair of the roof of the 18th-century Intendant’s wing and the central pavilion, which are very damaged. This work is part of the ongoing restoration of the roofs of the convent buildings carried out over the past 15 years.

The Maison d’Éducation Today

The Legion of Honor’s House of Education continues to educate students at the high school and postbaccalaureate levels. Admission is reserved for the daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters of recipients of the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Nestled in the hills of Burgundy, the stunning Château de Sully boasts four distinct façades and a Renaissance courtyard that has been called the most beautiful in France.

Site History

The Château de Sully is nestled in the rolling hills of the Burgundy countryside, half an hour west of Beaune, on the north side of the famous Côte de Beaune and its world-renowned vineyards. A moat surrounds the castle, which has four distinct façades. The courtier Roger de Bussy-Rabutin called its main courtyard the most beautiful Renaissance courtyard in France. 

The château as seen today was begun in the second half of the 16th century, following its acquisition by the Saulx-Tavannes family in 1515 (Gaspard de Saulx was an important figure at the court of Henry II of France). The Saulx-Tavannes family fortune lasted for two centuries. Likely due to the vast sums required to keep up with court life during King Louis XIV’s reign, the château was put up for sale for the second time in its history in 1715. One of the most famous subsequent owners, Maréchal Maurice de Mac Mahon, was born at the château in 1808. He became the hero of Emperor Napoleon III’s Crimean and Italian campaigns. In 1873 he was elected President of the French Republic, the only French President to have been born and raised in Burgundy.

About the Project

The restoration project concerns the theater, rare in private châteaux, located in the left wing of the commons after the stables. The theater suffers from humidity and disrepair. It reflects the Empire style of architecture, with elements characteristic of an Italian theater: a parterre, a balcony and a stage area. Intimate in size, it was what was known as a “society theater”: a place of leisure reserved for family and friends. The walls are painted to resemble green veined marble. The ceiling is decorated with foliage and musical instruments and the cornice with palmettes. The red velvet benches are still present, though very threadbare. There are still some beautiful, high-quality stage decorations, along with two Medici vases and antique wallpaper.

Château de Sully Today 

One of the most beautiful châteaux in Burgundy, the winery part of the estate was extensively developed by Philippe, 9th Marquis de Mac Mahon and 4th Duc de Magenta, with the acquisition of the nearby Abbaye de Morgeot. These premier cru vineyards in Chassagne-Montrachet and Puligny-Montrachet enable the family to maintain the château today. Visits to the château, which was classified as a historic monument in 1925, contribute greatly to its upkeep. Since the 4th Duke’s sudden death in 2002, the estate and winery have been run by his widow, the Duchesse de Magenta, who lives at the château year-round with their two children.

Built as a private townhouse between 1672 and 1674, the Château de Sambucy evolved to include impressive 18th-century frescoes and both French and English gardens, and it remains in the same family today.

Site History

Between 1672 and 1674, Jacques Duchesne, Advisor to the King and Master of Waters and Forests in the ancient province of Rouergue, had a private townhouse built, complete with a French garden. In 1720, it became, by marriage, the home of Marc-Antoine de Sambucy. Between 1730 and 1780, the side wings were built and the French garden extended. The impressive painted frescoes and decorations carved in stucco also date from this period. The period from 1830 to 1850 saw other major transformations, including the creation of an English garden with the introduction of Atlas cedars, as well as construction of the orangery and the last outbuildings. 

The château remains in the same family today. It was listed as a historic monument in 1992 and classified in 1995.

About the Project

The restoration work concerns the porch of the cour d’honneur (courtyard of honor) and stairway of the cour des chevaux (horse yard). Work on the porch consists of removing the steps and stone slabs to purge the backfill of dirt and replace it with an incompressible aggregate. Lime concrete will be used to create a new support for the steps and stone slabs. The stairwell of the cour d’honneur has significant cracks, caused by weakening of the foundations due to the vaulted sewer that runs beneath it. Reinforced concrete pylons will be used to reinforce and restore the foundations.

Château de Sambucy Today

The château has been in the same family since its construction, as the current owner is a direct descendant of the builder. It is essential that this family heritage be maintained and passed down. The château is now fully integrated into the town of Millau, of which it is the main heritage monument, and is central to promoting the heritage and cultural riches of southern Aveyron. Arts and cultural activities help to fund the preservation of this family treasure while transmitting the beauty of the château and its grounds to younger generations. 

The gardens are fully accessible to people with disabilities, and the interiors are partially so. Open to the public from April to October, the site takes part in the Rendez-vous aux Jardins in June and European Heritage Days in September.

Encompassing a watchtower and fortified house, the impressive remains of the Château de La Tourrette demonstrate the evolution of French defensive structures from the 14th to the 16th centuries. 

Site History

The impressive remains of the Château de La Tourrette date from the 14th century. The site includes an échauguette (watchtower), as well as a rectangular maison forte (fortified house) that incorporates architectural elements from the 15th and 16th centuries. It sits on a high terrace with thick retaining walls and ramparts, in which arrowslits are still visible. The château played an important role during the Wars of Religion, when it served as a prison for Protestants.

The La Rivoire de La Tourrette family sold the château in 1817, and it was used as a quarry. Members of the same family repurchased it in 1848. The remains of the château, including its watchtower, are listed as a historic monument, together with the maison forte, which was restored between 1997 and 2002.

About the Project

The restoration concerns the spiral staircase in the watchtower, which requires restoration in order to be used. The tower was consolidated and elevated close to its original height in 2012–2013. The top of the tower was dismantled in the 19th century, resulting in water infiltration, which led to deterioration of the walls and staircase. Recent consolidation work was not aesthetically appropriate; this will be removed to give the tower its original appearance once the staircase has been restored.

Château de La Tourrette Today

Restoration of the château will protect and preserve it and add to the scenic beauty of this rather remote region, which attracts tourists due to its natural beauty and the harmony of its historic sites. The fortified house is set along a hiking path and accessible to hikers. The château is temporarily closed until necessary restoration work has been completed.

One of the oldest “Folies de Montpellier,” the Château de Flaugergues has been in the same family for more than three centuries.

Site History

Built in 1696, the Château de Flaugergues is one of the oldest “Montpellier Follies,” summer residences of the city’s rich and famous. Its first owner, Etienne de Flaugergues, worked on the building for more than 45 years to achieve its final appearance. It is distinguished by its imposing interior and two avant-corps, which are evocative of 16th-century Tuscan villas. The interiors house archival documents, Flemish tapestries from the workshops of Philippe Wauters (active ca. 1670s), furniture in the Louis XVI style and a monumental staircase. 

Listed as a historic monument, the château also features a beautifully landscaped park and listed “Remarkable Gardens.” Since 1972, Henri and Brigitte de Colbert have overseen the revival of the estate, which has remained in the same family for over 300 years.

About the Project

The restoration concerns two statues made of limestone, installed in 1728, representing La paix and L’abondance, similar to those at Versailles. The theme is a classical one, Peace and Abundance being intimately linked. They were sculpted by Jean-Louis Guyon, one of the very few sculptors to sculpt the teeth of his figures, as is the case at Flaugergues. The statues are classified as historic monuments, and their presence is a contributing factor to the landmarked status of the site. They occupy a choice location, situated on either side of the terrace in front of the château. However, they are damaged and in need of restoration. The limestone is, in places, highly eroded or encrusted with microorganisms. There are cracks, cavities and some gaps, and cement filling from a previous restoration needs to be corrected. 

Château de Flaugergues Today

Open year-round, the Château de Flaugergues is an oasis of greenery within the city of Montpellier, 10 minutes from the center as well as the airport, the train station and the sea. The grounds include French-style gardens, an orangery, an English-style park, a “five senses” garden and a bamboo plantation. The 28 hectares of vineyards produce elegant wines that can be found both in the wine cellar and on the table at Folia, the on-site restaurant, led by Chef Damien Fourvel.