Château de Magnas

Built on land that has been in the same family since the Middle Ages, the Château de Magnas combines eclectic architectural styles with a constant concern for harmony.

Site History

The Château de Magnas dates from the 16th century, though extensive alterations were made in the 19th century. On a large vaulted cellar stands a building pierced with a semicircular door and a window with crosspiece and mullion, flanked by a circular tower that overlooks the formerly French-style gardens. The current château borders a square courtyard, flanked by two square towers, with a chapel to the south. A porch located between the chapel and the stables makes it possible to circumvent the château. The western section, on the garden side, was remodeled or built by Hector de Galard at the end of the 19th century. It is bordered by a terrace overlooking the valley below. The first outbuildings, constructed at the end of the 16th century, were restored by the renowned architect Clément Parent at the end of the 19th century. The orangery was built in 1840. 

Today, the imprint of the 19th-century architecture is inseparable from the identity of this property, which has been in the same family since the 15th century and saw Henri IV ride up its alley of oaks. Gustave de Galard (1779–1841), a celebrated regionalist painter, grew up there.

About the Project

The project includes the urgently needed restoration of the roof and wooden support frames of the central body of the château. Additional work is required on the east round tower and pinion, and to consolidate major support beams in the outbuildings.

Château de Magnas Today

The owner has undertaken three projects to increase public access to the site. The first is to become a full member of the European Route of d’Artagnan, a certified Council of Europe Cultural Route, and register as a hosting site in the region. The second is to welcome families for “Musketeer Escapades,” unique country parties around the theme of d’Artagnan. Third, the château will offer company employees a break from their daily lives by organizing special activities that allow them to reconnect with themselves, with nature and with others.