Domaine de Chéronne

Passed down through the same family for more than six centuries, the Domaine de Chéronne features a late 15th-century gatehouse that stands as testimony to the estate’s role in the agriculture of the region.

Site History

The Domaine de Chéronne has never been sold; for the entirety of its history, it has been handed down through the same family. In the 14th century, a wooden seignorial building stood on the site. Today, no trace of that building remains. The estate’s oldest existing building is the gatehouse, which was constructed around 1490 by the prominent local dignitary Hervé de Chahanay and is listed as a historic monument. 

In the 18th–19th centuries, the ground floor of the gatehouse was occupied by the head farmer of the estate, and the rest of the building was used to store agricultural equipment and tools. The gatehouse is a testimonial to Chéronne’s role over the centuries as a functioning agricultural estate in the heart of a traditionally agricultural region.

About the Project

The project will restore the late 15th-century gatehouse back to its early Renaissance aspect, including complete restoration of the walls, floors, ceilings, ironwork, masonry and decorative elements, using traditional techniques in accordance with ancient knowledge.

Domaine de Chéronne Today

Today, the Domaine de Chéronne welcomes the public for weddings, seminars, wellness courses, concerts and cultural events, in addition to guided tours and gîte rentals. All income generated through events, as well as through agricultural and forestry activities, is used to preserve, restore and develop the heritage of the site.