Its restoration
It has been classified as a historic monument since 1889, but it was not until 1987, after nearly two centuries of neglect and seventeen years of abandonment, that major restoration work began. This work is carried out with the financial support of the French State, through the DRAC (French Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs), the Regional Council and the General Council. First of all, the most urgent work was tackled: the timberwork and the roofs of the buildings added in the 15th century, followed by some of the flooring, ceilings and chimneys which were in danger of falling into ruin and, more recently when the guestrooms were being fitted out and the bathrooms created, the rooms in the towers, which were restored with original materials such as "tomette" terracotta tiles or ladder parquet flooring, lime-rendered walls, whitewashed oak ceilings, etc.
At the same time, two comprehensive restoration programmes - one concerning the buildings and the other the gardens - were developed in a coordinated manner with the support of the DRAC, the Regional Council and the General Council, and under the authority of the Chief Architect of Monuments Historiques, Mr Michel Trubert, and two landscape architects specialised in the restoration of historic gardens, Ms Hélène Sirieys and Mr Marie-Eugène Héraud.
Priorities have been set and the work is being carried out progressively according to the owners' ability to gather the necessary funds via grants, sponsorship and personal contributions.
The first phase of the these two programmes, which have been merged for this particular venture, involves the restoration of a 14th century military enclosure and its garden that dates back to the 16th century. All the walls and buildings of the enclosure overlooking the Monne valley by 40 m have been restored at first. A garden inspired by the Italian Renaissance has been then created in place of the 16th century garden, which no longer existed. In tribute to the owner at that time, it was named the "Garden of Catherine".
Starting 2015 we have launched the second phase of our resoration program :
> 2015/2016 : the original moat walls with the hidden connections from the castle to the spoken above military enclosure
> 2017/2018 the Queens Tower
> 2018/2019 : the huge windows of the façade to the south-west
> 2021/2022 : the northern terrace
Its history At the same time, two comprehensive restoration programmes - one concerning the buildings and the other the gardens - were developed in a coordinated manner with the support of the DRAC, the Regional Council and the General Council, and under the authority of the Chief Architect of Monuments Historiques, Mr Michel Trubert, and two landscape architects specialised in the restoration of historic gardens, Ms Hélène Sirieys and Mr Marie-Eugène Héraud.
Priorities have been set and the work is being carried out progressively according to the owners' ability to gather the necessary funds via grants, sponsorship and personal contributions.
The first phase of the these two programmes, which have been merged for this particular venture, involves the restoration of a 14th century military enclosure and its garden that dates back to the 16th century. All the walls and buildings of the enclosure overlooking the Monne valley by 40 m have been restored at first. A garden inspired by the Italian Renaissance has been then created in place of the 16th century garden, which no longer existed. In tribute to the owner at that time, it was named the "Garden of Catherine".
Starting 2015 we have launched the second phase of our resoration program :
> 2015/2016 : the original moat walls with the hidden connections from the castle to the spoken above military enclosure
> 2017/2018 the Queens Tower
> 2018/2019 : the huge windows of the façade to the south-west
> 2021/2022 : the northern terrace
