Chateau Saint-Vincent-le-Paluel / Source
So you know how I’m always telling you about these incredible chateaux left to ruin here in France? And then you ask, “why can’t someone save that place?” Well, I’ve come across something that can certainly help us try…
Adopte un Château is a relatively new association dedicated entirely to saving endangered castles by working with property owners and collectives in their restoration efforts, and connecting them with those who share a passion or expertise in history and heritage (that’s us). France has over 30,000 castles, and sadly a large number of them are abandoned or at risk. Adopte un Château is looking to change that by finding innovative and creative ways to bring them back to life.
Chateau Saint-Vincent-le-Paluel / source
The association recently made some news when it proposed to sell €50 shares in the castle of Saint-Vincent-le-Paluel in Dordogne, being auctioned at the end of this month. In partnership with a heritage crowd-funding platform, Dartagnans, the project allows us to become shareholders of the company that will buy the Chateau if they raise enough money to outbid other buyers at the auction.
Chateau Saint-Vincent-le-Paluel / source
As shareholder, you would be part of the castle’s future, making decisions at annual meetings, working with a management board and more– depending on how many shares you buy! Of course, if not enough people buy shares, they won’t be able to raise the money to buy the chateau and all donors will be refunded their share money.
Chateau Saint-Vincent-le-Paluel / Adopte un Chateau
They have 11 days left for this campaign, with over 75% of the project funded so far. If they’re successful, Adopte un Chateau will begin planning the revival of this 15th century sleeping beauty which was tragically torched by the Nazis in World War II.
Made up of a dedicated team of heritage experts, historians, engineers and architects, the guys at Adopte un Chateau are probably our best bet at rescuing even some of the most desperate historical monuments in France, and we can help from as little as €1 a month.
Take a look at some of the other Chateaux up for adoption currently have on their books…
© Le DJC
Château de Meauce, Nièvre. More information about adopting here and more information about the chateau and its history here.
© Abac 077
Château de Pisy in Yonne. More information about adopting here and more information about the chateau and its history here.
Château de Montbrian. More information about adopting here.
Château “les Hirondelles” à Gurgy (Côte-d’Or). More information about adopting here. Their crowd-funding partners at Dartagnan have already successfully financed the restoration of the garden.
Château de Montivert in the Ardèche. More information about adopting here.
Château de Cadrieu, in Lot, whose crumbling ruins often play host to theatre groups in the summer. More info on adopting here.
Remember this one? Our fairytale chateaux abandoned outside of Paris? While technically not yet adoptable with Adopte un Chateau, the exciting news is I’m going to be meeting with their crowd-funding partners Dartagnan this fall to see if we can make this happen. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, explore the castle with me here.
