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2007
STATUE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AND GARDENS OF THE HÔTEL DE CLERJOTTE MUSEUM IN SAINT-MARTIN DE RÉ (Charente Maritime) $90,000
In partnership with the city of Saint-Martin de Ré, French Heritage Society is sponsoring the creation of the gardens of the Hôtel de Clerjotte. The gardens will provide a distinguished setting for the statue of George Washington, bestowed as FHS's 'gift to France' in commemoration of its 25th Anniversary in 2007. The gardens will be designed by the landscaper Pierre Joyaux who has restored numerous historic gardens in France and the United States. The statue, a bronze replica of Houdon's masterpiece, will feature on its pedestal a medallion of Nicolas Martiau, Washington's ancestor born on the Ile de Ré in 1591, in acknowledgment of the French roots of the first President of the United States. The inauguration will take place during a ceremony on October 11th, 2007.
The Hôtel de Clerjotte dates from the end of the 15th century. The "corps de logis" and the southeast tower are in Flamboyant Gothic style while the wings, in late Renaissance style, rest, on the ground floor, on a series of basket-handle arcades. Purchased in 1959 by the city, the Hôtel de Clerjotte was restored to house the Ernest Cognacq collection. "L'Aile de Clerjotte," a modern temporary exhibition space, was built in 2006.
CHATEAU DE CHAMPLATREUX (Val d'Oise) $25,000
Santa Barbara Chapter
The château de Champlâtreux, a beautiful example of Rococo architecture, was built around 1750 by architect Jean Michel Chevotet for a family of Parliamentarians, the Molés, whose descendants, the Noailles, are the current owners. Louis-Marie, Vicomte de Noailles, took part in the American War of Independence along side his brother-in-law, Lafayette. The château sits in the heart of a 50 hectare park. The gardens designed along classical lines, were enhanced in the 19th century with an English park. The brick and stone stables were built at the same time as the château and are among the most beautiful in the Ile-de-France region.
FHS's grant will contribute to the restoration of the stables.
CHATEAU DU BOIS-HEROULT (Seine-Maritime) $15,000
This château, built in the 18th century, is a striking example of Louis XIII architecture in brick and stone. It belongs to the Broglie family, whose ancestor, Charles-François de Broglie, a close advisor to the King of France, initiated French aid to the American insurgents. He supplied arms for La Victoire, the first French ship to sail to America with Lafayette aboard. The estate also contains souvenirs of Ethis de Corny, a companion of Lafayette, and numerous letters from Madame de Corny, a close friend of Jefferson.
FHS's grant will contribute to the restoration of the double rotation staircase leading into the gardens.
LOGIS ABBATIAL DE MOULLINS (Sarthe) $25,000
Moullins is a fascinating site due not only to the many centuries of its history (Gallo-Roman period, 13th, 14th and 15th centuries), but also to the significant structures which have survived to this day: remains, from the end of the 13th century, of a vast priory founded in 995 and destroyed by the army of Henry V of England in the 15th century, the abbatial structure from the early 16th century, the chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine and a unique dove cove from the same period, all of this built on the site of an immense Gallo-Roman domain. The abbatial structure and the chapel adorned with an altarpiece by Anne de Bretagne's sculptor were sold to a wealthy farmer during the Revolution. During this period, the buildings, and particularly the chapel, were severely damaged; and their materials re-used for other purposes. The property was purchased in 1982 by its current owners.
FHS's grant will contribute to the restoration of the main building, the chapel, and the priory.
CHATEAU DE VERTEUIL (Charente) $25,000
Atlanta and Dallas Chapters
This Medieval château, in a triangular shape, dominates the Charente River and the picturesque village of Verteuil. Belonging to the La Rochefoucauld family for over 1000 years, Verteuil is just as fascinating for its architectural riches as for the history of its famous owners. Their celebrated and illustrious guests included Emperor Charles V of Spain, King Henri II, Queen Catherine de Medici and Queen Margot, Louis XIII, Anne d'Autriche and Marie de Medici! In the 18th century, Louis Alexandre de La Rochefoucauld, a friend of Jefferson's, was a feverent supporter of the American cause. He translated the " Constitution of the 13 United States of America" into French in 1783. Member of the Academy of Science and President of the Royal Society of Medicine, he was friends with Condorcet, Buffon and Lavoisier. All four were elected to American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia upon Benjamin Franklin's recommendation reinforcing the intellectual and scientific ties between the two countries.
FHS's grant will contribute to the restoration of the terrace gardens, descending to the Charente River.
CHATEAU DE REVEILLON (Marne) $25,000
Boston, Northern California, and Northern Ohio Chapters
Built in the 17th century, the château de Réveillon has had numerous successive owners. In 1719, the marquis d'Argenson made initial architectural modifications with the creation of a sculpted pediment on the garden façade depicting Minerva surrounded by allegories. The celebrated architect Robert de Cotte purchased Réveillon in 1730 and, in turn, oversaw restoration work and the château's interior decoration. At the time, the grand salon was adorned with eight panels by Claude III Audran illustrating Fables by La Fontaine. The walls of the châteaux were also decorated with several paintings by Oudry depicting his friendship with Jules-Robert de Cotte. At the end of the 19th century, the owner, was Madeleine Lemaire, an established painter who had a salon in Paris where she received famous writers such as Alexandre Dumas fils, Anatole France, Jules Lemaître and Marcel Proust. Proust twice stayed for long periods at Réveillon in 1893 and 1895. In Les Plaisirs et les jours, he described the chestnut trees in its park, and in Jean Santeuil he included a noble family, the ducs de Réveillon.
FHS's grant will contribute to the restoration of the 18th century gallery on the second floor of the château's North wing.
CHATEAU DE SAINT GERY (Tarn) $25,000
This splendid 16th-century château sits on the right bank of the Tarn River. In the 18th century, the château entered into the family of prominent Parliamentarians from Toulouse, the Reys. Admiral La Pérouse, born in Albi and a family friend, often visited Saint Géry, and gave the Reys the six gouache paintings which adorn the grand staircase. These works depict French ships that sailed with Lafayette and went on to play an active role in the independence of the American colonies.
FHS's grant will contribute to the restoration of the roof of the main building and of the South façade overlooking the Tarn River.
2006
GRAND PRIX
CHATEAU DE KERLEVENAN (Morbihan) $25,000
Construction of the château, which features gardens à la français, and an English
garden with follies, began in 1784 on the site of an old manor using granite stones,
and was interrupted by the Revolution. Returning after 20 years of exile, the owner’s
son Hippolyte de Gouvello, married mademoiselle Le Ray of Chaumont, whose father
Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, had spent a major part of his fortune to support Lafayette
and Rochambeau in America during the War of Independence and had secured King
Louis XVI’s support for the American cause with both French funding and its armed
forces. Initially, Marquis de Gouvello had wanted a Palladian villa in which to invite
close friends, such as Benjamin Franklin, who served as the American representative
in France, living in a fully staffed mansion provided by Le Ray. His son of the same
name, known in America as James Le Ray, gave his name to the towns of Le Ray
and Chaumont in New York state.
FHS’s grant will contribute to the restoration of the roof at the back of the
main building.
This grant has been made possible through the generosity of Lt. Colonel and Mrs. William K. Konze
CHATEAU DE LA ROCHE COURBON (Charente-Maritime) $20 000
New York Chapter
An architectural jewel set between two cliffs, the exceptional site of La Roche
Courbon is located alongside a stream in the middle of an over one thousand year
old forest. This austere medieval fortress was later transformed during and after
the Renaissance by Jean-Louis de Courbon into an elegant dwelling of the 17th
century; and today, the château represents one of the most spectacular of its kind
in the region with vast formal terraced gardens and ornamental basins.
FHS’s grant will contribute to the restoration of the roof of the north commons.
ABBAYE DE VALMAGNE (Hérault) $15,000
Atlanta and Northern California Chapters
The Abbaye de Valmagne consists of a vast complex of buildings including a
13thcentury Gothic church only 10m shorter than Notre-Dame in Paris, a cloister,
a refectory, an usual lavabo fountain with a dome and a hanging keystone and
medieval gardens. This Cistercian Benedictine Abbey was one of the richest of
the South of France from the 12th to the 14th centuries. After the Hundred Years
War it declined and lost its splendor with the subsequent Wars of Religions until
it came under the protection of Louis XIV. Plundered during the Revolution, it
was sold and transformed into a winery which protected the buildings. Archives,
furniture and paintings were burnt. Still used as wine cellar, the church was fully
restored in the 19thcentury, and purchased by the Comte de Turenne. It still
belongs to his descendants.
FHS’s grant will contribute to the restoration of the cloister.
MANOIR D’ARGOUGES (Calvados) $10,000
Atlanta Chapter
The manor, built by the old family of Argouges in the 11thcentury, was established
as a fief. Members of the family had been noted in records dating back to William
the Conqueror’s Council of Regency, at the Fall of Jerusalem and in the history of
battles between the English and the Normans during 14th and 15thcenturies. It
is a remarkable Medieval and Renaissance architectural complex surrounded by
moats, a crenulated tower, a 14thcentury dove-cove with 1474 pigeonholes, two
gate houses which hosted an English garrison during the Hundred Years War, a
bakery with its original oven, commons, an apple press and a 15th century mill
and a 14thcentury fortified medieval garden.
FHS’s grant will contribute to the restoration of the external wall surrounding
the medieval gardens.
MANOIR DU CATEL (Seine Maritime) $10,000
Boston and Philadelphia Chapters
The Manoir du Catel was built in 1270 by Richard de Treigots, 10th Abbot of
Fécamp and close friend of King Louis IX, or Saint Louis, on grounds given to
monks in Fécamp around the year 1000 by Richard II, Duke of Normandy. This
accounts for certain religious elements employed in its construction. Exceptionally
symmetrical for the time, the edifice is “oriented” similar to a church, in an
east/west direction. The original fortress was constructed in a square plan flanked
by four towers. The fortified door is a striking example of defensive architecture
in Normandy and evokes the majesty of select churches.
FHS’s grant will contribute to the restoration of the windows of the courtyard façade.
CHATEAU DE VIXOUZE (Cantal) $10,000
Paris Chapter
In 1439, after the destruction by the English of the previous Château, Quirel de
Vixouze rebuilt a fortified manor complete with towers, machicolations, moats and
a drawbridge. During the Middle Ages the Château was one of only three fortresses
along the Cère River. In the 16thcentury its façade was remodeled, and the stair
tower, two wings and enclosure wall were built. The family Pages de Vixouze,
influential in Auvergne, owned Vixouze from 1616 to 1802, after which it transferred
to several families over generations.
FHS’s grant will contribute to the restoration of the roof of the château’s right wing.
THE GUYNEMER AIRPLANE HANGAR, PAU $13,260
The airfield at Pau is one of the legendary sites of early aviation history. Wilbur Wright
accepted the French government’s invitation to inaugurate its flying school, the first in
the world, which went on train military pilots, who later won fame in World War I.
Construction of the military hangar was entrusted to the engineering firm of Gustave
Eiffel; and this structure, the first of its kind, is also the only one to have survived.
Slated for destruction in 1996, this historic and architecturally striking hangar will
be saved to become a museum dedicated to the pioneers of aviation, both French
and American.
FHS’s grant has been provided through the generous sponsorship of Redevco
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