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Ni retouché, ni rangé Neither retouched nor tidied

The Record · Since 2013

The château, as it is

Photographs taken across the seasons, mostly by guests and by the family, over a decade of work.

There is no styling here. Rooms are photographed as they are on the day — some restored, some with the plaster still open and the scaffolding up. That is the point of the record.

Stay the night

Inside the Château

Bare plaster and finished salons, often in the same room.

The King Suite, its canopied four-poster
The King Suite, its canopied four-poster
The Family Suite, the blue bedroom
The Family Suite, the blue bedroom
The kitchen, its table laid with fresh produce
The kitchen, its table laid with fresh produce
A salon, the mountains through its windows
A salon, the mountains through its windows
A sunlit bedroom, the mountains through the window
A sunlit bedroom, the mountains through the window
A table under an iron chandelier
A table under an iron chandelier
The green dresser, vegetables on the table
The green dresser, vegetables on the table
Old china and pink roses
Old china and pink roses
Shelves of china, pink and white
Shelves of china, pink and white
Flowers on the stair
Flowers on the stair
Flowers on a round table in the hall
Flowers on a round table in the hall
The gilded salon
The gilded salon
The gilded salon’s fireplace
The gilded salon’s fireplace
The arched entrance hall
The arched entrance hall
The stone staircase
The stone staircase
A four-poster bedroom
A four-poster bedroom
Dressers of blue-and-white china
Dressers of blue-and-white china
Shelves of old china
Shelves of old china
A window, crystal on the table
A window, crystal on the table
A window and a round table
A window and a round table
The King Room
The King Room
The Marquis Suite
The Marquis Suite
The Family Suite
The Family Suite
The Family Suite, the blue bedroom
The Family Suite, the blue bedroom
The Family Suite, the floral bedroom
The Family Suite, the floral bedroom
The King Suite
The King Suite
The King Suite, the canopy
The King Suite, the canopy
The music room
The music room
The lounge
The lounge
A salon in the morning
A salon in the morning
A salon brought back
A salon brought back
The dining room
The dining room
The chandelier lit
The chandelier lit
By the fire
By the fire
A ground-floor bathroom
A ground-floor bathroom
The spiral staircase
The spiral staircase
A tall window, the mountains beyond
A tall window, the mountains beyond
The Twin Room
The Twin Room
Candles and flowers in the grand vestibule
Candles and flowers in the grand vestibule
The dining room, laid by candlelight
The dining room, laid by candlelight
The Salon de Rose
The Salon de Rose
The Salon de Rose, by the window
The Salon de Rose, by the window
Flowers and an old portrait
Flowers and an old portrait
The Salon de Musique, door after door
The Salon de Musique, door after door
The petit vestibule
The petit vestibule
Blossom at the kitchen window
Blossom at the kitchen window
The front staircase
The front staircase
The spiral staircase
The spiral staircase
Looking up the tower stair
Looking up the tower stair
The kitchen, in the light from the window
The kitchen, in the light from the window
Room after room, upstairs
Room after room, upstairs
A chair by a tall window
A chair by a tall window
Fruit on the kitchen table
Fruit on the kitchen table

The Château & Its Grounds

The park, the terraces and the village beyond the gates.

The kitchen garden
The kitchen garden
Late-summer flowers around an old urn, the mountains beyond
Late-summer flowers around an old urn, the mountains beyond
The château over its garden, the mountains beyond
The château over its garden, the mountains beyond
Sofas on the lawn, facing the mountains
Sofas on the lawn, facing the mountains
The château above the roses
The château above the roses
A garden sofa facing the mountains
A garden sofa facing the mountains
From the air: the château, the formal garden and the pool
From the air: the château, the formal garden and the pool
From the air, the mountains behind
From the air, the mountains behind
The parterre from above
The parterre from above
Down the drive to the château
Down the drive to the château
Across the far lawn
Across the far lawn
The château from the garden
The château from the garden
A corner of the château, mist on the hills
A corner of the château, mist on the hills
The statue in the grotto
The statue in the grotto
From above, with the pool
From above, with the pool
The formal gardens
The formal gardens
Below the château
Below the château
The château in the mist
The château in the mist
The château below the mountains
The château below the mountains
The terraces
The terraces
The garden gates in spring
The garden gates in spring
Through the gates in summer
Through the gates in summer
The gardens and the mountains
The gardens and the mountains
Late summer
Late summer
The château in snow
The château in snow
The parkland
The parkland
The meadow, mist on the hills
The meadow, mist on the hills
Wildflowers
Wildflowers
Autumn
Autumn
Snow
Snow
The gates in snow
The gates in snow
At night
At night
The late sun
The late sun
Summer
Summer

The Restoration Story

The work itself: what was found, and what it took to keep it.

An early postcard
An early postcard
The drive under a storm sky
The drive under a storm sky
Through the gates
Through the gates
The mountains, through a broken window under the roof
The mountains, through a broken window under the roof
The roof, open to the sky
The roof, open to the sky
A broken window and its shutter
A broken window and its shutter
Double doors, as they were found
Double doors, as they were found
A marble fireplace in a panelled room
A marble fireplace in a panelled room
A marble fireplace and an old pram
A marble fireplace and an old pram
A salon of another age
A salon of another age
The spiral stair, going down into the dark
The spiral stair, going down into the dark
A great room, the floor open to the level below
A great room, the floor open to the level below
A marble mantel, the floor gone beneath it
A marble mantel, the floor gone beneath it
Fungus on a wall left to the damp
Fungus on a wall left to the damp
A painted wall, held up by props
A painted wall, held up by props
A fireplace among the props and the moss
A fireplace among the props and the moss
Painted panelling, the ceiling stripped above it
Painted panelling, the ceiling stripped above it
Old switches on a panelled wall
Old switches on a panelled wall
Bare beams over painted panels
Bare beams over painted panels
A ceiling, where the rain came in
A ceiling, where the rain came in
A floor fallen through to the room below
A floor fallen through to the room below
Looking down where a floor had been
Looking down where a floor had been
A room with no floor left
A room with no floor left
Looking up through the floors
Looking up through the floors
Old wiring, and the floors fallen away above
Old wiring, and the floors fallen away above
A corridor, its floor breaking through
A corridor, its floor breaking through
A long corridor, the floor giving way
A long corridor, the floor giving way
Flowered wallpaper in a narrow passage
Flowered wallpaper in a narrow passage
The staircase under rubble
The staircase under rubble
A collapsed floor beneath a tall window
A collapsed floor beneath a tall window
The holiday-camp kitchen, as it was left
The holiday-camp kitchen, as it was left
The old camp kitchen, under fallen beams
The old camp kitchen, under fallen beams
The work begins
The work begins
The first workers
The first workers
At a window
At a window
A bedroom, before
A bedroom, before
The family’s bedroom, before
The family’s bedroom, before
The vestibule ceiling, before
The vestibule ceiling, before
The kitchen, before
The kitchen, before
The kitchen floor, fallen through
The kitchen floor, fallen through
The other dining room, before
The other dining room, before
An eighteenth-century marble mantel, hanging by a thread
An eighteenth-century marble mantel, hanging by a thread
The dining room floor, open to its layers
The dining room floor, open to its layers
A horse, in what is now a dining room
A horse, in what is now a dining room
The bathrooms, before
The bathrooms, before
The dining room under scaffolding
The dining room under scaffolding
Gilt over a doorway, mid-restoration
Gilt over a doorway, mid-restoration
The kitchen now
The kitchen now
Old china on the kitchen shelves
Old china on the kitchen shelves
The dining room now
The dining room now
The family’s bedroom now
The family’s bedroom now
A bathroom window now
A bathroom window now
The claw-foot bath
The claw-foot bath
A hand-painted basin
A hand-painted basin
A porcelain switch on the floral paper
A porcelain switch on the floral paper
Old letters, found in the château
Old letters, found in the château
Old glass, found in pieces
Old glass, found in pieces
A carved mask, found in the château
A carved mask, found in the château
Old pottery, found in the château
Old pottery, found in the château
A carved relief, found in the château
A carved relief, found in the château

Life at the Château

Long tables, market mornings and the ordinary days between.

Fish with herbs on a floral plate
Fish with herbs on a floral plate
A terrace at night, strung with lights
A terrace at night, strung with lights
Flowers and meringues
Flowers and meringues
Raspberries, the village and the mountains below
Raspberries, the village and the mountains below
Cooking outdoors, over an open fire
Cooking outdoors, over an open fire
White asparagus on the grill, in the grounds
White asparagus on the grill, in the grounds
On the grill, over the fire
On the grill, over the fire
Roast tomatoes, pasta and eggs, for the table
Roast tomatoes, pasta and eggs, for the table
Strawberries, a tart and edible flowers
Strawberries, a tart and edible flowers
Herbs laid on the château’s own plate
Herbs laid on the château’s own plate
Herbs and flowers in an old tureen
Herbs and flowers in an old tureen
Candelabra and green glasses at each place
Candelabra and green glasses at each place
A long table, lit with tall candles
A long table, lit with tall candles
Candelabras on the marble
Candelabras on the marble
Garden flowers in a jar
Garden flowers in a jar
Flowers on the hand-painted basin
Flowers on the hand-painted basin
A long table on the terrace, the mountains beyond
A long table on the terrace, the mountains beyond
Crème brûlée with strawberries and blueberries
Crème brûlée with strawberries and blueberries
Flowers and vegetables from the market
Flowers and vegetables from the market
A glass of wine on the marble mantel
A glass of wine on the marble mantel
Dried flowers on the red marble mantel
Dried flowers on the red marble mantel
A tomato tart, from above
A tomato tart, from above
Two galettes on the board
Two galettes on the board
Tomatoes and peaches on blue-and-white china
Tomatoes and peaches on blue-and-white china
Green beans with nasturtiums
Green beans with nasturtiums
A croquembouche in the garden
A croquembouche in the garden
Fruit tarts, carried out to the garden
Fruit tarts, carried out to the garden
Tarts lined up on the sideboard
Tarts lined up on the sideboard
Cheese and salad on the table
Cheese and salad on the table
On old ironstone platters
On old ironstone platters
A pastry wreath on a floral plate
A pastry wreath on a floral plate
A tart and rosé on the table
A tart and rosé on the table
A cake dressed with dark flowers
A cake dressed with dark flowers
Dessert among the flowers
Dessert among the flowers
A slice of cake with violas
A slice of cake with violas
A cake on its stand by the window
A cake on its stand by the window
Flowers on a silver tray by the window
Flowers on a silver tray by the window
Greens on the table by the tall windows
Greens on the table by the tall windows
A wheelbarrow of wine in the meadow
A wheelbarrow of wine in the meadow
A table laid in the garden
A table laid in the garden
Garden chairs at a table on the lawn
Garden chairs at a table on the lawn
A quiche for the table
A quiche for the table
A strawberry cake
A strawberry cake
Afternoon tea on the mantel
Afternoon tea on the mantel
Cheese and sage
Cheese and sage
Lemon tarts among the flowers
Lemon tarts among the flowers
A bowl of edible flowers
A bowl of edible flowers
Crystal glasses on a silver tray
Crystal glasses on a silver tray
The piano in the gilded salon
The piano in the gilded salon
At the table together
At the table together
The chef, before dinner
The chef, before dinner
Lighting the candles
Lighting the candles
Laying the table
Laying the table
From the garden
From the garden
Dinner by candlelight
Dinner by candlelight
From the kitchen
From the kitchen
Crème brûlée
Crème brûlée
From the market
From the market
Breakfast
Breakfast
Bread in the morning
Bread in the morning
Setting out into the valley
Setting out into the valley
Walking in the hills
Walking in the hills
Walking up to the château
Walking up to the château
Cellists in the salon
Cellists in the salon
A gingerbread château at Christmas
A gingerbread château at Christmas
In the salon, flowers on the table
In the salon, flowers on the table
On the terrace
On the terrace

The Views

The Pyrénées from the windows, in every season.

A chair by the window, the mountains beyond
A chair by the window, the mountains beyond
The mountains, through an open window
The mountains, through an open window
Mist on the mountain, a chair by the window
Mist on the mountain, a chair by the window
The mountain under a spring sky
The mountain under a spring sky
Clouds over the peaks, the windows thrown open
Clouds over the peaks, the windows thrown open
The park, running to the mountains in the mist
The park, running to the mountains in the mist
The village and the mountains
The village and the mountains
The valley under cloud
The valley under cloud
The valley from a balcony
The valley from a balcony
The mountains of the Ariège
The mountains of the Ariège
The plain below the mountains
The plain below the mountains
The valley under snow
The valley under snow
Snow on the mountains in spring
Snow on the mountains in spring
The château among the trees
The château among the trees
A village bell tower
A village bell tower
A village street
A village street
The château below the cliffs
The château below the cliffs
A ruined castle
A ruined castle
The château in spring
The château in spring
Snow on the peaks
Snow on the peaks

The château as it is: the walls as the centuries left them, and the rooms brought back within them.

The restoration of a fresco, close up Flowers and candles on the table The dining room The château lit at dusk

Avant et après Before and after

Since 2013

Rooms That No Longer Look Like This

Photographs taken since 2013, of rooms in states that have gone and will not come back. A wall opened, a floor lifted, a ceiling before it was consolidated. Once a room is restored, that version of it exists only here.

It is the reason the record was kept at all. It is also, unexpectedly, the most useful thing on this site for anyone scouting a location — the same room can be seen stripped to stone and restored, which is a choice no other building can offer.

For anyone reading along

The archive tells the whole story: the château room by room, as it was found and as it comes back.

For location scouts

Tell us the condition you need and we will send what we have of it — bare stone, open plaster, part-restored, or fully restored. Usage is agreed in writing before a shoot, not after.

Shoot here

A working archive Still being added to. Every room that opens is photographed before anyone touches it.

Au jour le jour Day by day

Before It Reaches Here

The Work, As It Happens

Instagram shows the work as it happens, often the same week. This page keeps a selection; Instagram has the rest.

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Two Ways In

What You Can Do Here

  1. 01

    Stay the night

    Five guest rooms. Room and breakfast.

    From€270a night · room and breakfast

    Check dates Ask us anything

  2. 02

    The full experience

    Retreats of three to seven nights, with all meals and drinks, cooking classes, the brocantes, yoga, kayaking and hiking: in a small group sharing the château.

    From€2,600per person · all meals and drinks

    See the dates Bring your own group

Be here

See It for Yourself

A night in one of the five guest rooms, or a workshop, with all meals and drinks, the activities and a small group sharing the château.

Discover the full experience Stay the night

The Journal

Follow the Restoration

What comes out from under the plaster, which room opens next, and when the workshop dates are released. Sent when there is something worth sending.

What would you like to hear about?

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Monument Historique · Classé A Class I Historic Monument, restored under French heritage law since 2013

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