It is in ruins, but it will soon become a true paradise
You don't have to be rich to have a castle. Or at least a part of it. This is what they affirm from Adopte un Château (“Adopt a castle”), the French project of the Dartagnans association that rescues monuments that would be lost were it not for the civil impulse.
“Located in a unique and magical estate in the heart of the Cognac terroir, the ruins of this 13th century castle can be seen today in an archipelago of three islands embraced by the Charente River”, they say of their latest project. This is the ** Vibrac Castle , a former stronghold of the local nobility, ** built in the 15th century, but whose roots go back into the soil of the area for almost 1,000 years.
After the end of the Middle Ages, it became a beautiful farm. "The 12-acre estate benefits from rich soil, abundant sunshine and, of course, the nearby Charente River, dubbed 'the most beautiful of all' by King Henry IV," explain the Dartagnans, who claim the property it was almost completely rebuilt in the 18th century to become a noble residence. Over time, however, her owners abandoned her.
“Today, it is up to us, the defenders of world heritage, to protect Vibrac and revive its heritage. Let's make Vibrac, on the banks of the Charente river, a haven of peace, in harmony with nature, proud of its terroir in the shadow of its majestic stone. Let's honor the storied past of this landmark, showing the world its local history and farming prowess from days gone by ”, they encourage from their website.
An extraordinary farm
In it you can buy shares for become one of the many owners of the castle for only 50 euros, and give a nice box with this unexpected present from 60. “With the Vibrac project, all contributors will become shareholders of the castle. By participating in crowdfunding, each contributor buys a small part of a historical cultural heritage, dating back almost a millennium.
They also benefit from a free lifetime access to your castle, getting a plot of the organic garden that bears his name, the right to participate in the famous volunteer work camps and, of course, the right to vote in the Castle's annual general meeting. I think that is why we managed to get so many people to join”, explains Romain Delaume, CEO of Dartagnans, to Traveler.es.
“The whole project is based on the community. We will organize many volunteer weekends for co-owners, as we do at la Mothe Chandeniers and l'Ebaupinay. The co-owners will participate in the castle restoration program, the creation of the organic garden , they will have discounts in future cabins and will be invited to savor the fruits and vegetables produced on site, ”he adds.
centuries of history
La Mothe Chandeniers and l'Ebaupinay are the other two castles that the association has managed to revive, in addition to many other properties in two years of operation. In both, They have received 15,000 visitors this year and invested 600,000 euros in restoration work. For the first one, 1,600,000 euros were raised; for the second, 1,100,000.
In the case of Vibrac, the project includes both the implementation of traditional crops in the area, often forgotten, using permaculture, as well as the installation of ecolodges (sustainable cabins), a large greenhouse where celebrations can be held and a partial reconstruction of the property, due to its current poor condition, using half traditional techniques and half modern materials, as well as renewable energies. “We will create a 21st century castle with a very positive impact on the climate,” says Delaume. But also for the area.
“Each monument builds on the strength of the entire network, by creating joint events and tours. This network also generates economies of scale, reducing material costs and obtaining best supplier deals ”, they explain from the foundation.
a castle for everyone
“The network also extends to the local communities and businesses that are associated with each castle. For example, in the Mothe Chandeniers and l'Ebaupinay, local restaurants and artisans dedicated to heritage preservation are valued partners,” they continue.
Once restored, the castle can be visited, exhibitions, concerts, private events, etc. will be held. From that, from the sales of fruit and vegetables and from the stays in the ecolodges, the project will be nourished until attain the desired 1,240,000 euros. "So far we have raised 270,000, which will allow us to start the first restoration work and the creation of the organic garden," Delaume tells us, who does not contemplate not reaching his goal.
"As entrepreneurs and rescuers of castles, we will reach that amount sooner or later by creating added value and tourist activities around the estate," he says. He speaks from the tranquility that comes from having a community of 150,000 members worldwide. One of them, by the way, is the one that told them about the existence of this jewel a few months ago.
“Vibrac is the typical castle that Dartagnans wants to save. Meet every requirement: it is about to disappear if nothing is done and it is in a fantastic region. Saving a castle for us is launching an important program of restoration work and also creating an economic project that will finance the restoration work”, underlines the CEO.
And he concludes: “For us, rescuing monuments in ruins with people from all over the world is more than just cultural heritage: It is a social and human project for life ”.