Château de Bournazel, by Martine et Gérald Harlin

The Château de Bournazel, a Renaissance-style house located in the commune of Bournazel in Aveyron, France, has undergone a significant restoration in recent years. The castle, originally built between 1540 and 1560 by Jean de Buisson, a soldier and merchant’s son, experienced a period of decline and was partially destroyed during a peasant revolt in 1790.

The current owners, Martine and Gérald Harlin, acquired the castle in 2007 and have since initiated a large-scale restoration project. This restoration work, which began in 2008, aimed to save and perpetuate existing elements, restore and enhance the monument by erasing alterations from the previous two centuries, and restore elements that were partially destroyed during the French Revolution and later demolished in the 19th century.

The restoration included the complete reconstruction of the main section and its corner tower in Renaissance style, restoring the castle’s original structure. Additionally, the monumental staircase leading to the garden level was reconstructed, featuring a Renaissance staircase with stone vaults, along with rooms furnished with paintings, tapestries, and objets d’art, each with a monumental fireplace.

The final phase of the restoration program focuses on the three medieval towers dating back to the 15th century, including the small tower known as the ‘Tour Gelée’. The meticulous restoration work has been carried out by craftsmen accustomed to working with Historic Monuments using traditional ancestral techniques.

The Château de Bournazel’s restoration project was recognized with the Grand Trophée de la Restauration Dassault Histoire et Patrimoine 2021, granted by the Fondation Mérimée.