Little journal of friends of Montautre - n°15

Dear friends of the Montautre site,

For those who don't know yet, and who are passionate about the incredible discoveries that we relate in this letter, the first 13 issues of the "little journal of the friends of Montautre" can be viewed on our website www.chateau-de-montautre.fr (news section) ! You can also follow us more closely on Instagram ( chateaudemontautre ) or on Facebook ( serge lacaze )

This fifteenth issue of the " Petit journal des amis de Montautre " announces the opening of the season at the château. We're starting a little earlier than last year, and with a bang! Judge for yourself:

- Escape Game on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March (already almost full!), as well as Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April ( image 1 , book by phone with Amélie at 06 19 14 08 04)

- Guided tours by the owner on March 16 and 17 at 3 p.m. ( image 2 , spread the word and sign up by return email: you will discover all the restorations carried out this winter!),

- Guest rooms open from Easter weekend ( image 3 : we won the customer satisfaction prize awarded by Booking ! Book on our website www.chateau-de-montautre.fr )

The big new feature is of course the Escape Game entitled " Prisoner at the Château de Montautre! ": you are taken prisoner upon entering the Lower Courtyard, then you are locked with your group in the medieval stables of the castle. You will first have to reach the room of the head of the guard upstairs, then find the guard room, and finally decode the mystery of François Mondin de Montostre. Will you then be able to find the key to escape in the Upper Courtyard?

Finally, an escape game in a real medieval castle! There are three scenarios for the game, depending on your group's skill level (beginner/intermediate/expert). It lasts 1 hour. You won't be disappointed with the experience!

0. News

The restoration work supported by the collection - in which many of you participated - is progressing well: the masonry of the turret (see Petit Journal No. 14) is finished and it is the framework that is now being repaired. On the High Court side, the staircase leading up to the guard room was successfully dismantled and reassembled by Théo and Mimoun... even if it was necessary to dislodge 8 small dormice hibernating!

1. Gallo-Roman history (?)

The dismantling/reassembly of the staircase was also an opportunity to discover a particularly mysterious cut stone that had been reused as a step. It is a kind of decorative baluster (because its back face is flat, as if to lean against a wall or decorate an altar). We cannot date it today: its wear suggests an ancient stone (from the Temple of Mercury?), but it could also be Renaissance or classical because its style is not very pronounced. Your hypotheses, knowledge or suggestions are welcome!

2. Medieval and Renaissance periods

Following the request of many of you (because we are always delighted by your comments, feedback, encouragement... but also your requests!), we are sending you on request by email the full - and unpublished! - text which describes the Château de Montautre a little before 1850 under the pen of Elie de Beaufort . We are struck, despite two centuries of difference, by the similarity with the château of today!

3. Classical period

The restoration of the chapel wall has begun... and we had the lovely surprise of discovering the remains of the famous painted ceiling of the chapel that Roger Drouault spoke of in his 1910 description. They are dated, like the chapel's frescoes, to 1716. On the death of Louis XIV, François Mondin de Montostre wanted to dedicate a chapel to the castle , which he had installed and entirely decorated. He thus distanced himself from the Baron de Fromental, whose chapel, located in the transept of the church of Fromental (right side) faced the Mondin de Montostre chapel.

Thank you all, friends of Montautre, for your support and the promotion you make of the place and our activities: you are our best ambassadors!

Everyone is welcome when you pass by. Please say hello to us or to Kitty and Adri , who continue to maintain this truly unique site.

And that's it for today... but there are still many surprises to come!

See you soon, starting in March, in Montautre!

Kind regards

Serge