The Rochefort water tower is an historical monument commissioned in 1876. It is erected at the highest point of the city.
Work has begun thanks to the will of some volunteers to save this historic monument and to house the Golden Owl®, this mythical treasure that continues to make dream many treasure hunters.
What do we want? To save this monument and transform it into a museum dedicated to culture, treasure and art.
After the worldwide success of the Chouette d’Or (Golden Owl)® and its record longevity, new questions have arisen about the durability of long-distance treasure hunting prizes. How can we ensure that winners receive their prizes? This is how the idea of the Château 1876 - La Chouette d'Or® association was born: to allow members to protect treasure hunt prizes while making them accessible to the general public. What could be better than to present these treasures in a monumental and historic setting?
Cadastral map of the castle
Aerial view of the Rochefort water tower (© Google Earth)
The aim of the project is to:
With a traditional restoration project, financing is used to pay the service providers for all work done. In this case, our volunteers are already at work, but they lack the necessary materials to complete various parts of the museum.
This is why we have chosen an evolutionary project: each phase reached will allow for a part of the museum to be created.
This water tower was inaugurated in 1876 and used until 1956. Left abandoned, it has been waiting for years to be reborn.
The impressive building is as long as the Arc de Triomphe but currently requires a great deal of work.
Its history, which is not only romantic but tragic and deeply rooted in its region, could no longer simply be left abandoned.
The project boasts a two-fold objective: that of taking thousands of enthusiasts on a new adventure and that of making them part of this new incredible project!
Our objectives are as follows:
- Stage 1: €8,500 - Piano Bar: During this stage a piano bar will be created inside the museum. We would like to start with this area in order to offer a space that can be made directly accessible to the public and have some of the works on display. This will allow us to generate profits with a view to financing further stages.
- Stage 2: €25,000 - The La Chouette d’Or® Museum: This area will be dedicated to the history of the Chouette d’Or: the secrets of its fabrication, puzzle solving and details about treasure hunts.
- Stage 3: €75,000 - Treasure Seeker Museum: This part will be both didactic and interactive. Visitors will be in constant interaction with their surroundings. They will learn how to use treasure seeking equipment, solve puzzles and search for hidden treasures.
- Stage 4: €150,000 - Contemporary Art Museum: This section will be dedicated to Art. Visitors will find paintings by Becker and other contemporary artists. It is set to be a true showcase of our world under the gaze of artists of our time.
For each stage, all costs correspond to the following: study and feasibility costs, scenography, space planning and compliance with standards.
As is the case with the majority of cultural projects, tourist numbers and how attractive to visitors the site is will play an essential role.
The Rochefort water tower site will be designed to welcome the public and tourists from all over the world, which will make it possible to finance some of the project.
Once the site is open to the public, we can hope to reach 50 to 60 thousand visitors per year fairly quickly and thus balance our accounts.
The Piano Bar will serve drinks and meals all year round in order to offer a range of activities to visitors and locals. A special Chouette d'Or Montbazillac will be served with other wines and cheeses from the region.
The museum will offer interactive entertainment to introduce visitors to treasure hunts.
Other sources of income will also be considered, such as events, private hire, as well as the secondary activities that will emerge from this amazing venture. The Rochefort water tower project intends to become profitable, which will make it possible to self-finance future work as well as the development project.
By participating in this campaign and becoming a member, you can support French heritage according to your personal budget while having a right to say how your donation is used i.e. you can vote for the works you wish to support.
Beyond its historical richness, heritage is a significant economic asset and a restoration project, be it large or small, is an important player in terms of local development: a way of rallying citizens, an employment and tourist drawing power. The symbolic participation of all donors is also a way of allowing the association to develop, get organised and thus further advance the rescuing of this heritage site.
The Château d'Eau 1876 - La Chouette d'Or® is an association created with the aim of preserving this heritage site and offering a unique location for both art and culture to thrive.
This project was the original idea of Claudina Rhodes, a passionate entrepreneur. She presides over the Château d'Eau 1876 - La Chouette d'Or® association, whose objectives include restoring the site and setting up a museum dedicated to treasure hunting. Through her determination and pugnacity, she was able to convince the city's elected officials who then made it possible for the project to take shape and for her ideas to start being implemented. She works on the site itself and directs all operations.
The first phase of work required a building permit and concerns the development of the ground floor. This is the obvious spot for the La Chouette d'Or® Museum, which includes, in addition to the owl itself, paintings, moulds and various objects related to its history. An exhibition section will allow visitors to discover a large number of Becker's works, while a concept store will offer a shop and relaxation area for visitors to have a bite to eat and kick back. This same space will become a piano bar or theatre-café- in the evening, depending on the artists performing.
You can support in one of the following ways:
Dartagnans
Campagne CHATEAU D’EAU 1876
15 rue de Milan
75009 PARIS
The Château d'Eau 1876 - La Chouette d'Or® volunteer team
Contact email: [email protected]
Website: www.lingotdart.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lingo...
