The Château de la Gabelle – La Gabelle Castle – is a building from the 13th century. Its name was given after the tax on salt that was collected in this region. Belonging to the Mevouillon family for more than a century, it was given to the terrible Charles Dupuy-Montbrun, a protestant lord, having close relationships with the bloodthursty Baron des Adrets. The building used to be a place of command of protestant military operation during Religion war in Provence because it could host over 1 500 arquebus shooters. After he died, Charles Dupuy-Montbrun’s family left the castle abandonned. Time then started to devastate the castle.
The castle is located in Ferrassières, close to the Mount Ventoux, in the heart of High-Provence, in the favourite land of Jean Giono, famous author and poet of the region. He even wrote about it under the name of the « L’Auberge de la Commanderie » (The Commandery Inn).
Since 1838, it has become the house of the Blanc family. The family legend tells that it was bought with two barrels filled with gold.
Air view of the Castle in 1970’s. Collapse of the East tower in the 1960’s.
We are lavender growers, passionate about our craft and our region, we have had to diversify our activity to save this damaged 13th century building.
On top of our agricultural activity, we have opened a bed and breakfast, a restaurant and a shop on site in which you can find products from the estate in order to collect more money for affording maintenance works essential for the building to survive.
And above all, it is a way for us to share our lifestyle and passion with you !
Unfortunately, time flies and our funds are not sufficient anymore to face the emergency of the situation.
Extent of the damage:
The assesment is quick: the whole Eastern part has collapsed and is now ruined.
Only the Northern tower is still up. However, since 2015, a pack of pigeons has settled down in this tower. They scratch the stones and the tiles, and weaken the building already fragile. Moreover, in 2016, the frame of the roof of a small room adjacent to the tower cracks: we have to remove the roof in order for the walls not to collapse. This project is about restoring this room and tower.
Why ?
The Northern tower hides a treasure of the castle and of the whole life of the village: an original communal oven, located into the tower base. The roof of the room that shelted this bread oven had to be removed because the beams of the structure yielded, exposing the oven to climate risks.
The more the time goes, the more it weakens the oven. All the family decides it is time to do something for it !
Support the #TeamGabelle in this #ChateauChallenge : we need 10.000€ to start restoration work becoming everyday more urgent !
If our objective is overpassed we could realize even crazier projects !
Making all these works, it is the possibility for us to invite all the patrimony lovers for a bread festival every year at the castle, to celebrate cereals from Provence in all its forms !
Nothing more simple ! You can donate in the most suitable way for you :
We would like to thank all the team of Adopte un Château association and especially Marianne Guméry and Julien Marquis for their involvement in our project and their concern in our distress, as well as Christophe Mercier.
Thank you Anne Knoepfli for all your beautiful pictures and faithful friendship !
Thank you to all the Dartagnans team for their support and rapidity !
The whole #TeamGabelle wants to thank you for your donations, messages and support !
Merci from all of us, the Blanc family: Margherite, Jean-Paul, Michel, Claudine, Isabelle, Marie-Laure, Emmanuelle, Magali, Laurence, Franck, Marcelo, Rémy, Pauline, Rémi, Cyril, Inès, Antoine, Théo, Mathieu, Pierre, Léa, Judith, Zélya, Astrid, Iris, Iseult, Aloïs, Hanaë, Eden, Pauline, Batiste and Lyssana.
And thank you from all of us, the #TeamGabelle
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