In less than 2 months, neo-Châtelains from the 4 corners of the world have come together to finance new major steps in the project to save the medieval castle of Ebaupinay. And if you join the adventure??
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Last phase of the campaign
In order to allow all those who have received an option to transform it into a share of the SAS du château de l'Ebaupinay, the campaign remains open until November 30th, 2021.
After this deadline of November 30th, 2021, the value of the option it represents will be transformed into an anonymous donation to the SAS du Château de l'Ebaupinay and the beneficiary of the option will not have the associated share.
Classified as a historical monument since 1898, the medieval castle of Ebaupinay is a marvel of medieval architecture.
The first mention of Ebaupinay dates back to 1364: it is said to have had a dwelling, which was probably the beginning of the castle that we see today.
At the end of the Hundred Years' War (1337 - 1453), Ebaupinay was reinforced with a fortress with defensive elements built by François de Vendel. The authorization for the construction was given by Charles VII in 1458.
The Ebaupinay was first owned by the Vendel family, then by marriage to the Tusseau family in the middle of the 16th century.
In the first half of the 17th century, Ebaupinay was sold to the Hillerin family but was no longer inhabited. The castle was left abandoned and gradually dismantled.
Then at the end of the 17th century, the castle was sold to the Baron d'argenton of the Châtillon family, the last owner before the French revolution. At that time the value of the surrounding land exceeded the interest in the castle which fell into ruin.
The fortress was sold as a national asset and classified as a historical monument in 1898 on the first list in France.
The castle then passes from owner to owner until the collective buyout orchestrated by Dartagnans in 2018. 11 864 people from 96 different countries have invested themselves around an ambitious human project: to bring the Domaine de l'Ebaupinay back to life. This involves restoring the castle and its surroundings while remaining faithful to the historical reality and using medieval construction techniques.
The Ebaupinay rescue and development project is designed as a large medieval building site, as it could have existed 500 years ago. Here co-châtelains, volunteers and visitors are immersed in a fascinating era: the Middle Ages.
Since 2019, Ebaupinay vibrates around this past. The castle lives again thanks to its community, which does everything to save this historic monument.
It first allowed the opening of the castle to the public in record time.
The surroundings of the castle have been made accessible and its domain welcoming, thanks in particular to the 150 volunteer workcamps organized on site.
A mediation program, in partnership with local companies and reenactment associations, has also made it possible to welcome several thousand visitors in less than 2 years.
The Ebaupinay has also developed its store in partnership with local craftsmen who have created the book, the wooden toys and the wine of the castle.
Finally, young and old have experienced magical moments through federative events, such as medieval banquets, history tournaments, Christmas or the Night of the Castles.
After 2 years of development and animation, the community offers the possibility to all heritage lovers to join it.
By participating in the adventure as a shareholder and co-châtelain, each participant contributes directly to the development of the project, the rescue of the castle and the growth of the company.
For those who wish to give a gift to their loved ones, they can offer the "My Share of the Castle" / Ma part du château box, through the purchase of an option, which will allow them to become shareholders and co-châtelains as well, once they would have activated the box.
The "Ma Part du Château" box contains a numbered membership card that allows its holder to become a shareholder and co-châtelain.
Each euro invested by the newcomers will be used to continue the restoration program and expand the tourist activities of the estate.
In return for your contribution of 59 euros per share, you become a co-shareholder of the SAS du Château de l'Ebaupinay.
You also benefit from a free entrance for life.
You participate in the decision-making process and in the volunteer workcamps.
Finally, you become part of a close-knit community of castle saviors.
This new concept allows everyone to get involved in a different way in the preservation of heritage, to exchange on the development of the project and to enter a community of solidarity around a common goal: to save their castle. And what a castle!
By becoming a shareholder, you enter a unique community and you allow the Ebaupinay project to continue its incredible development.
Today you have the opportunity to participate in a project that is unique in the world, by becoming a shareholder, and therefore holder of at least one share of the SAS of the Ebaupinay castle.
The option with the box "Ma Part du Château": for yourself or for a third party
To purchase a share for yourself or to offer an option to a friend or family member with the "My share of the Château" collector box, simply click on the button: "Purchase an option to gift".
Note : An option is a means of transporting a claim subscribed by an investor for a company's project to a third party (or oneself) in order to enable him/her to invest in the company.
The company's options allow you to offer a future share for someone or yourself.
In the framework of the investment project for the Château de l'Ebaupinay company, you will receive a box allowing you to easily offer it.
It will then be up to the person who received the box to take the necessary steps to confirm their investment. Do not hesitate to consult the FAQ and the video tutorials at the bottom of the page. They explain how to easily activate the option (box).
If you wish to purchase more than one, simply indicate the number of options (boxes) you wish to receive, during payment.
Attention, if several options (boxes) are ordered, only one delivery address can be indicated. In order to be able to send the boxes to several different addresses, you will have to redo the procedure for each box.
Inside is a membership card with a unique number (consisting of 16 digits).
The share without the box: for yourself or for your minor child only
If you wish to take one or more shares for yourself or for your minor child, without the box, you just have to click on the button: "Invest".
NOTE : In order to help you in your subscription process with or without the box, you can consult the video tutorials located at the bottom of this page.
While waiting to receive your box and in case you want to offer it, you can download and print the following document:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pUt6UI5DWuzqqxsXsOO8dGdHrTNkJ7KP/view?usp=sharing
The table below details the advantages you benefit from according to your number of shares or boxes :
Note: If you already own one or more shares, the privileges below apply to the shares you already own. If you wish to access a higher privilege, simply add your existing shares to your newly acquired ones. For example, if you have 1 share and you wish to increase to 5 shares, you just have to take 4 more shares, etc.
In 2017, the French start-up Dartagnans launched a crazy idea and a unique concept: that of buying with women and men from all over the world the enchanting castle of La Mothe Chandeniers located in the city of Trois-Moutiers (Loire Valley - Vienne (86) - France) with the aim of giving it a new life.
In 2019, the medieval castle of Ebaupinay is also saved thanks to this innovative concept and thousands of neo-châtelains from all over the world.
Since then, the domain has been revived through visits, events, restoration work and volunteer workcamps.
Between the Middle Ages and the beginnings of the Renaissance, the castle of Ebaupinay is a unique example of mid-15th century architecture. Dominating the surrounding plain for several kilometers, this ruin presents the defensive elements of medieval castles while guaranteeing comfort and luminosity to its lords.
This impressive residential castle is a time capsule that will immerse you in the late Middle Ages and its architecture. From the towers to the monumental walls and small decorative details, the Ebaupinay is a true heritage of the past to be preserved.
After several centuries of abandonment, it is time for this majestic ruin to regain its letters of nobility.
The project of safeguarding and developing the Ebaupinay estate is based on a unique tourist offer to finance the restoration program of the castle, the park and the outbuildings, based on visits, historical reconstructions and accommodation.
It must be said that Ebaupinay offers a magical playground for all lovers of heritage and the Middle Ages.
Since 2019, the SAS of the medieval castle of Ebaupinay has invested more than 900,000 euros of its own funds in the program of touristic development and restoration of the estate, which has already attracted more than 6,000 visitors during our first 2 seasons.
Our goal is to make the castle fully visitable thanks to a restoration program unique in the world: to fully restore the castle using the medieval techniques of 500 years ago.
The management and supervision of the major reconstruction project of the medieval castle of Ebaupinay was entrusted to the Aedifico agency, created by Stéphane Berhault, architect DPLG and Heritage architect since 1995.
Stéphane is also a teacher at the Ecole de Chaillot (school for the restoration of historic monuments) since 2002. He is also a trainer at the Maisons Paysannes de France training center, specializing in the restoration of medieval and ancient wooden frameworks.
He shares with us his great experience in order to guide us in the right directions for the construction of our medieval building site, the development of the site and the educational workshops.
The 8 phases presented here naturally depend on this participative investment campaign and on our ability to make the domain attractive to our visitors, and thus generate income.
Phase 1: Let's enter the castle
The first challenge of our extraordinary restoration program is to make the interior of the castle accessible to the public through a vast safety project.
Phase 2: Restoration of the first floor
Phase 3 : Restitution of the Level 1
Phase 4 : Restitution of the Level 2
Phase 5 : Restitution of the Level 3
Phase 6 : Restitution of the frame and the roof
Phase 7 : Restitution of the fireplaces
Phase 8 : Interior Design
The overall estimated budget is approximately 3.5 million euros (excluding contingencies).
The volunteers and craftsmen of Ebaupinay are the cornerstones of the restitution project. The village will allow us to produce all the elements necessary for the reconstruction of the castle as well as goodies for our visitors.
The village will finally be a central element of our animations throughout the year.
On the 6 hectares of the estate, we will also create an ecosystem conducive to the development of biodiversity.
In total, nearly 12,000 trees, plants, species, varieties of fruits and vegetables will be planted on the estate.
The landscaping of the site was entrusted to Arnauld Delacroix, landscape architect, also in charge of the development project of the castles La Mothe Chandeniers (Vienne) and Vibrac (Charente).
Arnauld, founder of the Talpa agency in 2000, shares with us his great knowledge acquired through his numerous and diversified missions: Victoire du Paysage 2012, Prix de l'aménagement 2014, trophy of the Loire Bretagne water agency 2015, two Victoires du Paysage 2016, selection for the OFF du Développement Durable in 2017, two Victoires du Paysage 2018, two departmental prizes and European trophy for urban water management in 2019.
The balance of our ambitious project rests finally on our tourist and economic development through visits, events, privatizations and our accommodation offer.
In the heart of the domain, we also wish to make you live the atmosphere of the great medieval banquets...
And majestic medieval festivals!
The Château de l'Ebaupinay is building its present and its future around its tourism development, deeply rooted in its local economy.
The future domain of Ebaupinay
To finance the restoration of the castle thanks to its activities, here is the challenge of the years to come.
If the overall goal of 2.7 million euros is reached we will fund the following projects:
Archaeological excavations and animations around the excavations
It is the essential step in any restoration project of a castle classified as a historical monument.
The excavations will allow us not only to understand the past in order to build the future, but also to create a cultural mediation course around archaeology and the Middle Ages through numerous workshops.
Rebuild the castle identically
Our crazy project is based on the identical restoration of the castle using 15th century medieval techniques. This is a challenge that has never been met elsewhere on a historical monument.
Our first objective is to make the interior of the castle accessible to the public for the 2022 season.
The Gîte, the Tavern des co-châtelains and the ecolodges
Our accommodation offer is a central point of our project. It will allow us to offer an exceptional experience to our visitors.
The ecolodges will be designed to blend seamlessly into the landscape of the site using low impact materials.
The village of artisans
What would a medieval construction site be without its craftsmen? The second part of our development will be based on the creation of a large open-air village of craftsmen, as it could have existed 500 years ago.
Space for shows and historical re-enactments
At Ebaupinay you will experience history like nowhere else. Throughout the year, you will be immersed in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages through our reenactments and our historical shows.
To make the domain of the castle of Ebaupinay a unique and economically profitable tourist place is the project that we propose you today.
After 2 years of operation, we have had the chance to analyze all the potential of such a site.
By becoming a shareholder of the Ebaupinay, you are investing in an extraordinary project that combines a passion for heritage preservation and economic development.
Projected business plan 2020-2025
Questions about how the investment works? (for you, a relative, a minor child...). We answer all the most frequently asked questions in the document below (just click on the image on the right to access it).
What do I gain by investing in this project?
What does being an investor mean for me and what are the risks?
You can consult pages 7 and 8 of the FAQ which will answer these questions precisely.
The option with the box "Ma Part du Château": for yourself or for a third party.
To purchase a share for yourself or to offer an option to a loved one with the "Ma part du château (My Share of the Castle)" collector's box, simply click on the button: "Purchase an option to gift".
If you want to buy more than one, simply indicate the number of options (boxes) you want to receive during payment.
Inside you will find a unique membership card with a 16-digit number.
An option is a means of conveying a claim subscribed by an investor for the project of a company to a third party (or oneself) in order to enable him to invest in the company.
The company's options allow you to offer a future share for someone or for yourself.
As part of the investment project for the Ebaupinay Castle Society, you will receive a box allowing you to easily offer it and the person will then have to take the necessary steps in order to confirm their investment (see 3.What is the difference between the options and the simple investment? in the FAQ).
The following video will help you understand how to activate the box in order to become an investor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
The share without the box: for yourself or for your minor child only
If you wish to take one or more shares for yourself or for your minor child, without the box, you just have to click on the button: "Invest".
You can watch the dedicated video that will guide you through the process.
Warning: investments present a significant risk of partial or total loss of capital as well as a risk of illiquidity.
For any questions concerning the risks related to the investment, you can consult the dedicated paragraph of the FAQ: Being an investor, what does it mean for me and what are the risks? (page 8)