La Cour des Aulnays is an ancient fortified manor with buildings dating from the XVth, XVIth and the beginning of the XIXth centuries, surrounded by an estate of 5 hectares, about 5 kilometers from the village of Challain-la-Potherie in the Haut Anjou.
A listed historic monument, it is part of our heritage, attracting interest from all our visitors intrigued by its atmosphere.
Today, owner Geneviève Karlsson, has taken in charge La Cour des Aulnays with much passion and conviction, developing a programme of improvement and entertainment whilst encouraging a spirit of discovery and participation. Convinced that this part of our history is not just private property, and wishing to preserve buildings slowly sinking into oblivion and ruin, she wants to make La Cour accessible to the public throughout the year. At the same time she wishes to make it a place of social interaction, her enthusiasm allowing everyone who wishes to be carried along as part of this cultural enterprise encompassing history, art and nature.
Since 2013, Geneviève has developed many projects aimed at making the site self-sufficient, whilst sticking to the ethos of permaculture and sustainability. These projects are financed by renting out the lake, the house or even the whole site in the framework of eco-tourism, or sustainable tourism, by letting the bedrooms and a dormitory as well as catering for bed and breakfast with the owner, or bare-foot camping in the grounds.
In 2013 Geneviève Karlsson founded the Association of the Friends of La Cour des Aulnays. The Association’s aims are the development and management of projects based around the heritage and ecology of the site, organisation of cultural events, passing on traditional skills, whilst respecting nature and all living beings.
You can read more about the history, the present activities and the projects for the future in the presentation document here, that is also on the homepage of the website.
When Geneviève Karlsson arrived at La Cour des Aulnays in 2011 the chapel didn't have any doors nor windows.
They had been destroyed during the French Revolution and the wars of Vendée that followed, as the château of les Aulnais became a regular retreat for the Chouans and was attacked and fired by the Republicans time and again.
The jambs of the front door had been deteriorated to let carriages in. We put a wooden panel to close and protect the chapel, but that can't be opened.
At the beginning of the XIXth century, the ancient manor became a tenanted farm. The stones of the old manor, destroyed during the Revolution, were used in the construction of a new house in 1801. The chapel was stripped of its ornaments and became a granary.
Constructed between 1501 and 1506, its carpentry shaped like an upside down vessel. The chapel has the original rafters as well as fragments of heraldic frescoes.
All the
buildings except the house, namely the chapel, the former gatehouse, the stable,
the tower, the old house and the moats, are included in the additional list of
historic monuments on 18 September 1989.
The association The Friends of La Cour des Aulnays was founded in March 2013 with the aim of protecting the historic, cultural, natural and spiritual heritage of the Friends of La Cour des Aulnays, and today it has more than 500 members. Its aim is to maintain the architectural heritage, and to keep alive the former manor of La Cour des Aulnays.
Today the chapel hosts concerts and exhibitions among other cultural events (exhibitions, artistic residencies, workshops, theatre...). We organise one concert per month in average, and have hosted 80 concerts so far. And once the chapel will be totally protected from wind and rain thanks to new doors and windows, many more will be possible in better and safer conditions.
After a first help through funding of 1500€ from the DRAC end of 2014, and 500€ from the ASCCA, a local association, we launched a first crowdfunding campaign on Ulule which helped us gather 4100€, enough to complete the total costs of 5200€ for the important work done to save the chapels carpentry and roof. The roof was saved in June 2015.
The goal of the current crowdfunding campaign is to make it possible to pursue the works on the chapel to protect it further from wind and rain.
First we will have to redo the door jambs at the main entrance, that were detroyed at the beginning of the 19th century.
Then we will put new functional doors at the main entrance and the side entrance.
Both the main double door as the side door will be made using the same model, the door on the former gatehouse, that is
from the same period as the chapel.
Both doors will be made of solid oak rough sawing and rustic aesthetics, typical of the 16th century, and according to the design of the existing gate of the castle bearing their structural cross of St. Andrew on the inner side, and on the outer side, vertical thin-wall coverings, and a diamond head dowel network. All the ironwork will be handcrafted (by a local blacksmith) and the wood will be patinated with natural red ocher.
Lateral door
Main door
We will announce the quote for the woodwork as soon as we receive it, but according to our estimations the steps beyond would we feasable.
Step 1 at 5000€ : We will build and put in place the lateral door of the chapel.
Step 2 at 10000€ : We will redo the jamb doors and build and put in place the main door of the chapel.
Step 3 at 15000€ : We will be able to build both doors !! Eurêka !!!
In case we gather more, the extra money will be saved to finance the works needed to redo the jambs and stained glass windows of the remaining three openings.
We will make a call for stained glass projects and invite the public to help us choose!
We firt want to thank all the fantastic people that have helped and supported us since the beginning of the magical adventure.
The volunteers who come to help, punctually or more regularly ! You are all indispensable, your help means a lot to us and in the success of this project. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you all !
We also want to thank the artists who come enrichen la Cour des Aulnays with their art and who give so much love and energy.
Thanks to all the people who come to our concerts and other events and share the magic with us !
We had the joy and the honor to be in the list of monuments selected by the Mission Bern, and will benefit from the Heritage Lottery in September. We hope to supplement the amount we will be awarded (the amount is not yet known), by fundings from the DRAC and various sponsorship clubs. A new crowdfunding campaign will be launched after obtaining a maximum of fundings, to complete the financing plan and allow to save and restore the historic buildings, one by one.
The whole team of La Cour des Aulnays, members of the association, volunteers, supporters, we are all very grateful for your help !! If you can and want to help us, you can contribute to this crowdfunding by making a donation to help us reach the goal, by talking about it among your friends and family, and encourage other donations and, of course, if you want to come visit, you are most welcome!
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