Patrimoine
Château de Prye : A heritage passion
Located in the heart of the Nièvre region, Château de Prye is a jewel of history witch a capital H, and of the personal history of Antoine-Emmanuel ans Magdalena, Marquis and Marquise de Bourg de bozas, who have been passionately committed to its preservation for the past thirty years. Their next challenge ? The restoration of the estate's stables, a project supported by the Mission Patrimoine. We are looking forward to meeting you.
INTERVIEW.
To begin with, could you tell us more about the incredible history of the château de prye ?
It’s a rich and fascinating history! This family castle was rebuilt in the 17th century and belonged to the La Grange d’Arquien family during that time. One of the daughters of this noble family became the Queen of Poland by marrying King John III Sobieski. In 1771, the castle passed into the hands of the Bourg de Bozas family through marriage. The castle entered a new era with the investment of Marquis Antonin du Bourg de Bozas, who was a squire of Napoleon III. He undertook significant expansion and remodeling works at
the end of the 19th century, including the redesign of the
156-hectare park with the assistance of landscape architect Édouard André. For the past thirty years, it has been our turn to invest in the conservation and restoration of this family and national heritage. In 2006, the entire estate was classified as a historical monument.
It was Marquis Antonin du Bourg de Bozas who had the stables built. In what way would you say they are unique?
The Prye stables have exceptional value due to their history and architecture. Designed by Marquis Antonin himself, who was a former squire of Emperor Napoleon III, he wanted them to be as grand as they were functional. They were a focal point of equestrian life during that time, and exploring their history reveals the vibrancy of the technical innovations of the late 19th century. In terms of architecture, they form a unique and incredibly complete ensemble. Firstly, there is the central pavilion with its imperial-style dome inspired by the baptismal gate of the Fontainebleau Castle. Then there is the gallery of marble-paneled horse stalls and the riding arena, whose wrought iron structure likely showcases the expertise of the ironworks in Imphy, just 5 kilometers from Prye. Those same ironworks supplied a portion of the structure for
the Eiffel Tower, which was inaugurated a year later in 1889! Unfortunately, despite regular maintenance and care of the stables, the passage of time has endangered this heritage. This was the conclusion reached by the Bern Mission, which selected our project to support and accompany this extensive restoration.
What will the restoration involve?
Scheduled to take place over two years, the restoration work will first focus on the central building, particularly the restoration of the dome, followed by the renovation of the riding arena—its roofing and glass structure—and the remaining walls of the eastern annex. The gallery of horse stalls will also be restored. The architectural quality of the site requires the involvement of qualified companies and specific tradespeople, such as slate workers for the roof slate cutting, as well as marble and stucco craftsmen for the gallery of horse stalls.
What is your vision for the future of these stables?
Our ultimate goal is to bring the horse back to the center of the stables on a periodic basis. The idea is not to have dozens of horses year-round but to welcome events such as carriage competitions, races, demonstrations in the riding arena, or equicoaching activities. In short, we aim to bring equestrian life back to Prye, revive this historical heritage, and share it with the public. It’s an ambitious project that fortunately generates enthusiasm and which we have named after Antonin, my great-great-grandfather, whose motto, displayed on the pediment of the stables, was «Nothing can stop me.» It has become ours !
Published on 19/02/2024
