The Château de la Haute Borde
An artistic haven in the Loire Valley
The ambience of a place has an impact on what happens in it. Its location, architecture and interior design are conducive to speed or calm, to action or reflection.
Three women, passionate of theater, photography and contemporary art, knew the kind of energy they wanted to create and share around them. Céline Barrère and Cécile Simon, photographers and creative directors of the agency Barrereandsimon, together with Violette Plateau, Céline’s partner, decided to breathe life back into a property that had been in Céline’s family for some time, with an aim to turn it into a space for artistic exchange and creation. Located in the Loire Valley, the so-called “Garden of France”, renowned for its vineyards and landscapes, the result is the Château de la Haute Borde, a refined guesthouse and artist’s residence with an inclusive lens.
The ubiquitous artistic dimension of the place is a magnet not only for artists, but also for guests appreciative of art and nature. “The château, the park and the farm can only be seen as part of a whole, inhabited, alive: a stimulating territory close to nature.” By offering this space to artists and encouraging dialogue, they stimulate not only their creativity, but also the sparks of collaboration, with a strong aim to support women and queer people: “These artists are often underrepresented in the art world, and we want to offer them an open and supportive creative space.” They usually host four artists at the same time, which “allows for exciting and nourishing exchanges. This synergy often spreads outside the château, and many artists have started to collaborate together following their stay.”
The project has also had a strong impact in the lives of Cécile, Céline and Violette, who feel fortunate to contemplate nature evolving with the seasons. “The energy developed here by so much creation nourishes us enormously and is also reflected in our personal practices”. They have managed to create an exceptional place, with a feeling of community, surrounded by pure, modern monastic beauty, and harmonic nature. In ten years, they see themselves sharing even further, with events, workshops, concerts of performances, open to the public.
