The World of the Château Bouffémont: A Little Art History

ActivitiesJanuary 2019

Our latest digital newsletter to keep you up to date with everything happening at Château Bouffémont – including recipes, interviews and activities in the local area. 

 

 

Château Bouffémont is nestled in the heart of the Oise valley – a place of striking natural beauty known for its pretty villages, grand historic architecture and idyllic pastoral scenery.

 

Thanks to the sparkle of its rolling countryside and languorous waterways, this region has drawn artists for hundreds of years, including greats like Cézanne, Pissarro and Van Gogh. Here we offer a peek into the world of the iconic artists who have immortalised Val d’Oise’s most alluring beauty spots.

 

 

L’Isle-Adam

L’Isle-Adam, located 20 minutes’ drive from Château Bouffémont, is the kind of place that gets under your skin – “my earthly paradise”, in the words of Balzac, who cherished his youthful visits to the area. This historic town is famous for its long sandy river beach, along with a beautiful 18thcentury Chinese pavilion.

 

Jules Dupré, an important figure in the Barbizon school of landscape painting, was a descendant of an ancient local family. He was raised in L’Isle-Adam – the world’s third-largest collection of his work is located here, in the local Louis-Senlecq Museum. Dupré was one of the earliest artistic champions of the area. His expressively tonal, loose and softly-lit works are representative of the period’s movement away from Romanticism and towards Realism.

 

L’Isle-Adam is home to several creative exhibitions throughout the year, including a Contemporary Art Festival and an annual international art fair each September. We recommend wandering around the town on foot. You may spot some of its wonderful sculptures – such as a resin copy of Etienne Maurice Falconnet’s infamous marble Menacing Love (1757), or Marie-Josée Aerts’ nymph-like riverside Evila Siren (1990) and Jean Marais’ so-called ‘strange angel’, SIARAM (1993).

 

 

Auvers-sur-Oise

An important place for many Impressionists including Camille Pissarro and Frédéric Samuel Cordey, Auvers-sur-Oise (the next town along the river from L’Isle-Adam) is most famous for its association with the great Dutch Post-Impressionist Van Gogh.

 

Visitors can follow the Van Gogh route around the village, to explore the places where the painter worked, lived and drew inspiration in the final months before his death. The Auberge Ravoux (now a fully-restored museum named the Van Gogh House), is a particularly moving monument. Here you can see Vincent’s tiny little attic room, mansardNo. 5, which was never rented again after he took his own life and died here. Some of the painter’s most famous and emotionally affecting works created in the area number among them Portrait of Dr Gachet, Church of Auvers-sur-Oise, and Wheatfield with Crows – all painted in the few months preceding his death in 1890. Van Gogh and his brother Theo are both laid to rest in the local cemetery.

 

Auvers-sur-Oise is also home to the Daubigny Museum, which has over 100 works by Charles François Daubigny. Daubigny painted the magnificent surrounding scenery from Le Botin, his famous floating studio, on the waters of the River Oise itself. The Daubigny Museum also offers a charmingly quirky selection of so-called ‘feline art’, with paintings, engravings, sketches, sculptures and more by the likes of Jean Cocteau, Koji Ikuta and Theophile-Alexander Steinlen – along with a temporary exhibition by WWI painter Mathurin Méheut.

 

Musée Daubigny, au manoir des Colombières, Auvers-sur-Oise

 

Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône

Maubuisson Abbey is an ancient and imposing nunnery, founded in 1236. An atmospheric Cistercian setting, it has hosted visual art installations from a variety of contemporary artists, contributing to a dialogue between heritage and modern explorations of space. From October 7th 2018 to March 17th 2019 the space is being used as an exhibition of work by Patrick Neu, who works meticulously with materials such as bee wings, soot and natural hair to assemble his strange, microscopic and fantastical creations. The next town along, Cergy, was previously home to the Street Art Park– proof of how this spirit of artistic innovation and vitality in the area continues to reign.

 

This is just the tip of the iceberg – as visitors to the Oise valley will discover, there is so much more to explore in this beautiful region. See you next time, for more news from us at  Château Bouffémont.

 

Keep in touch at @chateaubouffemont

 

How Important is Location When You Come to Plan a Corporate Event?

CorporateJanuary 2019

If you are presently organising a corporate event for your own or someone else’s brand, you will probably not need to be reminded of the critical role that the most suitable venue can play. Indeed, the venue is the most influential ingredient in any event’s success other than the event itself.

However, some of those planning company events such as a product launch, meeting, seminar or conference can occasionally be guilty of underrating the importance of their chosen venue’s location – and in particular, also not properly understanding the many ways in which location is crucial.

The location dictates so much else about your event

To get a sense of just how profoundly the small matter of location can shape an event’s structure and success, one only needs to contemplate the corporate event space here at Château Bouffémont.

Yes, it is true that this private venue appeals strongly to the heart, this monumental stone-built former residence of the Marquise of Preignes and Baron Empain exuding no shortage of aristocratic charm, to say nothing of the extraordinary wider setting provided by its spectacular manicured French gardens.

Nor do we serve up merely one corporate event space, but instead – in effect – five grand reception halls and nine magical suites which, together, lend themselves to the kind of remarkable versatility that you may not have expected from a historic French chateau.

These elements are certainly advantageous in isolation. But no less significant is the role that they are likely to play together in the structure your corporate event can take, and what opportunities you have to woo and cater to the most specific requirements of your attendees.

A well-situated corporate event space can make all of the difference

One of the most powerful reasons to hire Château Bouffémont for your organisation’s next corporate event, however, is the simple fact that it is located so close to one of the truly great global capitals – Paris.

Indeed, when enjoying the festivities of your corporate event in the tranquil setting in the heart of the Montmorency Forest, you and your guests will also be a mere 30 kilometres from the centre of the City of Lights – that’s just a 40-minute drive away.

So, not only will you be well-placed to attract residents of Paris and its environs to whom your corporate event may be relevant, but the city’s world-beating restaurants, art galleries, museums and historical sites may also serve as additional attractions enticing otherwise reluctant guests. Such visitors may be interested to read Time Out’s rundown of 50 of the finest Paris attractions right now.

Factors like these are why event planners routinely advise their clients to select a private venue located near a major centre of population.

Another thing to bear in mind is that larger towns and cities tend to incorporate extremely well-developed transport links by their very nature; sure enough, when you opt for Château Bouffémont as your corporate event space, you will be just a 20-minute journey from Charles de Gaulle Airport. This is likely to be a significant convenience for guests seeking to reach your venue from overseas, as well as return home by air once the event has concluded.

We are a simply incomparable chateau venue near Paris

Yes, there are other factors to contemplate other than pure location when you are attempting to choose the private venue that will deliver the best results for the event you are planning.

However, when you pick Château Bouffémont as the venue of your corporate event, there is no need to compromise as far as both location and non-location elements are concerned. Instead, you and your attendees can discover a true fairytale venue that will reflect positively on the taste of everyone partaking in the event.  

Contact our corporate events team now, and you will be able to learn more about why a company event held at our magnificent heritage venue could be one that every attendee remembers with affection for many years to come.

The World of Château Bouffémont: Rustic Fig Loaf Edition

GastronomyDecember 2018

Introducing a new digital newsletter to keep you up to date with everything happening at Château Bouffémont – including recipes, interviews and activities in the local area

 

Here at the Château Bouffémont, a love for people lies at the very heart of what we do – from organising an endless array of activities, to throwing an unbeatable party. It is our tightknit clan of staff, suppliers and guests that make this venue such a unique and special place.

 

To say thank you for being an important part of the Château family, we want to keep you in the loop with a new series of articles. These will let you know what is going on with us – expect interviews with team members and local personalities, recommendations for daytrips and activities in the surrounding Val-d’Oise area, and gastronomic guides to our favourite producers in the region. We will alternate between Q&As, recipes-of-the-month and informative articles to regularly provide a little slice of Château magic, sent straight to your inbox.

 

We are kicking off a new gastronomy series with this recipe from Paris-based chef Arthur Girard, who talked us through the steps needed to create his rustic salted loaf with figs and rosemary. Comfortingly warm and richly packed with flavour, this beautiful bread is destined to be a hit at brunches, picnics and get-togethers. The light tang of buttermilk combines with aromatic rosemary and juicy, jewel-like figs, finished with a sprinkling of salt to savour. A loaf for all seasons and occasions, this is the first of many delicious Château recipes to come.

 

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Inspiration for your wedding this Christmas season

WeddingsDecember 2018

Inspiration for your wedding this Christmas season

 

Winter weddings have long been associated with a certain magic – after all, they take place at a time of year that is already pretty special given the ongoing Christmas celebrations. However, it’s also true that every little touch or adjustment can help so much to make an already heart-warming and inspiring occasion even more so.

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How to organise a seminar at Château Bouffémont in France

UncategorizedNovember 2018

how to organise a seminar

The term ‘seminar’ is a broad one – the Cambridge Dictionary, for instance, simply defines it as “an occasion when a teacher or expert and a group of people meet to study and discuss something”.

This means that if you are reading this article with a view to booking an elegant and luxurious venue for your own working-day, your requirements may greatly differ from even many other individuals, groups, institutions or businesses.

Nonetheless, the following are the most important broad steps that you can take to organise a seminar at the enchanting stone-built residence that is Château Bouffémont, and even more crucially than that, ensure that it is a success.

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Wedding a la francaise?

Uncategorized, WeddingsNovember 2018

marriage chateau

For so many couples, it is a lifelong and heartfelt dream to get married in France. This may be due to an enduring love of French culture, or perhaps a family or ancestral connection to the country. Alternatively, you may simply be looking to tie the knot abroad and have considered France due to its strong associations with all things romance.

However, there is much more to the organisation of a French wedding than simply finding the prettiest and most enchanting backdrop on which to confirm one’s union. Here are some of the other factors that demand consideration.

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Why a French Chateau Provides Both a Beautiful and Practical Place to Tie the Knot

WeddingsNovember 2018

chateau

Romance. The word itself provokes intense feelings and thoughts, good and bad because it is such a crucial concept for the human soul. So many of the world’s greatest achievements in art, literature, music and sculpture have been created because of it. Many of them had significant movements ordained under their name – the romanticists or the romantic style.

It resonates because of the strength of its connotations. When we start to think about the ingredients of a perfect setting for the ultimate romantic occasion – a wedding – then we are led inexorably to one place. France.

Hugo, Rousseau, Delacroix, Rostand, Courbet and Gautier. So many of the names associated with romance are French. Even the word Romance is French. It is not surprising that so many world luminaries flocked to France in the hope that its romantic essence would rub off on them. Hemmingway, Fitzgerald and Grace Kelly became part of the tapestry that stretches throughout time enticing modern lovers to have their marriage ceremony in France.

The epitome of French wedding ceremony must be a chateau. Their design, history and surroundings all provide unique mystique and inspire the heart and mind of any fiancé and fiancée.

Unlike functional British châteaux and fortifications, French chateaus were designed as places for families to live and entertain their guests. Chateau Bouffemont, just to the north of Paris is an excellent example.

The preponderance of windows and lights testify that the views are of paramount importance both inside and out. Even on rare overcast days, the chateau itself is always a beautiful and noteworthy backdrop to any activity with its 5-hectare estate.

France is also rightly renowned for gastronomic excellence and the food at a chateau wedding could rightly grace any romantic novel or fairy tale. Staff will have long-standing contacts and friendships with the local food and drink suppliers to ensure the best and freshest food in season will be served for the couple and their honoured guests and the perfect wine and champagne to accompany the occasion will be served naturally.  

Weather and external conditions cannot be guaranteed but an estate such as Chateau Bouffemont has four floors of salons, terraces, suites and rooms to accommodate indoor or outdoor ceremonies with a minimum of fuss. Regardless of your own preference, they will readily be able to accommodate your wishes.

A French wedding also makes economic sense. The average UK wedding cost is now over £30,000 and it can rise above even this figure. A fairytale chateau wedding is within your budget for you and your guests to enjoy.

The cost would also cover expert services to make your day even easier and more memorable including the services of an expert wedding planner to look after the myriad of small details and decisions that can cause big worries if left unattended to. Experienced and helpful staff at the Chateau Bouffemont will also be able to look after the other details that will make a wedding more memorable such as the decoration, flowers, cake, music, photography, video and more. Even more unusual requests and services such as children’s entertainers can also be accommodated.

The age of Romance may have passed historically but its ideals and ideas live on and are personified in a wedding ceremony held at a French chateau. Honour your dreams and follow your hearts desire to France and its citadels of romance.