General Assembly and Conference

Chateau de SERRANT

Listed Historical Monument. 20 km east of Angers.

Originally a medieval castle belonging to the SERRANT family, the present harmonious Renaissance building dates from 1639. It now houses one of the most interesting collection of furniture and art in France spanning over 400 years, and includes a precious ebony cabinet made in 1640, Empire furniture from the stay of Napoleon and his wife, tapestries and a kitchen located in the old Medieval part of the caste, fully equipped with items from the early 20thC. A welcoming library housing over 12,000 books includes first editions of La Fontaine and Diderot’s “Encyclopedia” as well as Napoleon’s Egypt Descriptions. The castle is surrounded by an English landscaped park created in the 1820’s.

The castle has been continuously inhabited including the de Bautru family who completed the building of the Renaissance castle and the Walsh family, originally Irish, who saved the castle from ruin during the French Revolution. In 1830 Valentine Walsh married the Duke of La Trémoïlle. The current owners are the Prince and Princesse Charles-Guillaume and Hedwige de MERODE (the Princesse de Merode is from the La Trémoïlle line).

The grounds cover 1100 hectares of which 600 ha is protected and 300 ha is an English landscaped park. The 2 large lakes are classified biological areas for rare birds. Activities such as hunting, fishing and forestry are essential to preserve the estate and a small part of the land is rented out. Mid-July, 3000 people role play fictional Kandorya Chronicles.

The owners will kindly host the FCS for the General Assembly, Conference and lunch in their splendid Orangerie followed by a visit of the castle and grounds.

Partner’s Programme 10:00am - 12.30pm /

Optional visit for Friends in the afternoon 03:00 - 05:00 pm

Chateau d’ANGERS and the Tapestry of the Apocalypse

This monumental fort of 1230 was commissioned by regent Blanche of Castile and her son, Saint Louis. The ramparts measure nearly 500m and feature 17 shale and limestone towers. These towers were reduced in size in the 16th century to better protect the fort from the attacks of the canon. The fort was occupied by the Dukes of Anjou in the 14th and 15th centuries who were prolific builders and art lovers. It was Louis I, Duke of Anjou, who commissioned the Apocalypse Tapestry in 1375, this vast, highly technical masterpiece of Medieval art. Originally it measured 140m of which 100m are held on display today. It illustrates the story from the book of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation by Saint John reflecting, at the same time, the anxieties of the day amidst the Hundred Years War.

The grounds also include large gardens, amongst which vegetable, rose, hydrangea and hanging gardens that hold a number of species that feature in the tapestry.

Gala Dinner

Château de BRISSAC : 15 km south of Angers

www.chateau-brissac.fr

www.mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox?projector=1

Held by the Cossé-Brissac family since 1502, the Dukes of Brissac are in possession of the tallest castle in France, standing at 48 metres, giving it its nickname “The giant of the valley”. It numbers 7 floors and over 200 rooms holding its own theatre, chapel, galleries (including a portrait of the Veuve Clicquot, known for her eponymous champagne), majestic staircases, hidden corridors, colossal halls and a library - a veritable town behind walls!

Besieged by Henry IV during the Wars of Religion, much of the castle fell to ruin until the First Duke of Brissac undertook a massive yet unfinished renovation in 1600. The result is 2 massive Medieval towers that contrast with the Louis XIII facade that give the Brissac chateau its element of charm.It was here that in 1620 Marie de Medici was formally reconciled with her son, Louis XIII, after bitter battles of power and religion.

Today the chateau hosts many events including a traditional Christmas fair, an Easter Egg Hunt, a Spring fair with hot air balloons, bed and breakfast, and private receptions. The Marquis and Marchioness Charles-André and Larissa de Brissac are kindly hosting our Gala Dinner on Friday, June 14.

The evening for both Friends and Young Friends will kick off with drinks and a guided visit with Marquis Charles-Henri de Brissac at 8pm. The Gala dinner will be catered by Moulin des Quatre Saisons with star chef Camille Constantin who has a Michelin starred restaurant of the same name in La Flèche.

The keynote speaker at the dinner will be former AXA CEO and current president of AXA Atout Coeur Duc Henri de La Croix de Castries.