VILLERS-COTTERÊTS
ROYAL CHÂTEAU OF
ROYAL CHÂTEAU OF
VILLERS-COTTERÊTS
PROJECT FOR
A NEW LEASE OF
LIFE LINKED TO
TOURISM & CULTURE
LONDON
BRUSSELS
VILLERS-COTTERÊTS
PARIS
PRESENTATION OF THE SITE,
ITS ASSETS AND OPPORTUNITIES
April 2016
www.chateau-royal-france.com 1/4
PRESENTATION OF THE SITE AND ITS HISTORY
A ROYAL AND PRINCELY ESTATE
THE CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT
The French Government is the main proprietor of the Royal Château of Villers-Cotterêts,
which has been disused since September 2014. It would like to see the site reused for tourism
and cultural purposes. In this perspective it has organised a call for ideas that could lead way
to a call for projects.
See page 4 of this document
A CHÂTEAU WITH
A PRESTIGIOUS PAST
The Royal Château of Villers-Cotterêts was begun in 1532,
during the Renaissance (16th century) by King Francis I;
his emblem of a Salamander is depicted in a number
of places. The château was completed by his successor
Henry II.
FORMER 18TH CENTURY
«JEU DE PAUME»
COUR DU JEU DE PAUME
19TH CENTURY ANNEX
BUILDINGS
PARK AND
GARDENS
LIVING
QUARTERS
Francis I, King of France,
equestrian portrait (anonymous)
Chantilly, Condé Museum
Photo (C) RMN-Grand Palais
(Chantilly Estate) / René-Gabriel Ojéda
Louis XIV, King of France
full-length portrait in royal attire
Rigaud Hyacinthe (1659-1743)
Paris
Photo (C) RMN-Grand Palais
(The Louvre Museum) / Gérard Blot
CHAPEL
The Château of Fontainbleau is the «big brother» of the Château of Villers-Cotterêts
117
m/3
84ft
FORMER ROYAL
APARTMENTS
(DURING 16TH CENTURY)
195
m/6
40ft
MAIN ENTRANCE
TO THE CHÂTEAU
COUR DES OFFICES
The entire estate
has an available
surface area
of almost
23 000 m2
5.7 acres
AUDITORIUM
PAVILION
Axonometric view of the château
E. Daurel / Aisne Tourisme Agency
2/4
This vast building presents the same features as that of
Fontainebleau, built during the same period (both châteaus
were built by the same family of architects).
A royal residence from the 16th century, Louis XIV granted it
to his brother the Duke of Orléans in 1661. The Sun King was
a regular to the château, which he enjoyed for its hunting
and festivities. Buildings were added during the 18th century
(notably the indoor «jeu de paume») and during the 19th
century. The château has retained much of its original design
and it dimensions. Well known personalities are known to
have worked on the château including Philibert Delormes
and André Le Notre.
The «Ordonnace of Villers-Cotterêts» was signed at the
château in 1539, establishing French as the official language
of the kingdom.
A complete history of the château is available
on the project’s website:
www.chateau-royal-france.com
THE SITE’S ASSETS AND POTENTIAL
A STRATEGIC LOCATION NEAR PARIS
AND CHARLES DE GAULLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
EXCELLENT RAIL SERVICES
to Paris. Direct links (VillersCotterêts-Paris Gare du Nord).
13 return journeys per day. Travel
time ± hour. Rail link to Charles
de Gaulle Airport planned.
P alace of C ompiègne
Royal Château of
Villers-Cotterêts
Compiègne
Forest
PARIS :
PARIS R
ING
RO
A
PARIS CDG
AIRPORT
Disneyland
PARIS NORD
STATION
35km
ins
50m
D
The ONLY FRENCH ROYAL
CHÂTEAU TO BE AVAILABLE
IN ITS ENTIRETY for a project
comprising culture and tourism.
Retz
Forest
N2
HIG
HW
AY
*Source: CRT Ile de France (data 2014,
Paris & Ile de France combined)
CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT:
2ND AIRPORT OF EUROPE
(1st for long-haul flights),
> 65 million passengers
(89% of which are non-French –
ranked 4th in the world).
m/
40k
70
km
Parc Astérix
/55
min
45m
s
ins
C hâteau of C hantilly
A1
MOST POPULAR TOURIST
DESTINATION IN THE WORLD
with 46 million tourists*,
170 million bednights (53%
of which are non-French),
hotel occupancy rate: ± 80%.
Ch
gne
ampa
REIMS
Route
A4
A1-A4
PARIS
N2
Motorways
Dual carriageway
Large state-owned forests
AÉROPORT
PARIS CDG
The château’s Renaissance chapel
GOOD SERVICE ROADS
between Villers-Cotterêts,
Paris and Charles de Gaulle
Airport (the majority of the road is
highway, with 85M€ scheduled for
2020 to finalise its developments).
The Eiffel Tower, just 1 hour from Villers-Cotterêts
Disneyland Paris
FRENCH KINGS AND
HISTORICAL FIGURES lived in
the château (Francis I, Henry II,
Henry IV, Louis XVI, the dukes
of Orléans...).
Charles de Gaulle International Airport
LARGE INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL
SITES nearby: Paris, Reims, Champagne cellars, Disneyland, Chantilly...
Charles de Gaulle Airport
BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS
(park, Retz Forest, former royal
hunting domain of 13,000ha).
The nearby Chantilly Estate
An EXTREMELY LARGE
EXPLOITABLE SURFACE AREA
of approximately 23,000 m2/5.7 acres
for an ambitious programme.
The Champagne Route, 35km away
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WHAT ARE THE
DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES?
Southern face of the living quarters
Significant increase of international customers
to Paris and Ile de France seeking luxury travel
deals. France expects to receive 100 million
international arrivals in 2020 compared to
83.3 million in 2014.
A further 20,000 to 30,000 hotel rooms are
required in the Parisian region, especially in
the luxury range. (Source : CCI Paris/CROCIS)
Bateau mouche on the River Seine, Paris
Cour des offices
Your personalised CONTACT for this project
The château is located in the countryside
surrounding Paris, less exposed to real or
perceived event-related threats.
USEFUL INFORMATION
In order to consider operational solutions for the future of the
château, the government is organising a call for ideas, which
could lead way to a call for projects.
Possibility of associating with other prestigious or
well known sites located nearby, including Paris,
Disneyland, Champagne cellars, Chantilly, Palace
of Compiègne, Reims… (see page 3)
A very long term lease (99 years) could be arranged in order
to provide appropriate conditions for the development of a
project.
Positioned at the heart of a dynamic sector in the
vicinity of the Charles de Gaulle Airport (example
of the Europacity retail and tourism complex
project).
To obtain detailed information about the procedure, the time
schedule and the site, please visit the project’s website:
www.chateau-royal-france.com
CT
YOUR CONTA
The vocation of the
Royal Château
of VILLERS-COTTERÊTS
is almost certainly
to position itself as a
PRESTIGIOUS RESORT
FOR TOURISM AND CULTURE,
offering European
and international
customers the
UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
of life in a French
château.
The château’s grand Renaissance staircase
The BUISINESS Agency France,
partner of the project
Leaflet design: Aisne Departmental Tourism Agency - Parc FOCH - Avenue FOCH - CS 60627- 02007 LAON Cedex.
Creation: Line Essique – +33 (0)3 60 52 32 61 - Crédits photos : page 1 > VisualDrone-Jean DHEILLY/Retz Forst Tourism Office - CRT Picardie/A.S FLAMENT - CRT Picardie/S. BELLET - Portrait of Francis I by Jean CLOUET
Photo (C) RMN-Grand Palais (Louvre Museum) / Hervé Lewandowski - Royal Château of Villers-Cotterêts: detail of the wall map Photo (C) RMN-Grand Palais (Château of Fontainebleau) / image RMN-GP / page 2 > Château of Fontainebleau
FOTOLIA/Christian DELBERT - CRT Picardie /AS FLAMENT / page 3 > CRT Picardie /A.S FLAMENT - VisualDrone-Jean DHEILLY/ Retz Forest Tourism Office - CRT Picardie/N. BRUANT - Pixabay - Fotolia/Ryanking 999 and Anna_Klyasheva Shutterstock/Bellena / page 4 > Retz Forest Tourism Office - VisualDrone-Jean DHEILLY - CRT Picardie /A.S FLAMENT – National Library of France - Fotolia/Aterrom, Ilfotokunst and DeshaCAM
Northern face of the 17th century living quarters
April 2016
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