Château de la Napoule
A medieval fortress that an American artist couple turned into a castle and studio
The story
Before you is the Château de la Napoule in Mandelieu-la-Napoule. In the Middle Ages, a fortress of the Villeneuve family stood on this shore. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1918 two Americans saw it: the sculptor Henry Clews and his wife Marie. It was love at first sight. For seventeen years the couple turned the ruins into a home and studio. Out of the old stones and two surviving towers grew new walls, a gatehouse with turrets, terraces above the sea, and gardens with fountains and clipped hedges. Henry filled the château with his sculptures. Look closely at the walls and columns: strange fairy-tale creatures peer out of them. Henry Clews died in 1937. He and Marie are buried in a tower in the middle of the garden. In 1951 Marie founded the La Napoule Art Foundation here. Artists still live and work in the château. Since 1947 the château and its gardens have been protected as a historic monument.
Visiting
April to September, Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00, last garden entry at 17:30; guided tours of the château rooms. October to March it opens less often: during school holidays Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00–17:00, otherwise only on Fridays, 15:00–17:00, by reservation. Closed on Mondays. The château sometimes closes for private events. There is an entrance fee; prices and hours are best checked on lnaf.org.
On the way
Photos
Sources
- La Napoule Art Foundation — Château history
- La Napoule Art Foundation — Henry Clews
- La Napoule Art Foundation — Marie’s gardens
- La Napoule Art Foundation — Opening hours
- Ministère de la Culture, base Mérimée — Château de la Napoule (PA00080773)
- Côte d’Azur France — Château de la Napoule
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