Welcome to the land of 1,001 Chateaux
We are fortunate enough to live in a part of France that is reknown for having 1,001 chateaux.
Hence we were very happy to read that one of our favourites is in the list of the top 20 chateaux to visit in France.
Chateau des Milandes is a fabulous place to spend the day and as with most chateaux, it has an interesting history.
One of it's previous owners was Josephine Baker, the famous American caberet club owner & singer. She was a member of the French resistance and a anti-racist activist.
Josephine took every opportunity and used her fame to fight racism, for her, there was only one race: the " human race”.
In 1961 that she was awarded the Legion of Honour by Général Valin – at Château de Milandes.
She rented the chateau for 7 years before purchasing it in 1947.
In 1947 she married Jo Bouillon, a famous orchestra conductor, in the chapel at Château des Milandes. They first met in 1933 at a gala in Belgium. They crossed paths again during the second world war when Jo agreed to participate in a charity tour that Josephine had organized.
The two shared the same dream to found a “Global Village, the Capital of Universal Fraternity” to show the whole world that children of different nationalities and different religions could live together in peace.
Josephine’s love for children was inexhaustible, to the point that, once back from her tours, she immediately launched into making Milandes a paradise for children in need, and especially those in need of love.
Who could ever refuse her? All her children were adopted, from 1955.
First 2, then 6, then 8, and finally 12 children of different nationalities and religions : Akio (Korean), Janot (Japanese), Jari (Finnish), Luis (Colombian), Marianne and Brahim (North African), Moïse (Jewish French), Jean-Claude and Noël (French), Koffi (Ivory Coast), Mara (Venezuelan), and Stellina (Moroccan).
Her children together formed the « Rainbow Tribe », all for one and one for all, come what may.
Initially, things went well: every child had everything it needed, was spoiled by a nurse, dressed like little angels, living in a plush, peaceful and loving environment.
Akio remembers magical Christmases, the Château too small to accommodate all their friends and presents, a massive Christmas tree in the master hall.
Josephine created a school catchment for her children and those in neighbouring areas. They went to Castelnaud School but at the Château a tutor also taught them the culture of their country.
The 1950s were very happy years for the whole tribe, with an attentive father and mother.
Jo Bouillon was tasked with running the fabulous Milandes tourist complex, and strove to contain the star’s increasingly unrealistic ambitions.
Unfortunately, the foreseeable seeds of failure put an end to the happiness. Too generous and certainly too naive, Josephine was useless at managing a business.
In addition to a tendency to overspend, due to her tough life, Josephine was defrauded by unscrupulous contractors making her pay the same bills many times over – plus her limitless generosity – pushing her into heavy debt.
When Jo Bouillon left Milandes for other horizons, he left Josephine crippled by debt but still determined to continue her Global Village.
In 1968 the chateau was sadly put up for auction and at the age of 62 she sleft the Perigord and settled in Roque Brune on the Côte d’Azur with the help of Princess Grace of Monaco.
The Chateau's latest owners have lovingly restored the chateau and created a fabulous museum where you can learm nore about Josephine Baker and her life in France.
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