Description
Events as part of European Heritage Days
The Château de la Citardière is reborn: after six years of restoration work, this heritage site has finally been saved and opened
to the public – Mervent.
To mark European Heritage Days, the Château de la Citardière in Mervent will open its doors to the public on 19 and 20 September 2026.
This year’s opening takes on a very special significance:
After more than six years of major conservation work, the entire historic building complex
at La Citardière has now been restored and saved from its state of advanced disrepair.
A unique heritage site saved
Faced with the urgent need to preserve this historic site, major works were undertaken to
safeguard the building and halt further deterioration. Listed as a historic monument, the château has also received exceptional recognition by winning the ‘Loto du Patrimoine’ in 2024, an initiative led by Mission Patrimoine and championed by its patron, Stéphane Bern, for the final phase of its restoration work.
“Today, we can see just how far we’ve come. Just a few years ago, the situation was genuinely perilous. Our savings, combined with grants from the DRAC, the department and the region, have ensured that this piece of national history has many more wonderful years ahead of it. It is a source of immense satisfaction to now be able to open the Château and share it with the public.
A special opening to discover La Citardière in a new light
As a private property, La Citardière will, on an exceptional basis, open its interiors, grounds and traces of its history to the public this weekend.
Visitors will be able to explore:
The Château’s historic interiors;
The recently preserved and restored areas;
The grounds and outdoor areas;
Areas usually inaccessible to the public;
And, of course, the history of La Citardière as told by those who bring it to life today.
Access to the château, entry to its courtyard and all outdoor areas is free; a bar and children’s activities await you there.
Guided historical tours (for a fee) allow visitors to gain a better understanding of the château’s history, its architecture, its transformations and, above all, the challenges involved in its conservation.
Please note: remember to book in advance to secure your place on a guided tour. These Heritage Days are all about discovery. More than just a visit, these European Heritage Days will be an opportunity to show what it actually means to save a historic monument: the urgent repairs, the restoration work, the expertise involved, the difficulties encountered, but also the immense satisfaction of seeing a piece of heritage come back to life.
La Citardière hopes to share with the public a story that is still being written.
Bar and catering on site – Children’s entertainment, bouncy castles – Concert of
Cuban music on Sunday from midday
Saturday 19 September – 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Sunday 20 September – 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Guided tours can be booked at https://www.chateaudelacitardiere.com
