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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Coubertin Castle, built at the end of the 17th century (circa 1696-1698) for Bernard Frédy, is an example of sober architecture of this time, surrounded by an English park and a bronze garden. In the 16th century, the estate was acquired by the Frédy family, whose members marked local history, such as Bonnaventure Julien Frédy de Coubertin, mayor of Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, or his son Paul, literary author. The 19th century chapel, built on a 1724 site, retains a ceiling painted in 1856 by Charles de Coubertin.

In 1949, Yvonne de Coubertin (1893-1974), the last heir of the family and niece of Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic Games), met Jean Bernard, artist and renovator of the companionship. Together, in 1950, they created an association to promote the manual trades, transformed in 1973 into the Coubertin Foundation, recognized as a public utility. The estate then became a place of formation for young artisans (carpenters, stone tailors, etc.) and a museum housing collections of 19th-century sculptures, including works by Joseph Bernard (father of Jean Bernard) and René Collamarini.

The castle now houses a museum labeled Musée de France (2002), centered on sculpture, with a bronze garden built by architect Robert Auzelle. The foundation's workshops, such as the Santiago workshops or the Coubertin foundry, carry out major works, such as the reconstruction of the Versailles Royal Grid (before 1771) and the Flame of Liberty for the American Embassy in Paris (2008). Since 1977, the foundation has organized annual temporary exhibitions, highlighting sculptors such as Rodin, Étienne-Martin and Marta Pan.

The estate, open to the public during exhibitions, combines historical heritage and educational mission. The permanent collections (116 sculptures, 1,500 drawings) and the deposits of works (Museum Bourdelle, Étienne Martin) make it a unique place for art and crafts. The structure of the castle, dating from 1700, and the panels on the ground floor bear witness to its architectural heritage, while the foundation perpetuates the values of perfection and transmission dear to its founders.

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