Construction of the castle 1880-1884 (≈ 1882)
Edited by Wornum and Solomon for Mellor.
1948
Sale to CAF
Sale to CAF 1948 (≈ 1948)
Becomes public property.
1985
Transformation into a reception centre
Transformation into a reception centre 1985 (≈ 1985)
Managed by VTF since then.
31 décembre 1993
Registration in MH
Registration in MH 31 décembre 1993 (≈ 1993)
Protection of built-up elements.
2 décembre 1999
Partial classification
Partial classification 2 décembre 1999 (≈ 1999)
Outstanding facades and interiors.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
All the built elements of the original estate, including the Swiss pavilion and the estate park, with the exception of the classified parts (Case AS 18, 21 to 25, 28, 30, 31): inscription by order of 31 December 1993, as amended by order of 20 June 1994 - Façades and roofs of the villa (Case CA 39), the Swiss chalet (Case CA 43), the guardhouse at the south entrance (Case BZ 26) and the stables (Case CA 41); entries east (Box CA 38) and south (Box BZ 26) with their grid; the following interiors of the villa: on the ground floor: entrance hall and hall; stairwell and bearings; library, oriental living room, parlor room, dining room and billiard room; upstairs: Madame's apartment, consisting of a bedroom, a toilet and a boudoir: classification by decree December 2, 1999
Key figures
John Pennington Mellor - Sponsor and owner
British shipowner, passionate about hunting.
Ralph Selden Wornum - Architect
Co-conceptor of the castle.
Edward Salomon - Architect
Co-author of the Old English style.
Origin and history
The Château de Françon, also known as the domaine de Françon, was built between 1880 and 1884 in the last quarter of the 19th century in Biarritz, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Commissioned by British shipowner John Pennington Mellor, enriched by the cotton trade between Brazil and Liverpool, he symbolizes British enthusiasm for the Basque coast at that time. Architects Ralph Selden Wornum and Edward Salomon designed an Old English style home, combining Anglo-Norman influences and refined interior decorations, with materials from England, France and Germany (including stained glass windows). The site was chosen for its panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and its sea air deemed therapeutic.
The castle is distinguished by its eclectic interior: a hall decorated with English and French symbols, a fireplace decorated with medieval earthenware celebrating Mellor's passion for hunting, and a luxurious Paons room featuring family allegories. Outside, a 50-hectare park (reduced today to 4) housed exotic species such as redwoods, palm trees or ginkgos, as well as an in-ground swimming pool with pump system, a rarity for the time. A Swiss wooden chalet, reported from a universal exhibition, completes the whole, testifying to the pleasure desired by the owner.
After Mellor's death in 1908, the estate was sold in 1948 to the National Fund of Family Allowances, which transformed it into a reception centre in 1985. Today managed by VTF for rent, it has maintained elements classified or listed as historical monuments since 1993 and 1999, including facades, the Swiss chalet, and interior rooms such as the Japanese library or salon. The park, although reduced, still preserves some original plant species.
The castle also illustrates the local social history: Mellor would have imported English foxes there to hunt in his park, anecdotal but revealing of his aristocratic way of life. Interior decorations, such as stained glass or woodwork, reflect the blend of British and French cultures, while the transformation into a reception centre in the 20th century marks its adaptation to public needs. The heritage protections highlight its architectural and historical value, between Victorian heritage and Basque integration.
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