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Being a squire has now become a job in its own right. The phrase “cultural heritage officer”, which refers to a specific body of civil servants present on the Regional Cultural Affairs Boards, would be even more aptly applied to the people who commit their family life, their whole time, their expertise and financial means, to the preservation of such monuments, from which France draws legitimate cultural and touristic pride.
Fontaine-Henry has never once been sold in its entire history, that is to say from 1200 onwards, perhaps even earlier.
That is to say that some, especially amongst our North-American visitors, see me as a somewhat historical monument. It will no doubt soon be my turn to become “an endangered masterpiece”. No one is age proof.
What does such a phrase mean? That I do not regard myself as a landowner, but a witness and someone who passes down knowledge.
Witness: every year I am able to share, directly or indirectly, the elements of beauty that I am in charge of and accountable for, with thousands of visitors, who are curious, admiring, surprised, interested… Not to forget our guides and trainees, with whom this sharing is daily. They are young people, who have a passion for heritage, for History, for art and beauty. They come from backgrounds as varied as is our society. They have an active holiday here, spent studying, a holiday that is often cheerful. Even when they have to contend with the customary grumpy person… why yes, there are some, even at Fontaine-Henry !
I pass down knowledge: I am happy to have made this choice, since it allows me, as the stem of a boat, to continuously provide the link between past and future. I therefore do live in the present…paradoxical, is it not? And yet true. So, whether this present be easy or difficult, luxurious or uncomfortable, it matters little, provided we have set our standards high enough to experience this irreplaceable feeling, every single minute, the feeling of legitimacy of what one does. I hope I shall leave a monument in good condition to my heirs, for it is possible, with sound finances, and for that, one really needs to have Faith.
This website is a means to broaden our sharing. Welcome one and all! By
visiting it, you are already visiting a little piece of Fontaine Henry. But
it is only question of the castle here, and one should not forget the village
that joins the two former lordships of Fontaine Henry and of the Moulineaux:
a real « p’tit village plein d’amis [little village full
of friends]… made in Normandy » as in Stone and Charden’s
song …Remember?
Now then, come soon, we are waiting for you.