Simone de Bastard
Baroness, co-owner, restoration patron and founder of the Hautefort foundation
Acquired Hautefort in 1929; established its foundation in 1984; died in 1999
Restoring a neglected estate
Simone de Bastard and her husband Henry acquired Hautefort in 1929, when the château was in poor condition. Their restoration continued before the war and resumed in the 1950s. The château opened to visitors in 1965, and the baroness occupied private apartments there. Ownership meant a sustained commitment to repairing and furnishing an existing historic residence.
Source: Hautefort — estate history
Rebuilding after the fire
The fire of August 1968 devastated the main block and its interiors. Simone committed personal resources and raised support for a second restoration. The work included reconstructing ceilings and decoration from photographs and furnishing the rooms again. She established the Fondation du château de Hautefort in 1984, donating the building, estate and contents. She died in 1999.
Source: Hautefort — estate history
A lived-in residence
The private apartments connect her restoration campaign with everyday life at the château. The operator describes a vestibule, reception salon, dining room, bedrooms and bathrooms that continued to be used by later generations of the family. Their interest lies in this continuity of domestic use as well as the collections they contain. The private-apartment offer has its own official presentation; visitors should consult the operator about arrangements for their chosen date.
Related residences
Follow the residence links for official visitor websites and the scope of public access.
Sources
Biography and residence connections reviewed 2026-10-12.