The Château d'Enjaux is located in St-Agnan. Destroyed by a fire in 1944, it was once home to France's leading private radio station, Radio Toulouse. Its current owner is restoring it and occasionally offers guided tours or events.
The Château d'Enjaux was most likely built during the 15th century. In the 17th century, the Marquise de Sévigné mentioned it in one of her letters.
- Radio Toulouse transmitter =
In the 20th century, before World War II, the Château d’Enjaux became the broadcast center for Radio Toulouse, the most powerful private radio station in France. In fact, it was purchased in 1930 by the station’s founders, Léon Kierzkowski and Jacques Trémoulet. They installed two 120-meter-high masts there, as well as a 400 m³ cooling basin for the lamps—a basin that still exists today. After a fire destroyed the radio station’s facilities in Balma (1933), it became the station’s main hub. In 1934, its transmission power was increased to 60 kW. Many artists came to perform live in the studios set up at the château or in the large park, often in front of a live audience. Thus, Edith Piaf, Pierre Nougaro, and Maurice Chevalier all performed at the château.
Under the Vichy regime, the transmitter was initially used to broadcast government radio, but Radio Toulouse eventually returned to the airwaves thanks to Jacques Trémoulet’s good relations with Pierre Laval. Despite the arrival of the Germans in the region in November 1942, the station continued to broadcast music that was sometimes banned elsewhere. Nevertheless, her partner, Léon Kierzkowski, was forced to flee due to suspicions about his Jewish heritage.
During the liberation of France in 1944, while the building was occupied by German soldiers, they abandoned it, setting it on fire and destroying the transmitter. The fire completely ravaged the château.
The ruined and abandoned Château d’Enjaux served for a time as a farm shed.
In November 2017, it was purchased by Stephen and Virginie Ferrara, a couple of local entrepreneurs. Their goal is to save the building from ruin, with the help of architect Guy Maronese.
- Architecture =
Enjaux Castle consists of a rectangular main building oriented east to west. Extended on both sides by lower wings, it stood two stories high. Its main facade, facing south, was flanked by two square towers, and its wings were also flanked by two towers of the same style at their ends. The rear facade, meanwhile, was flanked by two round turrets. Most of the roof has disappeared, except for the section covering the east wing.
When it housed Radio Toulouse, the interior was very luxurious and featured a multitude of rooms, a studio, and a ballroom.
The château’s estate spans nearly 70 hectares and includes a small chapel.
More information
Animaux acceptés : Non
Sprache
- French
Services
Equipments
- Car park
- Private parking