What a great matchup to start with! 
The success of the Arts and Crafts Fair at Bourgon Castle this Sunday, April 15, was i-ni-ma-gi-na-ble!
Hard to believe for those who weren’t there… but there aren’t many of them! The exhibition and demonstrations of artisan crafts were showcased in the magnificent setting of Bourgon Castle. A festive atmosphere, enlivened by two talented guitarists, and horse-drawn carriage rides (pulled by local Percheron horses!) drew a large crowd of visitors!
Nearly 3,000 People (based on an estimate of the traffic flow of vehicles parked on both sides of the road leading to the Belgeard Forest… in addition to the parking lot covering more than one hectare…) flocked to this listed historic monument to watch the artisans at work and see the tangible results of their meticulous labor.
The exhibitors and owners of the Château de Bourgon didn’t sleep a wink all night… Thrilled by the constant, steady stream of visitors that Sunday afternoon. Words of encouragement for the artisans and praise for the site’s upkeep were a real heartwarming boost for these enthusiasts, who are usually quite reserved.
Many contacts were exchanged for future projects and jobs. It was an impressive and wonderful collective success that everyone enjoyed! Here is the photo report: Preparations under the watchful eyes of Isabelle Ducatillon, the property owner; Mr. Grudé, an artistic carpenter and cabinetmaker; and Mr. Fasciaux, vice president of the Chamber of Trades and Crafts.
In the Renaissance Hall, the exhibitors were: B ANAÏS, a headdress and hat designer from St. Christophe du Luat, and Clémence Puzin, a stained-glass artist and restorer. Clémence was delighted with her day: “I wanted to thank you for yesterday’s fabulous day.
In addition to the beautiful weather, everything came together perfectly: wonderful encounters with fellow artisans, a large, curious, and attentive audience, and a lovely, festive atmosphere. Thank you for this wonderful invitation and your warm welcome.
You have a magnificent castle with a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. You spoiled us from morning till night. You’ve made this a place where it’s wonderful to live, exhibit, and meet people.
It was such a happy day!! 
On the ground floor of the outbuildings, Stéphane Colart was exhibiting his work: Carpenter, roofer 
On the first floor, the following artists were exhibiting: cabinetmaker and furniture restorer Eric Hermenier (Laval); upholsterers and interior designers Lionel Bablée (Cossé-le-Vivien) and Coralie Jaunâtre (Laval); and porcelain painter Paula Mouton - La Baconnière, and glass artist Ingelore Jouvent-Origné.
Exhibiting in the attic of the outbuildings were: Marie-Line Brunet: gilding and restoration of antique objects in St. Berthevin; Claudine Renault: artistic bookbinding in Laval; Alain Legros: woodcarver in Thuboeuf [](./images/img-0308.jpg)
Bringing all these artisans together will enable a collaborative restoration effort on the medallions of the vaulted ceiling in the chapel at Bourgon Castle.
The initials of the MONTECLER family, who built the chapel in 1525, are to be restored. Mr. Philippe Grudé, a cabinetmaker, has rough-hewn the shapes of the medallions, some of which had completely disappeared; Alain Legros will carve the letters in relief and shape the curve of the base, while Marie-Line will be responsible for gilding the letters and restoring the original patina of the entire medallion—green on the background and red on the edges.
This is what remains of the medallions on the vault: the “M” for Montecler and an “E,” followed by the hunting horn that precedes the name in front of the structural mark. 
See you in 2013 for another edition of this wonderful arts and crafts fair!
Come see the restoration work that has been completed or is currently underway at the Bourgon Chapel and Castle! We look forward to seeing you all again—exhibitors and visitors alike… Alain and Isabelle Ducatillon P.S.: For those who have managed to find their cars parked kilometers away ;-)
And thanks to Gaston and the Percheron named Unité for the horse-drawn carriage rides all day long!
