Cronaca: Château of Luneville gutted by fire

January 3, 2003

Château of Luneville gutted by fire

Just in from Reuters:

A fire has ripped through a historic French chateau modelled on the famed court of Versailles, ravaging its 18th-century interior and wrecking most of its precious china collection, officials said on Friday.

Some 150 firemen rushed to control the blaze, which started on Thursday night and destroyed the southern wing of Luneville chateau, including the royal chambers, local authorities said. No one was hurt.

The cause of the fire at the chateau known as the Versailles of Lorraine, a region in northeastern France, has not been determined although officials suggested it was probably an electrical fault.

There is more at the BBC, including pictures. Apparently this is the seventh fire at the château.

UPDATE: Further details on the terrible losses in Le Monde (in French).

Posted by David on January 3, 2003 11:40 AM

Comments

Please keep me informed of any and all activities oriented towards the restoration of Luneville. I have already contacted French Cultural Services in NY and am at your service to assist in the reconstruction and refurnishing in any way that I can. I already have serveral friends who would like to contribute. Thank you.

Posted by: Mitchell Cantor on February 5, 2003 6:04 PM

Devaste par les nouvelles de l'incendie catastrophique au Chateau de Luneville (Que j'ai visite plusieurs fois - le dernier en l'annee 2001 quand - grace a Dieu - nous pouvions encore regarder les collections entieres avant la destruction - une terrible manque pour tous ceux qui adore la orraine, la belle ville de Luneville, et le Palais et l'Histoire de ses habitants, surtout le Roi Stanislas et sa Cour.
S'il vous plait envoyez-nous quelqonques informations sur ce qui se passe pour assurer la Restauration de la Collection et les parties du Batiment - et comment un citoyen devoue Americain pourrait en aider le mieux!

Posted by: Louis-Charles Johnson on May 6, 2004 5:37 PM