the list of eight sites selected in Ile-de-France

In Île-de-France, eight sites will benefit from financial support for work. Among them, the birthplace of Louis Braille, the Château d’Hérouville and the Raspail studio in Paris.

One site per department. This Monday, September 2, the 100 winners of the seventh edition of the Heritage Lottery were revealed by the Heritage Mission for the preservation of endangered heritage and the Ministry of Culture.

In Île-de-France, a total of eight sites have been selected and will benefit from financial support for renovation work. For the moment, the amounts of the grants have not been revealed. They will be announced “at the end of the year”, specifies the foundation supported by the famous television host Stéphane Bern.

• Studio Raspail, Paris

First on the list is Studio Raspail, a legendary former movie theater located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. Created in 1934, the place is “deeply anchored” in the culture of the capital, as the Fondation du patrimoine describes on its website.

Nestled in a building designed by an “avant-garde” architect from the early 20th century, the venue was one of the first film clubs to show major films such as The Inhuman or even The Blood of a Poet by Marcel L’Herbier.

Closed to the public since 1982, the place has now “sunk into oblivion”, so much so that the surrounding inhabitants do not know its history or even its existence. Now dilapidated with obsolete paints, coatings and even technical installations, the place will undergo major restoration work.

It should reopen to the public for the 2024/2025 season with the completion of the work scheduled for September 2025.

• The Louis Braille birthplace and museum in Coupvray (Seine-et-Marne)

In Seine-et-Marne, the birthplace of Louis Braille in Coupvray, which has become a museum, is chosen.

It was in this former pavilion that Louis Braille, a teacher and inventor of the famous tactile dot writing system to enable blind and visually impaired people to read, was born in 1809. After ceasing to belong to the Braille family at the end of the 19th century, the house was bought in 1952 to become a museum.

Quickly transferred to the municipality of Coupvray, the site is now in an advanced state of deterioration. The work, which must be carried out on the roof and facades, began in June. It should be completed in December 2024.

• Historic buildings of the Paris Sailing Club, Les Mureaux (Yvelines)

In Yvelines, the site of the historic buildings of the Cercle de la Voile de Paris was selected. Founded in 1858, first in Gennevilliers (Hauts-de-Seine), the site moved to the commune of Les Mureaux in 1893.

He participated in the “evolution of French yachting”, with the organization of regattas and the creation of racing regulations and nautical federations.

Its clubhouse was designed by the famous painter Gustave Caillebotte, who had drawn inspiration from the place in some of his paintings. In 1924, a hundred years ago, the club was commissioned to organize the solo sailing events at the Olympic Games.

Built on stilts and on flood-prone land, the buildings have moved over the years due to flooding. All of these buildings require work, which began in the first quarter of 2024. They should be completed in the summer of 2025.

• The Villa Lander, Draveil (Essonne)

In Draveil, in Essonne, it is the Lander villa that was chosen by the Heritage Lottery. Owned by Alphonse Lander in 1906, it “has a certain heritage interest” in particular thanks to these rare vestiges of the constructions carried out on the banks of the Seine at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.

Victim of a fire in 2004, which destroyed the roof, the place is now unoccupied. Damaged by squatting and bad weather, the place requires repairs to its roof, floors and the monumental interior staircase.

Work is due to begin in January 2025 and be completed by the end of 2026.

• The Villa Stein-de-Monzie Le Corbusier, Vaucresson (Hauts-de-Seine)

In Vaucresson, in the Hauts-de-Seine, it is the Stein-de-Monzie villa that was selected by the Loto du patrimoine. Designed by the famous architect Le Corbusier between 1927 and 1928, it is recognized as “innovative” in its architectural approach.

For several years, severe deterioration has been observed there, caused mainly by water infiltration and structural problems. Work on the West and North facades began in spring 2024. The other two facades will begin in spring 2025.

The construction site should be completed by the end of 2025. Several cultural events will then be celebrated there, before the centenary of the place – in 2027 – is celebrated in grand style.

• The city of La Muette, Drancy (Seine-Saint-Denis)

Further on, it is the city of La Muette, located in Drancy, in Seine-Saint-Denis, which was chosen. Commissioned in 1929, the place, classified as a historical monument, bears witness to a particularly painful history.

In 1940, it was requisitioned by the German army to be an internment and transit camp before the Deportation for prisoners of war, then for Jews. In 1944, after the liberation, the camp was also used for the internment of collaborators.

Today, the place is in a state of “alarming peril”. The facades are damaged, as are the passageways. According to the Heritage Foundation, “its original design no longer meets the needs of households”, which are short of space. The work is due to begin at the end of the year. It should be completed in 2027.

• The Delacroix Cave-Quarry, Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne)

For the Val-de-Marne department, the Delacroix Cave-Carrière was selected. Formerly the property of François-Adrien Delacroix, a Parisian notary from the early 19th century, it is the result of two combined underground quarries converted into warehouses.

It housed wine, but also a brewery in 1850 as well as a mushroom farm. In 1944, it was requisitioned by the German army, which stored engine oil there.

The buildings built in 1815 are now at high risk of collapse. Some arches are in danger of collapsing and the roof of the underground quarry needs to be reinforced.

Work is due to begin in spring 2025 and end in summer 2027. The site is to be transformed into a cultural venue to welcome the public.

• The Château d’Hérouville, Hérouville-en-Vexin (Val-d’Oise)

Finally, it is in the Val-d’Oise that the last site was selected. It is the Château d’Hérouville located in the commune of Hérouville-en-Vexin. Originally a gift from Louis XIV to his daughter, the place is full of history. It has seen the love between George Sand and Frédéric Chopin play out, but also Vincent Van Gogh parade.

But it was completely transformed in 1969 and became a music recording studio. Michel Magne, the owner at the time, made it the first residential studio in the world. It quickly became a must in the world of music.

Between 1970 and 80, artists such as Elton John, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye and the Bee Gees recorded legendary albums here. After being abandoned, the place was taken over in 2015 by three music lovers.

But a lot of work needs to be done on the building to ensure the safety of the buildings. After this work, which has already started and should be completed in 2027, the place will be able to continue to welcome artists.