Appreciated by all Chimacians for her simplicity, her joviality and her humor, Princess Elisabeth of Chimay breathed her last on Wednesday, around 12:20 p.m., in her castle. Despite her old age (97 years old), she remained lucid until the end, still participating in card games a few days ago. It is a great lady who left, leaving a deep imprint in the region. Everyone in the principality town feels a little orphaned with his disappearance. “E she always has carried high the colors of Chimay, it is for this reason that she had been made honorary citizen of the city of Chimay“, comments the former mayor Françoise Fassiaux. His successor, Denis Danvoye, also pays tribute to this great lady who marked the life of the chemical industry: “My first reaction is to express my sadness not only because Chimay loses its emblematic princess but also because Elisabeth de Chimay was a jovial, deep person, attentive and sensitive to the well-being of all Chimacians, whatever or their social origin. There was a human dimension in her that is quite rare today. She had a sincere attachment to the region and her house for which she invested herself all her life and overcame many difficulties. Today, the heart of many Chimaciens is sad“.
Princess Elisabeth of Caraman and Chimay was born Marie Élisabeth Marthe Antoine Manset, in Bordeaux, on March 20, 1926. She is the daughter of Octave Manset and Marie-Charlotte Guestier, two families active in the great wine trade. On December 17, 1947, she married Élie de Riquet, Prince of Caraman and Chimay (1924-1980), a direct descendant of Pierre-Paul de Riquet, Baron de Bonrepos, Lord High Justice of the Canal du Midi. (1604-1680). From her marriage to Prince Elie, she had three children: Philippe, 22nd Prince of Chimay, Marie-Gilone and Alexandra. The Princess devoted part of her fortune to the maintenance of the real estate heritage of the House of Caraman-Chimay and to ensure the influence of the Château de Chimay by the organization of an internationally renowned Music festival (1957-1980) . Princess Elisabeth of Chimay has also invested heavily in the preservation of the remarkable archives of the castle, for which she provided guided tours herself until the age of 85. “I loved doing” the cap guide “as they said at the Louvre school that I attended in my youth. But, at my age, I am happy and relieved to pass the baton”, she told us in 2013, when the comments of the visits could be heard on digital tablets. She then had the joy of seeing her castle completely renovated by her son Philippe and her daughter-in-law, Princess Françoise.
The castle: his home
It was shortly after her wedding that Princess Elisabeth arrived in Chimay, whose castle had burned down in 1935. Faced with the extent of the work required by the imposing building, she said: “It was a strange, sinister place where we no longer lived. Water had been running down the walls since its fire. And yet, I felt like I had lived there. My mother-in-law, who had rebuilt the place, said to me: I remade the shell, you will take care of the interior. And that’s what I tried to do.” This she achieved throughout her life by being passionate about the castle and its family archives, in particular those of the Prince of Chimay who was, in newly independent Belgium, Governor of Hainaut and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The castle restored, she ensured the visit herself, to the delight of visitors. Those who have had the opportunity to visit the places under his guidance know his predilection for Mrs. Tallien. She also wrote a book about this great lady who played a role in the French Revolution and died at the castle in 1835. Another significant achievement was the organization of the classical music concerts which made the splendid little castle theatre. We remember, among other things, the great scenes of the “Music Master” which were filmed there with José Van Dam.
With this death, a page turns in the Pays de Chimay. The editorial staff offers its condolences to the princely family.
