Chateau Lumière was built between 1900 and 1903 by the Burrus family, who had made their fortune in the tobacco industry. The Burrus family distinguished themselves in many areas, not least through charitable works for the benefit of the community in which they lived. Among other things, they built a football stadium, a swimming pool, and homes for the elderly. The employees of the tobacco factory received far more benefits than the law required at the time, such as insurance and a pension.
The château was designed by the Strasbourg architects Gottfried Julius Berninger and Gustave Henri Krafft. They opted for the Neo-Baroque style, which was popular in France at the time. Neo-Baroque, like the Baroque, is characterized by rich and opulent use of materials, symmetry, and the frequent use of ornamentation and complex patterns. The latter are visible, among other things, in the wrought-iron railings surrounding the estate and the wrought-iron banisters.
Shortly after the completion of the château, the builder died, and his son, Maurice Burrus, moved into the building. During the First World War, Maurice Burrus refused to supply the German troops with tobacco and was forced to flee to Switzerland. The château was confiscated to provide accommodation for German officers. After the war, Maurice, by then decorated as a war hero, took over the management of the tobacco factory. He increasingly grew into an influential figure in industrial, financial, and political spheres.
During the Second World War, he was also forced to flee, this time to his property in the Pyrenees. Once again, his chateau was requisitioned by the German army and transformed into a training center for wounded German officers. After World War II, he retired to Geneva. Chateau Lumière was initially sold to a religious order but was later sold to a private owner. In 1993, the chateau was protected as a monument. Since it was uninhabited, it soon became the target of vandalism. At the time of our visit, very little remained of the once magnificent chateau…
Fortunately though, the chateau was bought by a couple with a passion for the architectural heritage. They restored the chateau to its former glory and turned into a luxurious hotel and wedding venue. Have a look at their website: Château Burrus
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