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Chateau De Cande

Overview of chateau de cande.

Chateau de Cande is a magnificent castle located in the Loire Valley of France, in the commune of Monts. This 16th-century Renaissance chateau boasts an exquisite blend of Gothic and Italianate styles and is famous for being the site of the wedding of the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson in 1937. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction known for its picturesque architecture, stunning gardens, and rich history.

The castle was originally built in the 15th century but underwent significant renovations and additions during the 16th century by its owner, Jean Le Breton, who was a prominent courtier to King Francis I. It features many opulent and intricately decorated rooms, including the "Wedding Room," where the Duke and Duchess of Windsor exchanged their vows.

The Chateau de Cande is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens that were designed by the famed landscape architect Achille Duchêne. Visitors can stroll through the various gardens, including the French-style garden, the English-style park, and the Italian-style garden, all of which offer stunning views of the castle.

History Of Chateau De Cande

  • Chateau de Cande was built in the 15th century for French nobleman, Jean Bourré.
  • It was later acquired by King Louis XI of France and became a royal residence.
  • The chateau was purchased by Charles Bedaux, an American businessman, in the 1920s, who renovated and restored the property.
  • During World War II, the chateau was used as a German military hospital and later occupied by the American army.
  • After the war, the chateau was returned to the Bedaux family, who continued to live there until 1992.
  • It was then sold to a private owner, who opened the chateau to the public for tours and events

Things To See At Chateau De Cande

Chateau Interiors

Visitors can explore the lavish interiors of the chateau, which includes ornate furnishings, paintings, tapestries, and intricate decor that reflect the elegant style of the Renaissance period. The grand reception room is one of the main highlights, adorned with frescoes and intricate details, while the bedrooms have four-poster beds and antique furniture.

Discover Now: Château de Blois

Chapel

The Chateau de Cande has a stunning chapel, which was built in the 16th century and restored in the 19th century. The chapel boasts stunning stained glass windows, intricate wooden carvings, and an impressive altar. Visitors can attend mass or simply admire the beautiful architecture.

Must Checkout: Château de Chaumont

Gardens

The chateau has a beautiful French-style garden that covers about eight hectares. The garden features manicured lawns, fountains, ponds, and a stunning water garden. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll through the garden, admiring the colorful flowers and lush greenery.

Do Checkout: Chateau d'Angers

Moat

The Chateau de Cande is surrounded by a moat, which adds to its stunning appearance. Visitors can take a stroll along the moat and admire the reflection of the chateau in the water. In the summer months, boat rides are available for a unique perspective of the chateau.

You May Also Like: Château d'Amboise

Events

The chateau hosts various events throughout the year, including music festivals, exhibitions, and food and wine festivals. Visitors can experience the chateau in a unique way by attending one of these events, which often include guided tours and access to areas not usually open to the public.

Also Checkout: Château de Chambord

Know Before You Go Chateau De Cande

Know Before You Go Chateau De Cande

How To Reach:

  • By Car - visitors can take the A10 highway and exit at either Monts or Veigné. From there, it's just a short drive to the chateau.
  • By Train - visitors can take the TGV from Paris to Tours, and then transfer to a regional train to Monts. From there, it's just a short taxi or bus ride to the chateau.
  • By Bus - visitors can take the Fil Bleu bus from Tours to Monts, and then transfer to the Navette Touristique bus that runs directly to Chateau de Cande.

Best Time To Visit: The best time to visit Chateau de Cande is during the summer months, from June to August, when the weather is warm and the gardens are in full bloom. During this time, visitors can enjoy leisurely walks in the gardens, explore the castle's interior, and attend various cultural events that are often held at the chateau.

It's worth noting that the chateau is closed during the winter months from November to March. However, visitors can still explore the exterior of the chateau and take a walk in the gardens during this time, though access to the castle's interior is restricted.

The shoulder seasons of spring and fall can also be a good time to visit Chateau de Cande, as the weather is still pleasant, and there are fewer crowds. However, some of the gardens may not be in full bloom during these seasons, and some facilities may have limited opening hours.

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FAQs For Chateau De Cande

What are the opening hours of chateau de cande.

The Chateau de Cande is open from April to November, every day except Monday, from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 pm to 6 pm.

What is the entry fee for Chateau de Cande?

The entry fee for Chateau de Cande varies depending on the type of visit and age group. It is advisable to check the official website for updated information.

Is photography allowed inside the Chateau de Cande?

Yes, photography is allowed inside the Chateau de Cande. However, the use of flash and tripods is strictly prohibited.

Is the Chateau de Cande accessible for people with disabilities?

Yes, the Chateau de Cande is accessible for people with disabilities. However, due to the historic nature of the building, there are some restrictions in certain areas.

Is there a restaurant or cafe inside the Chateau de Cande?

No, there is no restaurant or cafe inside the Chateau de Cande. However, there are several dining options in the nearby town of Monts.

Can the Chateau de Cande be rented for private events?

Yes, the Chateau de Cande can be rented for private events such as weddings, conferences, and other special occasions. It is recommended to contact the chateau directly for more information.

What are the other attractions which you can explore in Loire Valley?

  • Chateau de Villandry
  • Chateau Azay-Le-Rideau
  • Chateau de Loches
  • Chateau Montsoreau
  • Chateau de Beauregard
  • Montbazon Dungeon
  • Chateau d'Oiron

Explore Loire Valley

  • Loire Valley Chateaux
  • Loire Valley Castles
  • Loire Valley Attractions

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Château de Candé, Wedding Venue of Wallis Simpson & Former British King Edward VIII

Château de Candé, Wedding Venue of Wallis Simpson & Former British King Edward VIII

The high-profile châteaux of the Loire Valley are famous the world over for their fairytale exteriors, lavish art collections and glorious gardens. But for every big-name castle like Chenonceau and Chambord , there are dozens of smaller but equally enchanting properties tucked away along the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley .

I’ve come to one of the most discreet: the Château de Candé at Monts, a few kilometres south of Tours. In 1508, the Mayor of Tours, François Briçonnet, had a Renaissance-style country lodge built here for himself.

Despite being enlarged in the 19th century by Cuban aristocrat Santiago Drake del Castillo, the château could easily have remained one of the many hidden from public view. But on June 3 1937, the estate made headlines as the location for the marriage of former British King Edward VIII and his American fiancée Wallis Simpson. Wallis died 30 years ago last year in  Paris at the age of 90 – the conclusion to a love affair that rocked the British monarchy. So as I cross the lawns towards the stone staircase leading to the main entrance, I feel that I’m stepping back into the history  of three nations: Britain, France and the United States .

avenue charles bedaux tours

a collection of memorabilia is showcased.

American Standards

In 1927, the Candé estate was bought by multimillionaire Charles Bedaux, a naturalised American who had been born and raised in France. Bedaux moved to America at the age of 20 to seek his fortune, an ambition he achieved with great success by devising a new approach to industrial productivity.

Bedaux and his American wife, Fern, set about modernising Château de Candé and installing state-of-the-art facilities to bring the property up to US standards. The turrets and gables of its exterior may be classic Renaissance, but step through the front door and you’re instantly transported back to the 1930s.

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The glorious wood-panelled library is home to the Skinner organ. Photo: Chanel Koehl

Bedaux upgraded the electrical system, installed central heating with radiators in every room, and improved the water supply. Each of the eight bedrooms was provided with its own bathroom, lavishly decorated with glass mosaics and equipped with heated towel rails. I’m seriously envious of Fern Bedaux’s sumptuous bathroom of turquoise, crystal and gold with its mirrored walls and garden views. Telephones were installed all over the house, most of them concealed behind wood panelling, except for the one on Charles Bedaux’s desk which was in constant use. He also employed a full-time telephonist who worked at an in-house switchboard linked to the main network in Tours.

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Fern Bedaux’s bathroom

But Château de Candé could still have remained out of the public eye if it hadn’t been for Wallis Simpson. Born Bessie Wallis Warfield in June 1895, she was on her second marriage when she met the Prince of Wales, who became King Edward VIII in January 1936 upon the death of his father, George V. Edward was captivated, but marriage with an American divorcee was out of the question for the British monarch. So he chose to abdicate rather than live without his beloved Wallis. Edward was never crowned and lived the rest of his life as Duke of Windsor.

Together at Last

The couple couldn’t risk being together until her divorce was finalised. In December 1936, Wallis took refuge with American friends, the Rogers, on the Côte d’Azur. But when journalists discovered her whereabouts, her host asked a friend, Fern Bedaux, if she could accommodate the bride-to-be.

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The château’s grand front entrance

So on 10 March 1937, Wallis arrived at Château de Candé to stay with a couple she had never met. Today it’s not hard to imagine her reclining elegantly in a wood-panelled drawing room or relaxing in the spacious wooded park. Edward joined her on April 30, at which point Charles and Fern Bedaux left them alone and rented a suite at the Ritz Hotel.

Thanks to Charles Bedaux’s revolutionary new switchboard, the couple were able to keep in touch with friends and family across the world, but the marriage ceremony was a small affair. The civil ceremony, which took place first under French law, was conducted in the Library by the Mayor of Monts.

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Fern Bedaux’s bedroom

Charles and Fern Bedaux loved music, frequently hosting concerts here for their friends. Centrepiece of the library is an organ made by the renowned Skinner Organ Company from Boston, Massachusetts, one of just two instruments made by Skinner for European clients. Rising through three floors of the château, it can be played by an organist or be used with perforated rolls of paper to play automatically.

Linger a while in the library today and you’ll hear Mendelssohn’s famous Wedding March played by an invisible organist. And while you listen, look closely at the walls. In a corner by the fireplace, the couple have etched their signatures into the wood panelling, a permanent reminder of the historic event.

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The Windsors etched signatures in the library

The civil ceremony was followed by a religious service conducted by an English priest next door in the smaller music room, a simple altar erected where a grand piano now stands. But whilst the altar may have long gone, there are reminders of the ceremony all over the house with archive photos by society photographer Cecil Beaton, as well as newspaper cuttings and other mementoes.

Wallis wore a close-fitting high-waisted silk dress in ‘Wallis Blue’ by Mainbocher to marry her Duke and a replica stands on a mannequin by the fireplace beside pictures taken on the day. Upstairs, you can see original items from Wallis’s wardrobe, as well as accessories bought from favourite designers such as Balmain and Dior, Balenciaga and Gucci.

After the ceremony, the couple sat down with Charles and Fern Bedaux and a dozen guests in the dining room with its leather wall-covering and original Renaissance ceiling. Photos were beamed across the world of the newly-weds posed inside the castle, on the stone steps to the front door, and seated on a park bench. But it was all over in hours.

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The chateau’s music room – where the marriage ceremony took place – has a copy of Simpson’s dress

Life in France

The couple left that evening on honeymoon, never to return to the picturesque castle where they had been joined as man and wife. They continued to live in France and, after the outbreak of war in 1939, the Duke was given a military post in the British Army stationed in France. As the German troops advanced, they headed south to Biarritz , then Spain and Portugal, before travelling by sea to The Bahamas. Here the Duke was installed as Governor, remaining in the post until the war was over.

In 1952, the Windsors were offered the use of a house in Paris by the local authorities, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Edward died from cancer in May 1972 and after a funeral at St George’s Chapel was interred in the Royal Burial Ground at Windsor. And when his beloved Wallis died in April 1986, she was laid to rest beside him.

To the end, Wallis remained grateful for the help given to the couple by the French nation and, in lieu of death duties, left them her collection of Louis XVI furniture, along with porcelain and paintings. Her fortune was bequeathed to the Pasteur Institute for research into public health.

Edward, king for just 326 days, retained his status of His Royal Highness; Wallis, however, had to be content with Duchess of Windsor. But as Duke and Duchess of Windsor, they formed one of the most controversial and colourful couples of the 1930s and Château de Candé brings their love story vividly to life.

TRAVEL FACTS

Château de Candé, 37260 Monts, is just 20 minutes’ drive south of Tours. Check website for seasonal opening hours: www.domainecande.fr .

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The chateau holds some items from Simpson’s wardrobe

Stay at the Windsors’ holiday home

In exile after World War II, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor settled in Paris, but they spent some of their happiest times at their weekend retreat in the country. Le Moulin de la Tuilerie at Gif-sur-Yvette lies to the south-west of the capital and was the only house they ever owned. The Windsors loved house parties and at Gif they entertained some of the best-known personalities of the ’50s and ’60s including Maria Callas, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and British photographer Cecil Beaton. The Duke of Windsor commissioned English designer Russell Page to design the gardens, which Edward tended himself, and the layout remains unchanged to this day.

Fast-forward to the present day and Le Moulin has been tastefully converted into a holiday rental proper ty that sleeps 12 by The Landmark Trust, a unique British charity that restores historic – and often extraordinary – buildings for self-catering guests.

Also for rent at Gif are La Maison des Amis (sleeps 4) and La Célibataire (for 2), both of which were used to accommodate the Windsors’ many guests. Each property has a private terrace and guests can wander the extensive grounds, the parterre merging into ancient woodland where the Windsors buried their beloved pugs.

For more information or to book, visit www.landmarktrust.org.uk

From France Today magazine

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© The Landmark Trust

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Remembering a Life That Read Like a Movie Script

By David Nasaw

  • Nov. 3, 1996

THE LANDSCAPE OF American history is strewn with colorful characters whose exploits are almost too grandiose to be believed. One is Charles Bedaux, the subject of ''The Champagne Safari,'' a documentary by the Canadian film maker George Ungar that opens on Friday.

Charles Bedaux does not turn up in many textbooks, though he was the subject of a remarkable 1945 series by Janet Flanner in The New Yorker, in which she described his collaboration with Vichy France and Nazi Germany. In fact, Bedaux's life, as presented in ''The Champagne Safari,'' could have been material for a Hollywood movie.

A French immigrant who lived from 1886 to 1944, Bedaux rose from poverty to become the fifth richest man in America in 1934 by marketing his Bedaux Efficiency System. (Such schemes to make workers more productive were parodied in Charlie Chaplin's ''Modern Times'' and Rene Clair's ''A Nous la Liberte.'') The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were married at his chateau in France. In the 1930's, Bedaux began to work closely with the Nazis, who, he believed, represented the wave of the future and the best defense against international Communism and labor unrest. He was ultimately arrested in in 1942 in North Africa as a collaborator with the Third Reich.

The film's title refers to one of Bedaux's grand adventures: in 1934 he made a 1,200-mile journey across the Canadian Rockies in a fleet of Citroen halftracks, given to him by his friend Gaston Citroen. Bedaux was accompanied by his wife, his mistress, dozens of photogenic cowboys and 130 pack horses loaded with gourmet food, cases of Champagne and thousands of pounds of books.

At the heart of the documentary is previously unknown footage of this ''safari,'' which the film makers discovered and use as a clothesline on which to hang the tale. To record his trek for posterity and film a cowboy movie along the way, Bedaux had hired Floyd Crosby (the father of the singer David Crosby) who in 1931 had won an Academy Award for cinematography on ''Tabu,'' a documentary by F. W. Murnau and Robert Flaherty. Bedaux's Canadian adventure ended in disaster, and the raw film was lost until 1984, when Mr. Ungar located it in a Paris basement.

Five years earlier he had come across a magazine article on Bedaux's expedition. Believing that the adventure might prove a good subject for a short film, Mr. Ungar began researching Bedaux's life. He spent the next 16 years working on the movie, which last year won the Genie, or Canadian Oscar, for best documentary.

''I couldn't get away from him,'' Mr. Ungar said. ''Everywhere I looked, he kept popping up, like Woody Allen's Zelig.''

The documentary explores all of the known corners of Bedaux's life through the black-and-white film shot in Canada and historic footage of Hitler and the Windsors. It also includes interviews with Charles Higham, a historian; Jim Christy, who wrote a biography of Bedaux in the 80's; Timothy Findley, a Canadian novelist who has given Bedaux cameo parts in his fiction, and Charles Bedaux's niece, who seems to revel in describing the relationship between Bedaux's wife (her aunt) and Bedaux's mistresses. Also seen on film are two of the cowboys who accompanied Bedaux's expedition across Canada.

Born in France, Bedaux arrived in New York in 1906 and became an American citizen in 1917. Through the 1920's and 1930's, he sold his utopian methods to 600 clients in 18 countries, including Du Pont, General Electric and B. F. Goodrich in the United States, Fiat in Italy and Imperial Chemical Industries in England.

To win favor with the Nazis, who had closed down companies owned by foreigners, Bedaux arranged for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to make a public relations tour of German factories in 1937. Soon afterward, he planned a similar trip of American factories. But by then he had become known as a Fascist sympathizer and was no longer welcome in his adopted homeland. Not only did he have to cancel the Windsors' tour, but officials of the American Bedaux Company demanded that he sever his connection to the firm he had founded.

He landed on his feet. Returning to France, he defined for himself an even grander mission to the world. He would now work for entire governments, teaching them to run society according to the Bedaux System. When the Germans invaded Paris in 1940, Bedaux put himself at their disposal, and the Third Reich set him to work reorganizing the French coal-mining industry.

But he eventually came to a sorry end. On Dec. 5, 1942, the Americans arrested him in the Sahara, where, with the encouragement of the Nazis, he was planning to build a pipeline. Eventually, he was moved to Miami and held in a detention center. But before he could be tried for treason, he was found unconscious in his room. In a suicide note, he explained that he had hoarded the sleeping pills supplied to him by the Americans.

More than 50 years after his death, Charles Bedaux remains largely unknown, perhaps because, as Mr. Ungar puts it, ''neither France nor the United States is particularly proud of him.'' In bringing him to life, the film maker has done what historians try to do. He has forced his audience to ask uncomfortable questions about disturbing parts of the past.

ART and ARCHITECTURE, mainly

History, art history and architecture of Britain & Empire, Europe, Mediterranean & North America, 1640-1940.

27 July 2021

Charles bedaux, the french-american ally of nazi germany and vichy france.

avenue charles bedaux tours

16 comments:

I understand why Bedaux would work together with Vichy.. They both wanted what was good for France and good for Bedaux. But did he not think that Vichy represented Germany's interests in the half of France that was not occupied?

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We Travel Deciphering An Enigma was a perfect title for Bedaux. Yes his top priority was doing brilliantly in business, but at any cost? He was a close colleague of senior Nazi leaders, and he assiduously befriended Petain, presumably so he could build railways and pipelines across French colonial African deserts. Yet he helped the Allies by diverting war material away from the Front Lines.

avenue charles bedaux tours

Hello Hels, People can usually be judged by the company they keep, and Bedaux was cozying up to all the wrong people. It sounds like his death was no great loss to the world. Of course, no lessons were learned from this. Even today we see many who are ready to sell out the world for a few (or a few hundred million) dollars. --Jim

Parnassus I suppose in war time, enterprising men always cosy up to whomever they think will be good for their careers and reputation. And yes, it is still happening today, as you say. But even within his close circles in Vichy and Germany, there were rapid changes in loyalties that Bedaux could not have predicted. Read "Germany’s Confidential American Agent" to see what happened when Philippe Pétain, Otto Abetz and Pierre Laval cost Charles Bedaux his most effective contacts in the Vichy administration. https://erenow.net/ww/americans-in-paris-life-and-death-under-nazi-occupation-1940-1944/16.php

avenue charles bedaux tours

There's a similarity between the two couples: Edward and the divorced american Wallis Simpson, Harry and the divorced american Meghan Markel. Both royals should have married an english lady, Their marriages indicate very poor royalty education.

As it reads to me, France made a mistake by awarding him an honour. He sounds immoral and only concerned with amassing wealth.

avenue charles bedaux tours

Hells did you know Eric Abetz is Otto Abetz nephew.? I heard him once as defending his uncle for saving Paris from bombardment . It was an Insight program I think on SBS

DUTA Royals have always married royals and aristocrats from other countries, to keep the royal standards up and to spread the genes more widely. So Wallis and Meghan being foreign was not the problem. But even before her 1936 wedding, Wallis was already a clear Nazi sympathiser. That was unforgivable.

Andrew I wonder if the French government awarded Bedaux a posthumous Légion d'honn­eur to hide his war-time behaviour or because they didn't believe the American charges of treason and communicating with the enemy. And naming L’avenue Charles-Bedaux in Tours after him was a very public statement of honour. Insane!

mem Otto Abetz was obeying German orders when he was German ambassador to Vichy France and therefore not treasonous. But he was convicted after the war for crimes against humanity and the Jewish people, which Eric Abetz must have known about. Charles Bedaux also must have known. He had a close personal and professional relationship witb Otto Abetz.

avenue charles bedaux tours

Boa tarde minha querida amiga. Obrigado pela brilhante aula de história.

Luiz Normally I don't tackle historical themes I know nothing about, but when I was analysing the British royals' trip to Germany in 1937, it became clear that Bedaux arranged for them to meet each senior Nazi. Now I am still not sure if I fully understand how a French-American industrialist achieved his successes before and during WW2.

avenue charles bedaux tours

I think that, in wartime, people are inclined to want to side with who they think will be the winners. I have a certain amount of sympathy for that. Who of us could be certain that our own self-preservation would not dominate the path of our actions. Having said that, there is or should be, an inbuilt moral compass that hopefully guides us. On the other hand there probably people who would behave badly in any situation in order to better themselves... CLICK HERE for Bazza’s openly obtuse Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

bazza I wouldn't have minded if a man with French and American citizenship wanted Germany to win the war; he could have moved to Germany or to any of their occupied countries, including German-occupied Northern France. When Abetz returned to Paris, Charles Bedaux met him at the German Embassy and strolled around. Abetz confided that Laval’s arrest had been frivolous. Abetz was impatient with French politicians and mentioned that even charming Laval was superficial. Abetz said he was considering a scheme to please Hitler and undermine Vichy. Bedaux was part of the plan. Weygand, Pétain’s Minister of Defence in the July 1940 Cabinet, had been exiled to Algiers as military governor-general because his strict adherence to the Armistice Agreement annoyed the Germans. Would Abetz ask the general to succeed Pétain as head of a new French government in Paris? Bedaux agreed to carry Abetz’s offer, so Abetz promised more heavy machinery to Bedaux’s coal mines. Even if these issues seemed trivial, they show what Petain couldn't trust Bedaux ..ever.

avenue charles bedaux tours

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Charles Bedaux, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and the Grand Rapids Connection

By richard vettese, grhc.

published: April 9th, 2013

Charles Eugene Bedaux committed suicide in a Miami, Florida prison on February 18, 1944. The famed and wealthy industrialist was being held in Miami on charges of treason. Bedaux had been arrested in North Africa soon after the November 8, 1942 Allied Invasion on orders of General Dwight D. Eisenhower. At the time of his arrest, Bedaux was preparing to build a pipeline to transport oils across the Sahara desert for the Vichy French government and the Nazis. He had also given the Nazis a plan to protect the Persian Gulf oil refineries, which Germany was preparing to capture, from bombing. He was sent to the United States when it was found unfeasible to put him on trial before a military commission on charges of treason and communicating with the enemy. Little is known about his so-called suicide except that his attorney found him unconscious in his bed. He was taken to a hospital, remained in a coma and died without gaining consciousness. Many breathed a sigh of relief with his death, for Charles Bedaux perhaps knew too much about the connections between leading American industry leaders and the industrial development in Nazi Germany in the 1930’s.  [continue reading]  

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Bedaux’s connection to Grand Rapids, Michigan began in 1915 when F. Stuart Foote, secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Imperial Furniture Company, brought him here. Working for Grand Rapids’ famed furniture industry, Bedaux installed his plan, which became known as the “Bedaux System.” Bedaux, one of the leading contributors in the field of scientific management, [continue reading]

Bedaux, who became a naturalized American citizen in July of 1917, had developed a close relationship with Miss Fern Lombard, a favorite in Grand Rapids society and in the city’s musical circles. With his failed marriage behind him, he courted Miss Lombard, daughter of one of the city’s prominent lawyers, Mr. James Lombard, and his wife, Hattie M., of  223 Prospect Avenue NE. This second marriage happened in a most unusual way. [continue reading]

With homes in New York and France, and a fortune that continued to grow, in 1926 Bedaux decided to purchase the sixty-room Chateau de Cande estate on the Indre and Loire Rivers in Touraine, France. Bedaux poured his money into the castle, the original part of which had been built in the 16 th century. [continue reading]

Charles and Fern loved to travel. In November 1929, they began a five-month safari to Africa lasting until April 1930. The trip was organized primarily as a hunting expedition, and it was filmed. It began in Kenya, continued through the Sudan, French Equatorial Africa, Nigeria, through the Sahara to Algiers, and finally to its end in Morocco. Familiarity with this area eventually helped Bedaux when he was working with the German government in the early 1940’s. Another famous or infamous trip was eventually called “The Champagne Safari.” 

The grand title Bedaux gave to the trip was the “Bedaux Canadian Sub-Arctic Expedition,” which he formed to cross the Canadian wilderness of Northern British Columbia in 1934. Much of this trip would be made through regions that were relatively uncharted and had no trails. Bedaux planned to test the new Citroen half-track cars developed by his friend Andre Citroen. The journey was to be filmed by the noted Academy Award winning cinematographer Floyd Crosby. [continue reading]

In 1995, Canadian director George Ungar produced a television biography of Bedaux incorporating Crosby’s footage of the expedition, which is now available under the title “The Champagne Safari.” This seemingly comical expedition with ladies preparing their toilettes in the middle of the bush, Fern handing out cigarettes to the cowboys, and the camera crew filming everything in sight including the funny Citroen tractors bogged down in the mud, appeared ridiculous but [continue reading]

Bedaux continued to develop relationships with government leaders of England and Germany in the 1930’s. With a close friendship established over the years with Wallis Simpson, Charles and Fern were well aware of the constitutional crisis that was to hit England in 1936. With the death of George V in January 1936, Edward ascended the throne as King Edward VIII. [continue reading]

Charles and Fern Bedaux eventually invited their friend, Wallis Simpson, to stay at their Chateau de Cande while the turmoil was going on. With her divorce finalized in May 1937, she and Edward reunited as guests at the Bedaux estate. Edward proposed to her, and they were married at the Chateau on June 3, 1937, with the famous English photographer Cecil Beaton documenting the event. [continue reading]

After the arrest of Charles Bedaux for treason in 1942, Fern Lombard Bedaux and her sister, Eve Duez, were interned briefly in Paris during the war. They were soon released through their connections to the Nazi government and with the help of Otto Abetz, the Nazi Ambassador in France. Fern was later held under house arrest at the Chateau, and she never saw Charles again. [continue reading]

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  • Bedaux, Charles Eugene

Charles Bedaux Commits Suicide

F. stuart foote brings bedaux to grand rapids, bedaux courts fern lombard, the french chateau de cande, bedaux canadian sub-artic expedition, champagne safari, britain's constitutional crisis, a wedding at chateau de cande, arrested for treason, charles e. bedaux, patent, immigration service statement regarding death of charles e. bedaux, bedaux denied commission in wwi, blanche allen bedaux seeks wounded husband, bibliography and endnotes, charles eugene bedaux, bibliography, items available at the history & special collections dept., grand rapids public library.

  • Biography & Portrait File, Charles E. Bedaux
  • Grand Rapids Herald and Press microfilm

Author's Bibliography

  • B-Units & Windsors: Time Magazine , November 8, 1937.
  • Bedaux, Charles E.: Biography & Portrait File, Grand Rapids Public Library, History & Special Collections Department.
  • Bedaux Career Started Here: Grand Rapids Press , February 19, 1944.
  • Bedaux, When You Need Some Extra Power: http://www.bedaux.com .
  • Bedaux’s Death Called Suicide: Grand Rapids Press , February 19, 1944.
  • Charles Bedaux: http://www.en.wikipedia.org.
  • Charles Eugene Bedaux, 1887 to 1944: http://www.managers-net.com .
  • Chateau de Cande: http://www.chateaux-france.com/cande.
  • Chateau de Cande: http://www.en.wikipedia.org .
  • Fern Bedaux: http://www.littleaugury.blogspot.com/search/label/fern%20bedaux.
  • Her Fairy Prince Makes Dreams Come True For Former G.R. Girl, Attorney’s Daughter, Couple Returns from Hunt Through African Interior to Materialized Air Castle, Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Bedaux Enjoy Fortune Whose Cornerstone Was Laid in Furniture Capital, by Theodore H. Peck: Grand Rapids Herald , August 31, 1930.
  • International Bedaux Institute: http://www.internationalbedauxinstitute.com.
  • Mrs. Charles E. Bedaux Death Notice: Grand Rapids Press , July 17, 1972.
  • Punctured Tire—Lo! Society Girl is Wed: Grand Rapids Herald , July 3, 1917
  • Rough Road to the North, by Jim Christy: Doubleday, 1980.
  • Rumours Surround Legendary Bedaux Trek: http://www.wdm.ca .
  • Suicide of Charles E. Bedaux: Grand Rapids Herald , February 20, 1944.

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  1. Tours: l'avenue Charles Bedaux bientôt débaptisée

    avenue charles bedaux tours

  2. Tours : l'avenue au nom d’un collabo débaptisée

    avenue charles bedaux tours

  3. VIDEO. A Tours, l’avenue Charles Bedeaux rebaptisée avenue Thérèse Voisin

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  4. Thérèse Voisin, la résistante, a chassé un collabo

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  5. VIDEO. A Tours, l'avenue Thérèse Voisin remplace l'avenue Charles Bedaux

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  1. LEONARD BEDAUX CINEMA

  2. Charles Avenue, Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk, NR7

  3. A Man Is Shot On Charles Avenue In Lexington Last Night

  4. BUXUS OBTUSIFOLIA N°8 BEDAUX CINEMA

  5. Savagery Unbound

  6. The Grand French Chateau Tour 🏰 The Chateau Chronicles

COMMENTS

  1. Charles Bedaux

    Charles Eugène Bedaux (10 October 1886 - 18 February 1944) was a French-American millionaire who made his fortune developing and implementing the work measurement aspect of scientific management, ... A street in Tours, the Avenue Charles Bedaux, was named after Bedaux from 1966 to 2018.

  2. Chateau De Cande

    The chateau was purchased by Charles Bedaux, an American businessman, in the 1920s, who renovated and restored the property. During World War II, the chateau was used as a German military hospital and later occupied by the American army. After the war, the chateau was returned to the Bedaux family, who continued to live there until 1992.

  3. 8 avenue Charles Bedaux, 37000 Tours

    8 avenue Charles Bedaux, 37000 Tours. Estimations de prix MeilleursAgents au 1 avril 2024. Comprendre nos prix. Appartement. Prix m2 moyen. 2 715 €. de 1 904 € à 4 147 €. Indice de confiance. Maison.

  4. Avenue Charles Bedaux sur la carte de Tours.

    Sur la page montre le schma du passage et de l'emplacement de Avenue Charles Bedaux, sur le plan de la ville de Tours. Le image satellite permet de voir à quoi ressemble le bâtiment et la région environnante. Une photo 3D de Avenue Charles Bedaux à partir de l'altitude du vol d'un oiseau aidera à mettre une image plus précise dans la tête.

  5. VIDEO. A Tours, l'avenue Charles Bedeaux rebaptisée avenue Thérèse

    Dans la zone du Menneton, à Tours, l'avenue Charles Bedeaux, ancien collaborateur avec l'Allemagne nazie, a été rebaptisée avenue Thérèse Voisin, du nom de r...

  6. Avenue Charles Bedaux, Tours (37000, 37200)

    Mars 2024 - Découvrez le prix immobilier au m2 de Avenue Charles Bedaux, Tours (37000, 37200) : prix immobilier (m2), immeuble par immeuble. Evolution du m2 et estimation immobilière des appartements et maisons Av. Charles Bedaux, Tours.

  7. Centre culturel musulman

    Début de la construction en novembre 2008 avenue Charles-Bedaux, ZI du Menneton. Tours. Après une longue période d'arrêt des travaux depuis fin 2012, la réalisation du centre culturel musulman est en bonne voie. Ce grand édifice aura une surface hors œuvre nette de 3217m et une surface hors œuvre bute de 5641m .---

  8. Château de Candé, Wedding Venue of Wallis Simpson & Former British King

    In 1508, the Mayor of Tours, François Briçonnet, had a Renaissance-style country lodge built here for himself. ... In 1927, the Candé estate was bought by multimillionaire Charles Bedaux, a naturalised American who had been born and raised in France. Bedaux moved to America at the age of 20 to seek his fortune, an ambition he achieved with ...

  9. MENNETON VIANDES

    5 Avenue Charles Bedaux. 37000 Tours. France. Get directions. Edit business info. Recommended Reviews. Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more. Search within reviews. Search within reviews. Username. Location. 0. 0. 1 star rating. Not good. 2 star rating. Could've been better.

  10. FLUID SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIE

    4 Avenue Charles Bedaux. 37000 Tours. France. Get directions. Recommended Reviews. Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews. Username. Location. 0. 0. Choose a star rating on a scale of 1 to 5. 1 star rating. Not good. 2 star rating. Could've been better.

  11. TOURAINE BOBINAGE

    4 avenue Charles Bedaux. 37000 Tours. France. Recommended Reviews. Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews. Username. Location. 0. 0. 1 star rating. Not good. 2 star rating. Could've been better. 3 star rating. OK. 4 star rating. Good. 5 star rating.

  12. Grande Mosqu

    Grande Mosqu - 26 Avenue Charles Bedaux 37000 Tours France - Mosque, Masjid.

  13. Remembering a Life That Read Like a Movie Script

    The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were married at his chateau in France. In the 1930's, Bedaux began to work closely with the Nazis, who, he believed, represented the wave of the future and the best ...

  14. Family tree of Charles BEDAUX

    But recent research has been unable to prove the existence of this award.A street in Tours, the Avenue Charles Bedaux, was named after Bedaux from 1966 to 2018.The Château de Candé is open to public visitors, and the main theme of the tour is the Duke and Duchess' wedding there in 1937. Many of Bedaux's possessions are on display at the chateau.

  15. The Library Chateau Cande

    The Library Chateau Cande. Pamela. Jun 13. Written By Mark Playle. The wonderful library was built by Charles Bedaux for his American wife Fern who was a voracious reader. Every balustrade on the gallery is hand carved with a different pattern. Some of Madame Bedaux' books are still on the shelves. One is a biography of Queen Mary, Edward's ...

  16. Charles Bedaux, the French-American ally of Nazi Germany and ...

    I wonder if the French government awarded Bedaux a posthumous Légion d'honn­eur to hide his war-time behaviour or because they didn't believe the American charges of treason and communicating with the enemy. And naming L'avenue Charles-Bedaux in Tours after him was a very public statement of honour. Insane! July 28, 2021 1:21 pm

  17. Charles Bedaux

    Charles Eugène Bedaux was a French-American millionaire who made his fortune developing and implementing the work measurement aspect of scientific management, notably the Bedaux System. Bedaux was friends with British royalty and Nazis alike, and was a management consultant, big game hunter and explorer. In 1934, he was the fifth wealthiest man in the United States.

  18. Charles Bedaux, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and the Grand Rapids

    Charles Eugene Bedaux committed suicide in a Miami, Florida prison on February 18, 1944. The famed and wealthy industrialist was being held in Miami on charges of treason. Bedaux had been arrested in North Africa soon after the November 8, 1942 Allied Invasion on orders of General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

  19. SNEV

    Snev in Tours, reviews by real people. Yelp is a fun and easy way to find, recommend and talk about what's great and not so great in Tours and beyond.

  20. PLACEO

    13 Avenue Charles Bedaux. 37000 Tours. France. Get directions. Edit business info. Recommended Reviews. Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more. Search within reviews. Search within reviews. Username. Location. 0. 0. 1 star rating. Not good. 2 star rating. Could've been better.

  21. 1931

    Charles Bedaux committed suicide in a Florida prison on February 18, 1944. The famed and wealthy industrialist was being held in Miami on charges of treason. ... There is still an Avenue Charles Bedaux "businessman", next to the Boulevard Louis XI in Tours in France. (6) A Wolsey advert from 1930 (1) Leicester Evening Mail 13 January 1932 ...

  22. CARROSSERIE GAULTIER JACQUES

    Carrosserie Gaultier Jacques in Tours, reviews by real people. Yelp is a fun and easy way to find, recommend and talk about what's great and not so great in Tours and beyond. ... avenue Charles Bedaux. 37000 Tours. France. Edit business info. Recommended Reviews. Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their ...