Castello di Boutemont opens new meditation labyrinth for 2026 season
The Château de Boutemont, located in Ouilly-le-Vicomte, Normandy, has commenced its sixth season under the ownership of Johanna Wistrøm-Monnier and Bruno Monnier, with operations extending until November 2026. Bruno Monnier, who established Culturespace in the early 1990s, has overseen museums such as the Palais des Papes and initiated Ateliers des Lumières. The couple took ownership of the estate in 2020, welcoming visitors in spring 2021 after revitalizing the gardens originally designed by Achille Duchêne. The estate boasts a magnificent water basin, topiary, and themed sections. Last year, visitor attendance approached 40,000, and in 2026, a unicursal labyrinth for meditation, inspired by Bartolomeo Veneto's artwork, will be introduced. The castle itself dates back to 1538.
Key facts
- Château de Boutemont reopened for sixth season under Johanna Wistrøm-Monnier and Bruno Monnier
- Bruno Monnier founded Culturespace in early 1990s, managing Palais des Papes, Musée Jacquemart-André, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
- Culturespace created Ateliers des Lumières immersive art centers (11 sites, 5 million annual visitors)
- Johanna Wistrøm-Monnier is former director of Dan Graham Foundation, collaborated with Penone, Goldsworthy, Long
- Property acquired in 2020, opened to public spring 2021
- Gardens designed by Achille Duchêne, including grand water basin and French-style topiary
- Visitor numbers nearly 40,000 in 2025, growing 20-30% annually
- New unicursal labyrinth for meditation added in 2026, inspired by Bartolomeo Veneto painting at Fitzwilliam Museum
Entities
Artists
- Johanna Wistrøm-Monnier
- Bruno Monnier
- Achille Duchêne
- Giuseppe Penone
- Andy Goldsworthy
- Richard Long
- Bartolomeo Veneto
- Charles Drouilly
- Sarah Drouilly
- Armand Sarfati
- Hélène Sarfati
- Jules Grün
- Kees van Dongen
- Dario Bragaglia
Institutions
- Culturespace
- Dan Graham Foundation
- Fitzwilliam Museum
- Palais des Papes
- Musée Jacquemart-André
- Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
- Ateliers des Lumières
- Château de Boutemont
- Artribune
Locations
- Ouilly-le-Vicomte
- Normandy
- France
- Lisieux
- Paris
- Rouen
- Caen
- Avignon
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
- Cambridge
- England
- Chartres
- Trouville
- Scandinavia
- Siberia
- Crete
- India