Chateau Terre Blanche

In the early 20th century, Count Joseph-Gabriel Breitbach of Chambery befriended the family of Jean Baptiste Lagrange, a Chalabre native born in 1848. Their friendship led to the Count purchasing land in Chalabre from Lagrange’s sister, where he envisioned building a “Maison de Maitre” and a factory to uplift the local economy. Construction began in late 1911 under Joseph Salinas and sons, using local stone from the Quarry of d’Alet.

The First World War forced the Count to return to Argentina, leaving the Chateau’s construction to be completed in 1918. Sadly, his friend Jean Baptiste passed away that same year. Upon returning to Chalabre after the war, the Count faced hostility due to his German-sounding name, despite being French. Accused of espionage, he endured abuse from the villagers and even the local council. Although he won a legal case for damages and donated the compensation to a local charity, tensions persisted. The Chateau was later labeled the “Château Allemand” after being occupied by Nazi troops during World War II, further tarnishing its reputation.

Disheartened, the Count left Chalabre permanently in 1934, entrusting the Salinas family to maintain the property. Despite attempts to contact him, the family eventually lost all trace of him. By French law, ownership transferred to the Salinas family after 30 years. The Château was later sold and ultimately purchased by Australians in 2014, earning its modern nickname, Château d’Australie.