A group of more than 300 women pooled money to buy Château de Béduer in France and build Camp Château, a retreat based on shared ownership and rest.
More than 300 women pooled money to buy Château de Béduer in France and turn it into Camp Château, a retreat built around shared ownership, rest and flexible community rather than a traditional hotel model.
The project began with an unusual idea: instead of one investor buying and operating a historic property, hundreds of women would help create a place where participants could come for weeklong stays, workshops, outdoor activities and quiet time.
The château itself is around 1,000 years old, and caring for a building like that is not a small hobby. Shared ownership gave the project enough support to buy and renovate the property while also creating a community around its future use.
Camp Château’s programme includes activities such as gardening, kayaking, creative workshops and simple rest. That last part is important. The retreat is not built on the idea that every hour has to be productive or improved. It gives participants permission to choose a slower week.
The story stands out because it combines heritage, community and practical imagination. A historic building that could have become another private luxury property instead became a shared place shaped by hundreds of women.
Source: People