Located in Thomery, near Fontainebleau, the château was purchased by the celebrated painter Rosa Bonheur in 1859, thanks to the proceeds from her masterpiece The Horse Fair. She thus became the first woman to acquire a property of such significance in her own name, financed solely by the fruits of her art. Rosa immediately entrusted architect Jules Saulnier with the design of her studio and settled there the following year. She would spend the last forty years of her life within these walls. After her death, the estate was inherited by the woman she called her “adopted daughter,” the American painter Anna Klumpke, who devoted herself with remarkable dedication to preserving Rosa’s home and legacy.

A project like no other

Since its acquisition in 2017 by Katherine Brault, the Château de Rosa Bonheur has become the heart of a living, forward-looking vision inspired by the modernity and free spirit of Rosa Bonheur. The museum and park now offer not only a new way of telling Rosa Bonheur’s story, but also an immersive experience in the world of this fiercely independent artist and passionate nature lover.

One of the most ambitious projects is the inventory of Rosa Bonheur’s archives — among the most important ever discovered on a 19th-century painter. Nearly 70,000 documents have already been catalogued, only a third of the total collection, laying the foundation for a future research center that continues to reveal new facets of the artist every day.

The Château is also a vibrant hub of creation: exhibitions, concerts, conferences, and a festival dedicated to women’s creativity bring the site to life, with artistic residencies soon to follow. A tearoom, guest rooms, and soon a gourmet restaurant complete the experience, offering visitors the rare privilege of staying in Rosa’s home, surrounded by her paintings and personal objects.

More than a museum, the Château de Rosa Bonheur is a place of memory, research, creation, and life — carrying Rosa’s vision into the future.

Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899)

Rosa Bonheur was the the most famous, the highest paid, and the best-selling woman artist of the 19th century. Her career was nothing short of dazzling. She began earning her living from art at just 14 years old and went on to become the first woman artist ever awarded the Legion of Honor, personally decorated by Empress Eugénie.

What makes her even more remarkable is how modern she feels today. She fought her entire life to “uplift women” and to prove that “genius has no gender.” Her massive canvases and bold subjects broke every rule of what a woman artist was “supposed” to do.

She was also ahead of her time as an advocate for animals. Her art explored the bond between humans and animals with a rare vision that still resonates today. She revolutionized painting by placing animals at the very center of her work. With unmatched precision she captured their anatomy, their movement, their spirit. Under her brush, animals breathe, and their eyes reveal their souls.

Rosa Bonheur’s art continues to astonish — blending scientific knowledge with raw emotional power, she created a legacy that feels as fresh and inspiring today as it did more than a century ago.

Katherine Brault and her daughters (2017-...)

In 2015, Katherine Brault rediscovered the long-forgotten Château de Rosa Bonheur. The estate was in decay, the archives untouched, and the artist’s personal collection was about to be sold off—because no one seemed to care about Rosa Bonheur anymore.

Determined to preserve her legacy, Katherine spent 2 years fighting to secure the funds needed to acquire the château. She was soon joined by her 4 daughters, and together, they embarked on a bold mission: to restore the site and return Rosa Bonheur to her rightful place in art history. The project was monumental—restoring the building, cataloguing a lifetime of never-inventoried archives, and reviving the spirit of an exceptional woman.

Together, Katherine and her daughters have transformed the château into a vibrant cultural space: revealing hidden treasures, celebrating Bonheur’s work, and reimagining the museum experience. Their project blends heritage preservation, artistic excellence, and a deep commitment to elevating women’s voices.

Since the studio’s reopening in 2018, the château has once again become a place of creativity, inspiration, and connection.