A partnership of 20 years to restore French heritage

TotalEnergies Foundation, the Fondation du Patrimoine (French Heritage Foundation), and their regional partners gathered on October 2, 2026, at the center for architectural interpretation and heritage Les Récollets in Ciboure to celebrate 20 years’ collaboration. This anniversary highlights a long-lasting commitment in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and in Béarn in particular, where 12 sites have been supported since 2006.
 

Elected representatives, project leaders, Gérald de Maleveille, Regional Delegate of Aquitaine for the Fondation du Patrimoine, Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier, General Delegate of TotalEnergies Foundation, Jean-Paul Riquet, Regional Director TotalEnergies Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Jérôme Poncet, the TotalEnergies Site Manager in Pau, all got together to take a look at the projects that have been made possible by this partnership initiated in 2006. The meeting was an opportunity to recall a belief shared by all those present: restoring remarkable heritage means preserving the regions’ identities, while maintaining their cultural, social, and economic vitality.

In 20 years, over 40 million euros have been invested at national level and almost 350 projects have been supported on more than 300 sites. This partnership is about more than saving buildings: it brings together local players, is a showcase for expertise, and promotes training and professional inclusion for young people. It also focuses increasingly on what becomes of the restored sites and on eco-friendly restoration actions..

The center Les Récollets was chosen as the venue for the anniversary celebration in Nouvelle Aquitaine for a very good reason: the site was restored with the support of TotalEnergies Foundation and is now a place for discovery and knowledge transmission. The projects of Les Récollets, the château of Guiche and the château-observatory of Abbadia were the subject of presentations explaining how the sites find a new purpose, draw in new audiences, and contribute to the outreach of the region..
 

12 sites supported in Béarn

With 12 sites supported, the Béarn region is a case in point of the focus placed on locally-rooted projects. In Pau, the Arts Pavillion, the Chapel of the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, and the outdoor theatre reflect the wide variety of projects supported. Morlanne and Salies-de-Béarn, not forgetting Lucq-de-Béarn, Navarrenx and Oloron-Sainte-Marie, are all symbolic towns that have regained their rightful place in the region’s fabric. 

At the Labourdette farm in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, whose support was made official on June 26, 2026, this ambition takes on a particularly concrete dimension. The educational worksite will enable thirty or so young people to learn ancient techniques, such as stone masonry with lime mortar and stonecutting, while discovering the principles of eco-friendly construction and the use of bio-sourced materials. Restoration work is turned into a lever for transmission, learning, and for the future. 

"In Béarn, we are proud to see sites that tell our story and shape our identity be given a new lease on life. Behind each project supported, there are driven women and men, transmission of knowledge, and a fresh impetus for the region. The restored buildings are not simply being preserved: they are being handed back to local inhabitants and future generations," explains Jérôme Poncet, TotalEnergies Site Manager in Pau. 

This anniversary celebration confirmed the strength of a partnership based on proximity, complementary skills, and the practical impact of the projects. In the Béarn region and across France, TotalEnergies Foundation and the Fondation du Patrimoine are pursuing a common goal, which is to preserve remnants of the past to turn them into living, purposeful, and shared resources. 

Gramont Castle in Bidache - Open-Air Theater in Pau