Château de la Napoule

The Château de la Napoule is a restored French castle located in Mandelieu-la-Napoule in the Alpes-Maritimes Department of southeastern France, on the Mediterranean coast west of Cannes. Originally constructed in the 14th century by the Counts of Villeneuve, the castle was extensively rebuilt and transformed in the early 20th century by American sculptor Henry Clews Jr. and his wife Marie Clews, who made it their residence and studio. The site has been classified as a historical landmark since 1993, and its gardens are listed by the French Ministry of Culture among the notable gardens of France. Today it operates as a cultural center under the La Napoule Art Foundation, hosting exhibitions and welcoming visitors year-round.

The site's history extends back to the 9th century, when a castrum named Avignonet appeared in documents, held by the bishops of Fréjus and the prince-bishops of Antibes. The name La Napoule first appeared in 1134. The castle itself was built in the 14th century by the Counts of Villeneuve on Mont San-Peyre, though it was destroyed in 1387 by Raimond de Turenne during war against the Counts of Provence. It was subsequently rebuilt by Guillaume de Villeneuve-Tourettes. Over the following centuries the structure underwent numerous transformations, including conversion into a glass factory in the 19th century. By the time of Napoleon Bonaparte it had fallen into ruin. In 1918, Americans Henry Clews Jr. and Marie Clews purchased the property and, around 1920, restored it to a medieval appearance, adding sections in their own personal style. During the Second World War, German soldiers occupied the castle; Marie Clews remained by posing as a maid on the staff in order to stay near her home and her husband's memory. After Henry's death, Marie Clews founded the La Napoule Art Foundation in 1951 to preserve their work and continue the castle's cultural role.

The Château de la Napoule functions primarily as a cultural center rather than a traditional museum with a permanent collection. Its holdings center on the sculptural work of Henry Clews Jr., whose art nouveau-influenced creations populate the site. The foundation organizes temporary exhibitions of contemporary art in several parts of the castle, presented alongside Clews's own sculptures and architectural embellishments. The studio of Henry Clews, filled with his works, remains open to visitors, offering insight into his artistic practice and the influences he absorbed from sculptors such as Auguste Rodin.

The most significant holdings of the Château de la Napoule are the sculptures and ornamental works created by Henry Clews Jr. himself. These include numerous art nouveau-influenced pieces featuring fantastical monsters and ornaments that incorporate references to multiple cultures. Clews's tombstone reportedly notes his reputation as a bizarre humorist, a quality reflected in his sculptural work. The Tower of La Mancha contains the family mausoleum where both Henry and Marie Clews are buried in a crypt. The castle also served as one of the main locations in the 1999 film Simon Sez.