16 December 2021 | Culture, Tourism
Château des Milandes et Josephine Baker
On November 30, 2021, Joséphine Baker was interned in the Pantheon in Paris.
A look back at the life of the famous singer, dancer and magazine leader, who moved from 1947 to 1964 in the Dordogne to Château des Milandes, 16km from Sarlat la Canéda.
Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker arrived in France in 1925.
One day I realized that I lived in a country where I was afraid of being black. It was a country reserved for whites. There was no room for black people. I was suffocating in the United States. A lot of us left, not because we wanted to, but because we couldn't take it anymore… I felt liberated in Paris
She became French in after having married in 1937 Jean Lion, a sugar broker.
When the Second World War broke out Josephine became a counter-esponniage agent and joined the secret services of Free France in 1940.
She transmitted messages to the allies using her musical scores.
Josephine Baker and the Château des Milandes
In 1937 Joséphine rented the Château des Milandes. 10 years later, she has the opportunity to acquire it.
She lives there with her husband and children and did lot of work there.
In 1964, Joséphine, in debt, could no longer keep the Château and an auction was announced.
Brigitte Bardot intervened and organized a call for donations. Many personalities and strangers responded.
But in 1968, the Château was put up for auction again and finally sold for a mouthful of bread.
Grace of Monaco welcomes Joséphine and her children who settle din Roque Brune.
Le Château des Milandes - visites
You can visit the Château des Milandes and have lunch at its brewery.
More information on their website: https://www.milandes.com
Rental a holiday home with Pure France
To visit the Dordogne, do not hesitate to rent a holiday home with Pure France: