Villa Marguerite Yourcenar, Cultural center and creative residency in Saint-Jans-Cappel, France
Villa Marguerite Yourcenar is a cultural center and creative residency housed in a neo-Norman manor built in the 1930s, situated within Mont Noir park in northern France. The building hosts roughly twenty writers annually who work on their projects and participate in various community events throughout the year.
The original castle on this site was destroyed during World War I, and this manor house was built in the 1930s as its replacement. The structure became a municipal cultural facility in 1997 and was named after writer Marguerite Yourcenar.
The residence honors writer Marguerite Yourcenar and draws authors from different countries who spend a month here developing their literary work. Visitors can attend public readings and meetings with resident writers, making the creative process tangible and accessible to the community.
The building is located on Route du Parc and is open Monday through Friday with a lunch break during midday hours. It is helpful to check ahead for scheduled public readings and writing workshops to align your visit with the literary activities happening on the days you plan to come.
The building was specifically designed to replace a destroyed castle, linking it architecturally to the region's historical losses. This connection between wartime destruction and cultural rebirth makes it a distinctive symbol of healing through art.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
