In the Atelier , where all modern cars are assembled , visitors were treated to a rarely seen insight into the delicate craftsmanship pioneered at Bugatti .
No clearer is the unbroken link between past and present at Bugatti , than in experiencing the evolution of cars to wear the famous Macaron . During their one-off ‘ Night at the Château ’ guests rode in a Bugatti Type 51 , bearing witness to the cracked leather that results from a lifetime of continued enjoyment . From the extreme sensations of the hyper sports car Chiron Super Sport ¹, guests then experienced the raw and visceral thrill of a genuine Grand Prix racer . Separated by nearly a century these two cars are yet united in their dedication to breaking new ground in performance through an unyielding commitment to engineering excellence .
With a new-found appreciation for Bugatti , guests took the short walk along a gravel pathway in front of the Château to the Remise Sud , appointed with Bugatti furniture and home to the first steps of Bugatti creation : the car customization . It is here where customers are able to explore a choice of colors , finishes and bespoke additions to their car . High-definition screens and bespoke Bugatti ‘ Royale ’ speakers by TIDAL with diamond diaphragms provide a near-lifelike , all-encompassing audio and visual representation of their future Bugatti car . Elsewhere in the room , the revolutionary W16 powertrain sits proudly on display , revealing the full beauty of its engineering .
Exiting through the doors of the
Remise Sud , guests pass by the Orangerie , which today is a quiet and tranquil place for relaxation or even a quick game of pool . A Bugatti pool table by IXO stands proudly at the heart of the bright Orangerie , its blue-tinted carbon fiber finish echoing the construction of modern Bugatti models . The sides of the drawers are manufactured with CNCmachined , brushed and anodized aluminum , while the ball pockets are made from stainless steel and are lined with leather . It ’ s joined in the Orangerie by yet another link to the visionary genius of Ettore Bugatti : a Bugatti Baby II , which is a 75 % scale fully electric reincarnation of the Type 35 . The car is an homage to the original Bugatti Baby , a half-scale Type 35 created for Ettore ’ s son Roland in 1926 . This one-off became so popular with customers that it was put into production between 1927 and 1936 .
Through the glass walls of the Orangerie sits a view of a timelessly styled modern building : the Bugatti Atelier . Seamlessly integrated with its natural surroundings , the Atelier is the cradle of creation for Bugatti ’ s modern range of hyper sports cars . The tranquil and precise assembly process happens just a short distance from where Bugatti vehicles were built under Ettore himself , with visitors treated to a rarely seen insight into the delicate craftsmanship pioneered at Bugatti .
But while the Château has always been associated with the vehicles of Bugatti , it is equally renowned for its lavish entertainment . Even today , any ‘ Night at the Château ’ must be capped off with an extraordinary dinner . For these privileged guests , visiting during the balmy golden evenings of summer , this dinner would begin in the Château ’ s parkland with an exclusive aperitif . Three special vintages from Champagne Carbon provided the perfect accompaniment to a sky hued orange and red by the slowly setting sun . Each of Champagne Carbon ƎB . 01 , ƎB . 02 and the latest ƎB . 03 cuvée , a Blanc de Blancs 2013 , were available for guests to enjoy .
With the last of the evening light faded , the al fresco table was gently illuminated by candlelight , the glowing full moon and the last few lights within the Château ’ s rooms . The only sounds to be heard came from the clinking cutlery , the calls of the forest wildlife all around and the easy conversation that comes with an evening spent as a guest at the Château .
This very special day ends in the open sky dome , settling in for a night under the stars , surrounded by a forest of oak trees – some more than 250 years old – filled with a herd of 14 fallow deer and animated by the sounds of wildlife echoing through the tranquil nighttime air . Guests will then awake with a newfound vision of the magic of the Château Saint Jean .
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE 59