Saving Belebat

—The Foundation—

Created in 2024 as a non-profit organization, Saving Belebat is dedicated to raising funds for the restoration of this long-abandoned Renaissance château for this and future generations. In the cold depths of January 2003, a devastating, fire spreading from the monumental fireplace in the grand salon, stole more than four hundred years of history. The old, dilapidated building stood forsaken and vulnerable for fifteen long years before we become Belebat’s proud guardians for the 21st century. We started the restoration in 2017 and a great deal has been accomplished. But there is still so much to do. . . and now we need your help.

Black and white photo of a building renovation with exposed brick walls, a wooden staircase, and a large window with a geometric lantern hanging from the ceiling.
A black and white photo of a group of five people, three children, and two adults, waving at the camera. The man on the right has glasses and a beard, wearing a striped shirt, and the man on the left is holding a child on his shoulders. The children are standing in front, and two of them are holding cups.

The Caretakers

We are Jeff and Oscar, and with our three boys, Roman, Leighton and JJ, we moved to Belebat in the summer of 2017. While waiting for the old Gatehouse to be renovated so we could live in it, we camped for three months in the one building that, at that time, had a roof that leaked the least and a door that closed. It was without electricity, running water or a toilet.  

Since that time, we have been able to restore and renovate five of the many outbuildings that envelop the Château, turning them into stunning vacation rental homes. We dedicate 100 percent of the profits from those rentals to the restoration effort. Sadly, however, it’s just not enough.

There is so much more to do and so much of it is urgent — which is why we need your help Saving Belebat.

Close-up of blackened, burnt walls and ceiling with peeling paint and soot, indicating fire damage.
Exterior of a castle with stone walls, conical towers, and multiple small windows, some with decorative trim.

The Pilgrim’s Room

The circular roof is riddled with holes and water is leaking in, damaging the only ceiling that remains after the fire. Your help would restore this beautiful 16th-century ceiling and save its glorious original frescoes.

A steep, tall roof with damaged, old dark shingles on a building, some shingles missing or broken, with part of a beige wall visible.
Damaged slate roof with missing and broken tiles and exposed wooden support beam causing a hole.
Close-up of a weathered, decorative lantern atop a wooden structure against a clear blue sky.

The Château’s Bell Tower

The wood holding the 17th-century Bell Tower and roof is dry and deteriorating and in desperate need of intervention.  Please help us protect this magnificent Tower by preventing its collapse.

A historic mansion with pointed grey slate roofs, ornate window frames, and multiple chimneys, surrounded by decorative wrought iron fencing and greenery against a clear blue sky.

A historic mansion with pointed grey slate roofs, ornate window frames, and multiple chimneys, surrounded by decorative wrought iron fencing and greenery against a clear blue sky.

Close-up of a weathered wooden and metal tower or bell tower against a clear blue sky.

Close-up of a weathered wooden and metal tower or bell tower against a clear blue sky.

Aerial view of an old church roof showing multiple chimneys, a bell tower, and slate tiles, with trees and grass in the background.

Aerial view of an old church roof showing multiple chimneys, a bell tower, and slate tiles, with trees and grass in the background.

Aerial view of a large estate with multiple buildings, expanding farmland, and patches of fields and trees, under a clear blue sky.

Outbuildings

The roof of the Château was beautifully restored after the fire; however, many of the outbuilding’s roofs have been untouched for more than a hundred years and are require immediate attention to prevent their collapse. Your gift today lets us replace rotting timbers and broken roof tiles in order to protect these structures from the damaging elements.

An old, weathered wooden barn with damaged siding, situated above a tiled roof, with leafless trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
Aerial view of a roof with missing and damaged shingles, some moss and lichen growth, and a hole revealing the underlying wood structure. The house has a white gutter and is surrounded by a grassy yard.
An old stone building surrounded by overgrown greenery and moss-covered stones, with a partially broken doorway and a rustic, abandoned appearance.
Close-up of a brick and stone church with a small porch, steps leading up, and a tower with narrow windows. The roof of the porch is moss-covered, and the main building has a steep, darkly shingled roof.

The Hunting Lodge

This magnificent building, often mistaken for a church, has a sordid history. When the Nazis occupied France, they seized Belebat and built a local command center on top of the 16th-century cellar. The weight of the new structure is too much for this 400-year-old building and the ceiling is collapsing. Engineers have assessed the damage and concluded that in order to save the Lodge, we need to lift the new structure off the old and create a new foundation, thus eliminating the excessive pressure on the cellar.

Close-up of an old, weathered stone roof with various moss and lichen growing on the stones.
Close-up of an old, weathered roof with moss and peeling paint, showing deterioration and damage.
Close-up image of a weathered, moss-covered wooden roof with missing and uneven tiles, set against a bright blue sky.
Vintage chandelier hanging from the ceiling with two wall-mounted decorative plates and a round mirror with a gold frame on the wall, surrounded by green leafy plants.

A Renaissance Carcass

After the five-day-long fire in 2003, Belebat was left exposed —with no doors, no windows and with the naked Château’s interior stone walls cracked and weakened.  Your help will let us repair a great many holes pierced in the limestone walls to ensure the building’s stability.

Today most of the windows and two doors have been built and installed. However, Belebat still needs four more doors — including the two grand main doors — and five more windows. Your generous help will let us finish sealing the shell, keeping the Château safe from the wind and rain.

A damaged arched brick and mortar wall with exposed black steel beams and soot damage, above a window with a white frame.
Close-up view through a small, decorative glass window with black leading, showing a blurred outdoor scene with grass and trees at sunset.
Inside view of a wooden roof structure with weathered beams and rafters.
Front view of a historic building entrance with a stone archway. Two large ancient-style terracotta urns are positioned on pedestals on either side of the entrance. The building has white decorative stone trim and two windows visible on either side o
Close-up of a black-painted decorative wooden railing or newel post in a room under renovation, with exposed walls and construction materials visible in the background.
A decorative stone window on a beige stone building wall, featuring an ornate crest above the window and classical molding details.
Construction site with scaffolding set up against a stone wall, showing exposed wiring and pipes, with a partially visible window or opening to outside greenery.
An interior room with unfinished stone walls and a concrete floor. In the center, there are framed pictures, a wooden chair, and a small religious figurine.
View of an exterior wall of an old building through a window with decorative stained glass at the top, showing trees and grass outside.
Four people, two adults and two children, inside a stone structure under construction, all wearing rain boots and casual clothing.
A room with damaged flooring, high windows, and a vaulted ceiling with decorative black and yellow paint, hanging light fixture, and damaged walls.
From below view of an old, worn-out church or cathedral ceiling showing scaffolding and a decorative light fixture at the center.
Old decorative carved stone fragment, possibly from a column or architectural element, leaning against a rough wall on a construction site with some wires and debris visible.

The Stolen Fireplaces

After the 2003 fire, the Château was looted. Among the stolen items were its extraordinary Renaissance fireplaces.  Your gift will help us find and replace these historic fireplaces.

Interior view of a room under renovation with exposed wires, unfinished walls, a stone fireplace, and sunlight coming through open windows.
Partially demolished fireplace with decorative stone carvings, construction debris, and exposed electrical wiring in an unfinished interior space.
Interior of a room under renovation with exposed stone walls, electrical wiring, and a fireplace.
Construction site showing a partially installed chimney or fireplace with ornate decorative edging, surrounded by unfinished walls with exposed wiring and construction materials on the floor.
Construction site with a concrete fireplace or hearth and wooden framing, exposed bricks, and construction materials.
A fireplace with blackened interior and glowing embers at the bottom. A decorative wreath made of twigs, with green leaves, hangs above the fireplace on a stone wall.

THANK YOU!

Saving Belebat Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States.
Contributions to Saving Belebat are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

6100 Lake Ellenor Drive
Suite 151-1111
Orlando, FL 32809
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