A blaze broke out at the [size=14][red]Château Saint-Pierre[/red][/size], destroying three-quarters of the building during the night between Monday and Tuesday. Its cause has yet to be found.

No one was hurt at the building located near the [size=14][red]Villa Noailles[/red][/size], the modernist mansion that’s home to the annual Festival International de la Mode et de la Photographie and Design Parade, which most recently served as a workshop for prototypes in fashion and design.

“[grey]Police experts went on site. We do not have the outcome of their investigation, but the origin is most likely accidental. However the police will examine every possible tracks they got[/grey]” said Jean-Pierre Blanc, the Festivals founder and director of the Villa Noailles, for who the destroying of three-quarters of the building is "a blow". For three years, with the architect Patrick Bouchain, he has given everything to rebuild this castle in ruins.

The community of [size=14][red]Toulon and the Villa Noailles launched a call for financial aid on Tuesday afternoon to secure and reconstruct the damaged building. ”[grey]We're launching a call for national solidarity to try to implement the reconstruction of the roof and stage ravaged by fire, if possible before Christmas[/grey]” said Jean-Pierre Blanc who doesn’t hide his despondency. "[grey]It is the first hard blow of my career. There is nothing worse than a building for which we have given everything for three years to go up in smoke.[/grey]"

The small castle surrounded by vegetation was constructed in 1921 for the Viscountess Vroomans Leclercq and then owned by Edith Wharton, Tony Gandarillas and Charles and Marie-Laure Noailles. Those two, both from prestigious families, were married in 1923. Art collectors and enthusiasts of modernism, following the commission of their villa they became shrewd patrons of the arts, admiring all that was new and risky.

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