Our Story

Let me share a little glimpse into the story of my Nativity scene. I'm Caroline Lenoir, a French mother of 10, with memories of my happy childhood near Paris, at Chatou's 5 avenue des 27 Martyrs in a charming « old house that was covered with vine » exactly like the one in the Madeline stories! 

Among countless wonderful moments, none remain as vivid as those spent around our Provençal Nativity scene. The scavenger hunt to gather sand, moss or twigs. The journey of building the backdrop together under my mother’s creative guidance. The arrival of Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary because "there was no place for them at the inn ». And the Angel «bearing tidings of great joy to all people ». Baby Jesus placed with reverence between His Father and His Mother on our way back from church in the cold midnight hour. The colorful Wise Men among dozens of Provençal villagers dressed in stunning 19th-century costumes.

Fast forward a good twenty years, and here I was, with my husband and first children, in the breathtaking San Francisco Bay Area. I found myself immersed in the dazzling displays of lights, towering Christmas trees, and my family’s beloved cinnamon apple cider. It was fabulous but I couldn't help wondering where the essence of the real Christmas was. The reason for the season.

By that time, my childhood crèche had found a new home with my sister, leaving me longing to recreate that same dreamlike fervor for my own children. But not just out of nostalgia. As a mother, I knew the powerful role this tradition would play in shielding my children from the influences of our times particularly during their adolescence, when our faith and values would be put to the test. I firmly believed that effective teaching went beyond purely intellectual and even spiritual reasoning, and had to include the vital dimensions of emotions and hands-on experiences.

Years later, I moved back to France and was finally able to collect my own santons. As I witnessed my children leave the nest one by one to begin their own families, a seed of inspiration was planted and I embarked on a mission: to share my passion with my American friends. I was resolved to sprinkle on their Christmases the distinctive charm and poetic savoir-faire of these Nativity scene experiences so traditional in France.

So I reached out to a French designer as well as to talented artisans on the other side of the globe and CHATEAU de FANJEAU was born. Together, we began crafting a Nativity scene that would nourish both the soul and the senses, and create memories treasured for generations to come.