The production of Meilleur Pâtissier has left the Château de Groussay to invest in a new site this year. This transfer is neither a mere whim nor a communication operation, but a logistical necessity imposed by the schedule and hosting conditions. The choice of the Château d’Écouen, located in Val-d’Oise, now stands as the answer to these constraints. The technical requirements and the adaptability of the venue weighed heavily in the final decision. As for the atmosphere, it results from a balance between heritage preservation and filming demands.
The new château of Meilleur Pâtissier 2024: location and history
The Château d’Ormesson has been chosen for season 13 of Meilleur Pâtissier. Located in Val-de-Marne, close to Paris, this building constructed in the 18th century displays a refined appearance, an omnipresent natural light, and a park that matches the ambitions of the program. This place, long owned by the family of Jean d’Ormesson, exudes timeless elegance: the large, light-filled rooms contrast with the soothing freshness of the wooded paths, forming an ideal setting for the sweet challenges of the competition.
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It is impossible to reduce this château to a mere backdrop. Here, history bursts into every corner: Jackie Kennedy, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Mohamed V, as well as Racine and Madame de Sévigné have each, in their time, left their mark on the place. This accumulation of illustrious memories gives the filming a very particular atmosphere: behind a challenge or an exchanged smile, there is the scent of a reception from another time. You can feel it; the château is not just a prop: it leaves its discreet mark, scene after scene.
For all those looking for where the filming location of Meilleur Pâtissier is, the answer is clear: it is in Ormesson, in Val-de-Marne, that the competition now takes its quarters. This choice aligns with a logic faithful to the program: to favor a property in the Île-de-France region, easily accessible for the production, steeped in history, and tailored for the needs of a large-scale shoot. Ormesson has earned its selection: a perfect balance point between proximity to the capital, architectural charm, and that heritage atmosphere that gives the show its character.
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Why has the show changed location this season?
From one edition to another, the production likes to shuffle the deck on the decor side. Since the launch of Meilleur Pâtissier in 2012, the châteaux of Île-de-France or Eure-et-Loir have succeeded each other on screen. Each imposes its character, its rhythm, much more than just a simple backdrop. Behind each selection: concrete constraints. Hosting capacity, immediate access to Paris for teams and guests, sufficient space to set up the famous white tent and install technical equipment… nothing is left to chance.
For season 13, it is therefore the Château d’Ormesson, in Val-de-Marne, that hosts the amateur cooks and the entire setup. Vast spaces, practical access, proven logistics: all signals were green to establish the television hive here. Previous sites, in the Yvelines or Eure-et-Loir, could no longer always guarantee this alliance between discovery, visual novelty, and logistical comfort.
Moving, adapting, renewing decor and perspectives: this mobility has become the signature of Meilleur Pâtissier. Changing the setting is about giving rhythm back to the show and surprising its audience, without betraying the rendezvous with heritage. The Château d’Ormesson, with its clean lines and inhabited history, thus reinforces this dynamic: providing a solid, functional, and inspiring setting for a season like no other.
Atmosphere, decor, and filming secrets in this unique setting
On the outskirts of the capital, in the green setting of Val-de-Marne, the Château d’Ormesson asserts itself as the backdrop for the competition. On the large lawns, the iconic white tent emerges: it is the base camp of Meilleur Pâtissier, the theater of all the contests, facing the serenity of the ancient facades. The teams from BBC Studios France, under the meticulous direction of Jérémie Atlan, orchestrate every detail to preserve the conviviality of the competition and the finesse of the site.
The organization of the filming relies on a well-oiled mechanism. The main elements to know about this operation:
- The candidates, all amateur bakers, stay in small nearby hotels; they are accompanied throughout their adventure by “nannies” dedicated to their well-being and morale.
- The hosts and jury members, whether Cyril Lignac or Mercotte, stay directly in the château, reconnecting, during the filming, with an authentic château life.
The decor of the competition does not just flatter the eye: it honors the memory of its illustrious visitors. The presence of Jackie Kennedy, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Mohamed V, Racine, or Madame de Sévigné lingers, discreetly, between shadow and light. At every moment, the light softened by the tall windows enhances cakes, glances, and technical gestures. Behind this atmosphere, it is hard not to acknowledge the work of those who, at the camera or with the lighting, cultivate the elegance of the place without dulling it.
Season after season, Le Meilleur Pâtissier remains faithful to a tradition: a decor that has lived, that dialogues with those who pass through it. This year, the Château d’Ormesson adds a soul to the competition: heritage and indulgence respond to each other at every stage of the filming. Sometimes, between two piping sessions, a candidate looks up at the chandeliers… It is not forbidden to imagine that within a crystal, the reflection of another century slips in and, fleetingly, inspires the pastry of the moment.