<strong>Château de Savigny-Les-Beaune: </strong>The world's biggest private fighter jet collection is held at a 700-year-old French castle.
Château de Savigny-Les-Beaune: The world's biggest private fighter jet collection is held at a 700-year-old French castle.
Courtesy Miquel Ros
<strong>Life's work: </strong>Collecting vehicles was the life's mission of Michel Pont. This aerial photo of the castle grounds was taken in 1998.
Life's work: Collecting vehicles was the life's mission of Michel Pont. This aerial photo of the castle grounds was taken in 1998.
Jerome Delay/AP/File
<strong>Personal passion: </strong>Pont bought the château in 1979 and over the following four decades, until his passing in 2021, turned it into a treasure trove for all those interested in mechanics and engineering.
Personal passion: Pont bought the château in 1979 and over the following four decades, until his passing in 2021, turned it into a treasure trove for all those interested in mechanics and engineering.
Courtesy Miquel Ros
<strong>Jets: </strong>Several different versions of French Mirages and Mystères, American F-100 series fighters and Soviet-made MiGs and Sukhois are among the many types of airplanes and helicopters you can find here.
Jets: Several different versions of French Mirages and Mystères, American F-100 series fighters and Soviet-made MiGs and Sukhois are among the many types of airplanes and helicopters you can find here.
Courtesy Miquel Ros
<strong>Sourcing the planes:</strong> For years, Michel Pont and his son Christophe scouted the whole of Europe and beyond in order to expand their collection.
Sourcing the planes: For years, Michel Pont and his son Christophe scouted the whole of Europe and beyond in order to expand their collection.
Courtesy Miquel Ros
<strong>Inside the castle: </strong>The whole scale of this extravaganza becomes ever more apparent as you visit the several pavilions scattered throughout the estate or slowly make your way through the château's halls and corridors.
Inside the castle: The whole scale of this extravaganza becomes ever more apparent as you visit the several pavilions scattered throughout the estate or slowly make your way through the château's halls and corridors.
Courtesy Miquel Ros
<strong>Cornucopia of cars: </strong>As the exhibits kept growing in size and scope, the word spread and the Pont family soon started to get offers of all sorts of machinery.
Cornucopia of cars: As the exhibits kept growing in size and scope, the word spread and the Pont family soon started to get offers of all sorts of machinery.
Courtesy Miquel Ros
<strong>Maintaining the legacy:</strong> "At the moment I am no longer looking to add museum pieces," Christophe Pont tells CNN, "My main goal is to preserve and continue the work of my father."
Maintaining the legacy: "At the moment I am no longer looking to add museum pieces," Christophe Pont tells CNN, "My main goal is to preserve and continue the work of my father."
Courtesy Miquel Ros
<strong>Racing cars:</strong> Michel Pont was a racing driver for five years.
Racing cars: Michel Pont was a racing driver for five years.
Courtesy Miquel Ros
<strong>Wings and wine: </strong>While most of the 30,000 visitors the château gets every year are attracted by its unique collections, there is also wine tourism too.
Wings and wine: While most of the 30,000 visitors the château gets every year are attracted by its unique collections, there is also wine tourism too.
Courtesy Miquel Ros