- Stefan Palios
My freelance company might have been secluded since i based it inside the 2017. We have run my organization out-of numerous cities – my personal flat, a restaurant, and also in numerous different locations during vacation usually. However in azing opportunity: to perform my personal team whenever you are remaining in an effective French chateau – for free.
We fell into the an entire community, thanks to standard United kingdom reveals Eliminate on Chateau and Eliminate to the Chateau Doing it yourself. I read about its greatest data like Cock Angel Strawbridge out of Chateau de los angeles Motte Husson, Stephanie Jarvis away from Chateau de- Lalande, and you can Michael Petherick off Chateau de los angeles Basmaignee.
My experience took me to Chateau Gonneville (aka Ce Fleur), that has been has just checked about seasons from Stay away from into the Chateau Doing it yourself. Here is how it happened – and you can what happened when lockdowns been halfway through my excursion.
Stay away from towards the Chateau and Workaway
Once the a child, I was enthusiastic about castles. Looks like, you to was not simply a youthfulness fantasy. I ran across Refrain with the Chateau and you can Stay app incontri elite away from for the Chateau Do-it-yourself inside the 2019, and it completely reignited my personal love of historical structures. I leftover thought so you’re able to me personally you to definitely I might cheerfully go benefit totally free easily you are going to merely stay at such chateaux.
Much on my happier surprise, I found an interview in which Angel said it managed volunteers of worldwide playing with a deck titled Workaway. The latest properties out of Workaway is straightforward: it is a social change site where you can experience local life around the globe. Your help you in numerous indicates once the a resident of any area carry out, and in change you get space and you may board. To have French chateaux, the afternoon to day every day life is cleaning old attics, helping throughout the yard, and other restoration work that isn’t done by specifically coached musicians.
The hard choice in life: choosing a palace to be effective of
- Involved in English, but with bilingual (French) speaking hosts.
- A beneficial chateau mid-repairs. So not carrying out foundation / artist works, however, providing which have obvious-outs, hard work, paint, scraping, etc. (I am not saying an excellent handyman but i have certain experience in a paint brush).
- Near adequate to Paris that i you certainly will fly during the and take a subway here seemingly with ease (frankly, not completely remote. I live in Toronto, therefore i required easy public transit after flying for the).
Since the a note, Workaway possess a little costs – doing $50 USD getting a-year off membership. That it ensures specific vetting into each party, examining things like IDs out of each other “Workawayers” and you can computers.
From inside the late 2019, I might function as perfect time for us to check out France: warm sufficient to perform work external however therefore beautiful one to it will become uncomfortable. Following immediately after thinking about actually numerous chateaux towards Workaway and you may Instagram, We narrowed my lookup right down to about three chateaux: Chateau de- Bourneau, Chateau de- Lalande, and you may Chateau Gonneville.
Chateau de- Bourneau: an aspiration in the prepared
While i basic noticed Chateau de- Bourneau for the Stay away from towards the Chateau Diy, I fell crazy. The brand new chateau is situated in the town of Bourneau, throughout the Vendee part during the Southwestern France. It’s built to copy Chateau Azay le Rideau, a classic royal chateau after utilized by the Leaders and you may Queens away from France.
Through to calling the latest chatelaine, Erin, We unfortuitously located they won’t take on Workaways – preferring to store every functions anywhere between Erin along with her spouse, JB.
Chateau de- Lalande: a story book castle
Chateau de Lalande try a 16th 100 years chateau which was added towards the usually so it can have the You-shape they already provides. To start with a strengthened chateau only away from central French town of Limoges, they progressed as a delight castle getting a favorite French relatives whoever state they glory is having that ancestor escort Marie Antoinette to Paris whenever she arrived in France.