From the atthechateau.com studios in Carcassonne France,
the Château capital of the world... in living color...
it's The Château Game!
With the stars our show, and your hosts, Mark and Phillip…
YOU, our dear viewer, is todays Contestant, and we want you to make your choice!
It’s time to meet our three eligible Châteaux,
and HEEEEEEERE THEY ARE…
Château Number One resides in the Gers, the region known in France as Gascony. Two hours by car to Bordeaux, less than one hour to Toulouse, and four and a half hours from Paris by high speed train. Château d’Avensac, built originally in the fourteenth century and rebuilt in 1830, sits on the edge of a tiny village, and looks out over a breathtaking landscape. The Castle contains a grand staircase, a reception room, lovely dining room, grand salon, library, the makings of eleven ensuite bedrooms, and four kitchen spaces. Add to that an Orangerie, two garages, and a two story wine Chai that could host very large gatherings. The property also has an ancient Donjon that was once the entrance to the original castle, as well as its chapel-come-barn, and an ancient dwelling. All of this sets on 7 acres of terraced parkland with medieval walls and staircases cascading down the landscape, surrounded by farmland.
Château Number Two hails from the Aude region of France. Château number two sits on the Canal Du Midi very near the city of Castelnaudary, forty minutes from Toulouse, thirty minutes to Carcassonne, three hours to Bordeaux, and six hours to Paris by high speed train. Château Vieux Fort, originally built in the seventeenth century as a garrison to hold soldiers protecting the canal, was reconfigured in the early nineteenth century as a Château. The Castle sports an over the top grand staircase, a grand salon, dining room, spaces for six ensuite bedrooms, and two kitchen spaces. The right wing of the Château contains an orangerie, a private open courtyard, and garage with rooms above to create living quarters. There is also an entire third floor of massive open space to develop, as well as an ongoing row of outbuildings that contain apartments, garages, barns, and a space for a massive reception room. Château Vieux Fort sits on 14 acres of land, and although there are not views, the property borders the canal on one of its long sides allowing all day viewing of the long-boats drifting by.
Château Number Three is in the Lot-et-Garonne department of southern France. Although a little further north than the other eligible Châteaux, the Castle sits two hours to Toulouse, two hours to Bordeaux, and seven hours by train to Paris. Château de Cadres was built in the 1880’s on the site of a much older castle. Inside we find a massive five story staircase, two salons, a cozy dining room, space for ten ensuite bedrooms, and two kitchen spaces. The castle also has a wonderful outbuilding called the “grooms house” which contains stables, a garage, and storage rooms, with charming living quarters above. Château de Cadres sits on 27 acres of incredible parkland surrounded by specimin trees and meadows. Beyond the boundaries of the property is farmland filled countryside.
Let’s get to our questions for the Chateaux….
Question number one - What are your best features, and why would we want to visit you?
Chateau number one? – Château d’Avensac is a gem of a castle in a fairytale setting in the Gers. The Château has endless entertaining spaces, and multitudes of options for your special event, in-house event, or simply hanging out and living the Château life. Visit the small idyllic small villages of the Gers for dining, a café, or the local boulangerie, and then on to sip and taste the vintages of the local wines and Armagnac. With incredibly beautiful views and the future pool of dreams, all surrounded by a fantasy version of France and all it has to offer, this Château is the perfect fit.
Chateau number Two? – Château Vieux Fort is impressive and unusual in its Italian styling. The castle is very large and offers area after area for future development. You will feel like a Queen or a King descending the grand staircase after a lovely night in your private suite. Your event, whether private or in-house arranged will be well met in the gracious future reception hall. Visit the bustling city of Castelnaudary for dining and entertainment, wine taste in the Languedoc region of southern France, and spend endless hours lazily watching the boats drift by on the Canal du Midi.
Chateau number Three? – Château de Cadres will impress from the moment you enter the alley. The castle looms over the countryside like a vision out of a storybook. You will adore the interiors and their more contemporary victorian atmosphere. Ascending and descending the five story staircase is an adventure all unto its own. Spend your days exploring the lush gardens with its hundred year old specimen trees, secret grottos, and meadows. Visit the Bastide towns dotted around the area, then head north into the Dordogne to explore the villages, rivers, and some of the best wines of France.
Question number two - What are your negative or worst features?
Chateau number one? – Château d’Avensac although in an fairytale setting is a bit remote. If you are looking for bustling city life, or bars and clubbing, you will not find it here. The Château itself lacks a bit of wow factor in that it seems diminutive from the outside, but looks are deceiving when you discover the plenitude of the interiors. The cost of renovations will be high, but fortunately the layout of the property allows the renovations to be easily split into phases that will not be detrimental in the ongoing operations.
Chateau number Two? – Château Vieux Fort’s surrounding countryside is not as beautiful as the other choices, and let’s not discuss the train that goes by once an hour! The current entrance to the Château leaves a lot to be desired, but there is a former alley entrance that can be reopened, and with the addition of a passthrough added to the outbuildings, a grand arrival could be created. The Château is the most expensive of the group and the renovation costs will be high and somewhat disruptive for quite awhile. All of the outbuildings are in desperate need of complete restoration, but the Château itself is in fairly good condition. And keep in mind… that staircase!!! to die for!
Chateau number Three? – Château de Cadres is the remotest of the group. Its least attractive feature is the entrance. As you approach the property there is a very large agricultural business that is rather unattractive to say the least, but the views of the castle from a distance and upon first view are more than impressive enough. The Château also has a complete lack of outbuildings to develop, meaning that a lot of building from scratch will have to happen. The Château is the least expensive, but requires the most amount of renovation funds, including a new roof! The surrounding area is beautiful to the north, but rather suburban to the south.
Question number three - What is the strangest or most unusual thing that has ever happened inside your walls?
Buzzzzzzzzz -
Well, it looks like the time is up… you have to make up your mind, its time to make that big decision! (we have made ours… can you make yours??)
Which will it be – Château number One?… Château number Two?… or Château number Three?
Write your decision in the Comment section below!
Thank you for reading, that’s the Château Game for today!
Are you ready to throw the big Château game kiss? Ok, ready? Come on let’s go….
