Tours of the Château (1)
The 14th century tower and living quarters
Dear readers, it is time to start introducing you to our new home, and I fully expect to be flooded with comments questioning our sanity!! I currently have limited resources with what we have on our cameras from our previous visits to the Château, but with lockdown lifting, and the freedom to move about the country reinstated, we will be revisiting the Château soon.
The official offer - Offre d’achat - has been signed by all parties involved and we are in the compromis stage. The Compromis is the actual contract between parties. Once the compromis is signed there is no going back! We will become Château owners.
As soon as the compromis is signed we will make arrangements to spend two or three days at the Château photographing and measuring every room and space, not only to document the property but also to begin drawings and floor plans. Once the compromis is signed we can begin exploring the historic nature of the listed Château, and what types of restoration, additions, or changes will be allowed. Can we add fabulous antique French lanterns to the exterior? Can we improve the iron railings? Can we add a utility room to the far-side of the property? (with an aged matching exterior of course). The fact that the Château is a listed monument is a complete mystery to us as well as the French agencies that cover the decisions on the do’s and don’ts, (oui’s and non’s), and the possible financial help for for the restoration of listed buildings that seems to exist.
And it goes without saying that once the compromis is signed we can begin shopping! I have explored and researched the infrastructure items like water filtration, water softeners, water heaters, heating boilers, and multitudes of items related to plumbing and plumbing fixtures! (you will thank me later when you are presented with beautiful clean toilets!!) All the boring things that no one really notices or pays attention to anyway. But fear not, the fun stuff is coming! Lighting, appliances, cabinetry, furnishings, trimmings, and decor. But of course for the fun stuff to happen, everything else must come first.
For todays entertainment I located a video that I had taken on our second visit to the Château. I did not even think to turn my phone on its side for the recording, live and learn! LOL… The video is a walking tour of what remains of the living quarters attached to the 14th century gate tower of the Castle. When facing the front of the ancient gate tower the living quarters are to the left, with the old chapel to the right. In the video we will start in front of the gates, and immediately pickup inside the gates and tour the the left hand section (the living quarters) of the structure.
Grab a vodka drink (you are going to need it!), turn on your sound, tap the fullscreen button in the lower right hand corner and hit the play arrow in the center of the image below.