Château de Chassignoles
Anna and Max
Buying a chateau to renovate has always been my dream and when I met my french husband Max it didn’t take much to convince him that is was a mad and brilliant idea! Our shared love of history and restoration (as well as the chance for Max to get his hands on some serious machinery) meant that a chateau seemed the perfect home for us, it was just a question of finding the right one. We wanted somewhere with enough land and space to offer a comfortable family living but also have room for lots of family and friends to stay. The opportunity to create a business was also high on our list with the idea to turn outbuildings into event spaces and gites in order for the chateau to generate its own income.
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What has been the most surprising aspect of château life that you didn’t expect?
For our chateau there has been a lot more red tape than anticipated concerning work in the grounds. As all of our land is classed for farming we actually have to be registered as farmers ourselves (another red tape process) before we can even apply to break ground for construction.
How do you balance modern living with the historic charm of your château?
We want to be respectful to the character of Chassignolles, we love the charm and historic features so any modern additions are sympathetically done. Many modern comforts like air conditioning and televisions can be cleverly hidden and very discreet. The style of decoration will also draw on the chateau’s history and features you would expect from the epoch.
What are the biggest challenges of maintaining a château?
When you buy a château, I think it’s important to expect that the maintenance is never-ending. In properties of this size, there is always something which needs replacing or updating.
What is your favourite room or space in the château and why?
It’s so difficult to choose just one favourite room, so I’m going to choose two! I love the kitchen in the donjon tower, with its metre-thick walls, the tower rooms are the soul of the medieval chateau and for us the kitchen is always the heart of the home. The other is our bedroom suite, which has a beautiful marble fireplace and dual aspect windows – one leading to the balcony looking east for the morning sun and the other facing south for views over the open countryside.
What has been the most rewarding renovation project you’ve undertaken so far?
When we bought the château, we knew the roof needed some work, particularly a large opening right over a supporting beam. Max spent hours up ladders and cherry pickers removing old tiles and installing new ones, so the roof is now watertight and no longer at risk of deterioration. It’s not a glamorous project but it’s often the work to improve the fabric of the building that is the most rewarding.
Have you encountered any unexpected obstacles during your renovations?
It’s almost guaranteed that with every renovation project, we encounter unexpected obstacles. The chateau has undergone many previous renovations throughout its nearly 900-year history – not always to the highest standard! Where you thought something might be a quick job you will discover another problem which needs fixing and so it turns into a much wider project. For example, in our courtyard, we wanted to reduce the slope of the ground as each time it rained, water would pool against the chateau wall opposite, making it damp. However, by digging down, we discovered the outer entrance wall had no foundations, meaning we also had to pour new concrete to support the structure – not something we had originally planned on!
What tips do you have for someone considering restoring a historic property?
It’s good to have courage and conviction when choosing to restore a historic property, it’s often a challenging project but also very rewarding. Sometimes the scale of jobs can be daunting, but we throw ourselves into each one and just have a go, along the way you pick up lots of new skills. Aside from the practical aspect, chateaux are money pits! Every job takes twice as long and is twice as expensive as you think it will be, so make sure to plan in plenty of contingency budget!
How do you source authentic materials and furnishings for your château?
I previously worked for Christies, a London auction house so I’m a big fan of auctions to source antiques at better prices than retail. The charity shops in France are also great for old furniture, porcelain, lighting, beds pictures and rugs at rock bottom prices. Online sites like Ebay and Leboncoin are also great for vintage furnishing fabrics.
What is the next big project you’re planning for the château?
We’re currently in the process of saving our 19th-century chapel, the roof and walls have been destabilised by tree roots and ivy has eaten away at the stonework. We have had to prioritise this work over the main chateau in order to keep the chapel from falling down. Once the chapel is finished, I’m very keen to start on the bathrooms and bedrooms at Chassignolles.
How has living in France influenced your daily routine and lifestyle?
Max’s daily routine hasn’t changed of course, but there are definitely moments of culture clash. I’m used to having a quick lunch and getting back to work, whereas in France, everything stops for a couple of hours, shops close, and businesses don’t answer the phone. It’s that relaxed lifestyle coming into effect! Even with the chateau taking a lot of our time, in France we frequently go to seasonal markets for fresh produce rather than supermarkets and have leisurely lunches at local restaurants.
What are some of your favourite local traditions or customs that you’ve adopted?
In France there isa wonderful tradition for fresh produce, rather than always going to supermarkets. We love to visit the local market at Cluny on weekends for fresh fruits and vegetables. You also can’t live in France without finding a good boulangerie around the corner, we love to get fresh bread, croissant (and cakes) every morning.
Can you share a typical day in your life at the château?
Life at the moment is work, work , work. We start early in the morning and finish late into the night. Though there is the obligatory 2 hour lunch in between.
What do you love most about the local community and area?
The local community have been very supportive with our maire visiting the chateau to see our progress and give advice on future plans. Our location is also amazing for travel and transport connections, you can easily travel to Switzerland and Italy within a couple of hours or hop on the TGV for a day trip to Paris or Aix en Provence.
