For most young engaged couples getting an apartment feels like the next natural step but not for Erin and Jean- Baptiste. The couple had grander plans in their minds and ended up buying a 16th-century castle in the French countryside as their first home together.
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This was an adventure for a lifetime for the two of them and with Erin not even knowing how to speak french, this one had many ups and downs but in the end, the couple managed to make this castle into their home and even managed to find some valuable treasures along the way.
Meant To Be
The couple met in Scotland when both of them were studying in Edinburgh in the early 2000s. Little did they know and their first meeting was the start of an epic fairy tale that would change both of their lives.
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Jean-Baptiste had only planned to stay in Scotland for a year, but nine years later, the couple were still together and he was now working as a mechanical engineer while Erin worked as an anaesthetist.
A Big Change
Both of them lived in a bubble of happiness and love in Scotland but Jean Baptiste still yearned to return to his home country of France and when Jean Baptiste asked Erin to marry her, they both knew what the next step was.
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The couple wanted to move to France together but not to another apartment. They had their hearts and minds set on buying a historic property in the countryside and making a home there. And Erin despite not knowing the language was completely read would later say in an interview “I am a huge Francophile. I love the culture and the language.”
3 A Slice of History
When looking at the property market, the couple soon realized that their dream of owning an old home was not only possible but they could get themselves a slice of history for the same price as their Scottish apartment!
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Overjoyed that their budget allowed them to see houses they could only dream of, the couple toured manoirs in the countryside and soon realized that with the right property, they could turn their new house into full-time employment for both of them!
Moving To France
With their beloved cat, Oscar the young family found a rental property and looked at every property in their price range. They went up and down the French countryside, hoping to find the hidden gem they were looking for.
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But their excitement was dwindling as all the properties they saw were either too run-down, too expensive, too small or too big! “We were feeling a bit disheartened” Erin shared. It seems like they couldn’t find something in between until Erin’s father sent her an email.
Just In Time
Her father had found a proper which was only a 45-minute drive from where the couple were staying and after seeing the pictures, the couple were already impressed. It seemed to tick many of their checkboxes.
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And when they quickly planned their first visit, both of them decided on the moment as a coup de foudre – love at first sight. The stunning estate was nestled in Vendee, Pays de Loire, a region in western France and was called Château de Bourneau.
Everything They Needed
Though there had been a chateau on the property since the 16th century, the majority of the structure was actually built-in 1863. The home, if you could even call it had a “Renaissance edifice” and came with an incredible 50 Rooms.
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With 30 being bedrooms, and 4 sizable cottages used as stables and outbuildings. Each cottage came with its own private garden and swimming pool. The enormous building had a romantic moat encasing the property and over 16 hectares of park and woodlands.
A New Income And Life
The size of the home was overwhelming but in the best way for Erin and Jean- Baptiste. The two of them saw the self-contained cottages and knew that they could turn them into income properties and host guests from around the world.
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Turning this property into a hotel was just the first step, the grounds could also host corporate and local events. The couple could see all the potential of the property, not just financially but personally as well. Château de Bourneau felt like their home.
Managing Cost
But of course, before they could do any of this they needed to buy the old chateau and also find the resources to renovate the property to modern-day standards. A quick look inside and it was clear that it needed a complete gut job!
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The chateau needed a lot of work but the young couple was committed and spent 680,000€ (roughly $800,000) on the property. They quickly made a budget for the renovations and started applying for loans for the major construction work. This was going to be a long process, but they were willing to put it all on the line.
Discovering Its History
Rather than take on too many projects altogether, the couple decided to first teach themselves the history of the chateau. They learned that the original building and moat were built and fortified on the land in 1564, with the express permission of King Louis XI, and remained there up until the 19th century before it was deemed unlivable and torn down.
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This new detail only made the couple surer that they had made the right decision. Chateau de Bourneau had a rich history and just as the coupe was fascinated by it, they were sure that so would their future guests.
Major Work Begins
But before they could even dream about earning money from Chateau de Bourneau, they needed to get the moat fixed. It was leaking and water had seeped into the cellars of the chateau, compromising the building whole structure.
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They hired professional help for all the technical projects but since they were on a tight budget, did most of the cosmetics fixed by themselves and spent about 14 hours a day, chipping away at the building’s many problems.
A Safe Base
A few months in and the couple had finally addressed decades of neglect and saved the property from certain ruin. The moat had been fixed, the old cellars were cleared out and all of the plumbing and electrical had been updated.
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Now, that the chateau was safe it was time for part 2 of their project. They started going room by room and assessing how best to renovate each room and tried to prioritise them based on budget. And during these assessments, they stumbled upon great treasures.
Hidden Treasures
Chateau de Bourneau had taken away everything from the couple since they had bought it, their time, money and energy. But the couple had anticipated all that, what they didn’t expect was that the Chateau was hiding treasures.
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Inside its walls, they found rusted keys to the chateau library, as well as very old and valuable books. There were even metal fittings hidden in the walls of the main kitchen, the couple doesn’t know exactly what they are for but plan to find out!
Antique Furniture
That wasn’t all though, it looked like the old owners had been using antique furniture which was worth thousands of pounds but they had no idea. But with one look, Erin knew that they had struck gold!
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In one of the old turrets in the attic space, they found a seemingly untouched antique dresser in fantastic condition. In another bedroom, an old travel chest was left behind. And with just a little love, both items looked brand new.
Cosmetic Touches
Motivated by these new discoveries, the couple swiftly moved across the home renovating as they went. While their goal was to do the work as quickly as possible, this didn’t mean that they would sacrifice quality.
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Erin and Jean-Baptiste painstakingly removed old paintwork by hand to uncover the artistry of the original workmanship in their new home. They also decided to choose new paint colours that would be appropriate for the home.
Last Major Updates
The main rooms were looking better than ever and now with the last of their money, the couple replaced all the old rotting windows, repaired the roof and started buying tools and equipment to manage the woods and grounds.
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And of course, simply keeping the immense property clean was a major task that took hours upon tours. But the couple were close to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It was time for them to furnish their Chateau.
Shopping Spree
As we mentioned above, Erin and Jean were determined to complete the Chateau to the highest standards and despite having little to no money they managed to do just that. The couple spent all the free time they had, going to antique shops and flea markets.
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And with Erin’s great eye for finding gems, the couple was able to furnish the Chateau in matching the 19th-century style and architecture of the place. Their favourite find was an immaculate set of antique chairs, directly from the time period!
Time For Guests
The Chateau was nearly complete, while not all of its rooms were up to the couple’s high standards of renovations, they were all livable and comfortable. And with desperate need of cash flow, they decided to open the Chateau to guests.
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This was the moment of truth, would people actually come and visit the Chateau, the home they had spent all their money and energy renovating. The couple was anxious beyond words and hoping and praying that this new business venture would bare fruit — and it did!
Word Spread
Word spread around town that the crumbling Chateau de Bourneau had finally been renovated and everyone came to visit and marvel at this historic piece of property. Not just visitors from far away but locals as well.
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Everyone was left in awe at the incredible work Erin and Jean Baptiste at done, the 16th-century castle had all the charm mixed with every modern facility one could need. But this great successful start wasn’t enough to keep the Chateau de Bourneau operating.
Social Media
And when the pandemic forced the couple to stay inside and close their bed and breakfast business altogether, they came up with a new idea to generate income. They started posting about Chateau de Bourneau on Instagram.
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They recorded their progress and all the new and old projects they have completed on the Chateau de Bourneau and people loved them. The couple soon cultivated a loyal and generous community that helped support the Chateau de Bourneau.
2 Years Later
In such a short time, Erin and Jean-Baptiste have managed to change the Chateau de Bourneau for good, where so many had come and failed. And while the young couple’s work was far from done, they had managed to do the brunt of the updates needed.
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They plan on continuing to update their followers on social media about the Chateau de Bourneau and are determined to finish the rest of the Chateau as soon as they save some more money and get their bed and breakfast business running again.