After six hectic days in Paris it was time to get out of Dodge and head to a slower pace. We had booked a Chateau gate house on the internet in the small village of Serrigny in the Yonne region (2.5 hours south east of Paris). On our way there we stopped in Montargis so that Rod could fulfill one of his bucket list items - to see first hand, Le Tour de France. Montargis was a finish so all of the sponsors and bike teams had their large trucks and caravans there and were giving out swag (Rod’s term) to the spectators. Rod was like a kid at Disneyland. All of Rod’s fellow triathletes and biking buddies would probably understand this excitement but Taryn and I were not so enthusiastic. It was 36C and there were hundreds of sweaty bodies to squeeze past on walkways that you had to turn sideways to pass through. After scooping all of the swag he could carry, Rod finally agreed to let us leave there and continue to Serrigny.
Our GPS unit could not find the address that we had for Chateau de Serrigny so it was a good thing we had directions from the owners. After driving through Chablis (yes, that Chablis, like the wine) we turned down a rural road that led us past endless hilly sections of grape fields, past farming land and small dairy farms to a village that did not seem to have any inhabitants. We were not sure where to go from there as our directions were only to the village. So we continued on this road until, at the end, there it was – a huge chateau that had definitely seen better days. We learned from the current owner that it was originally built in 1148 was rebuild in 1689 and then fire destroyed a part of the chateau so it was again rebuilt in 1884. Throughout its history the chateau was owned by Dukes, Knights, Lords, and eeven a Musketeer. The land and castle changed hands many times and was lucky to have survived the French revolution and WWI.
The current owners , Paul and Leslie Cheesborough and their children Angus, Harry, and Charlie, have purchased the chateau and have turned the gatehouses into gites (rental accommodations) and are using the income from that to fix up the chateau with the long range goal of living in the chateau year round. I had the privilege of a tour by the owner and it was immediately apparent that this was no easy Home Makeover episode (this would be too big a project even for Ty). The inside was once very grand with amazing wood paneling, beautiful ceilings with large chandeliers, hand painted leather wall coverings, geometrically designed parquet floors, and massive fireplaces. But due to neglect and the ravages of nature she has deteriorated considerably. The ceiling in the library has actually collapsed. Paul and Leslie seem undaunted in their monumental task. I wish them the best and would love to revisit this place when they have completed this restoration.
Our GPS unit could not find the address that we had for Chateau de Serrigny so it was a good thing we had directions from the owners. After driving through Chablis (yes, that Chablis, like the wine) we turned down a rural road that led us past endless hilly sections of grape fields, past farming land and small dairy farms to a village that did not seem to have any inhabitants. We were not sure where to go from there as our directions were only to the village. So we continued on this road until, at the end, there it was – a huge chateau that had definitely seen better days. We learned from the current owner that it was originally built in 1148 was rebuild in 1689 and then fire destroyed a part of the chateau so it was again rebuilt in 1884. Throughout its history the chateau was owned by Dukes, Knights, Lords, and eeven a Musketeer. The land and castle changed hands many times and was lucky to have survived the French revolution and WWI.
The current owners , Paul and Leslie Cheesborough and their children Angus, Harry, and Charlie, have purchased the chateau and have turned the gatehouses into gites (rental accommodations) and are using the income from that to fix up the chateau with the long range goal of living in the chateau year round. I had the privilege of a tour by the owner and it was immediately apparent that this was no easy Home Makeover episode (this would be too big a project even for Ty). The inside was once very grand with amazing wood paneling, beautiful ceilings with large chandeliers, hand painted leather wall coverings, geometrically designed parquet floors, and massive fireplaces. But due to neglect and the ravages of nature she has deteriorated considerably. The ceiling in the library has actually collapsed. Paul and Leslie seem undaunted in their monumental task. I wish them the best and would love to revisit this place when they have completed this restoration.
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