Needing a break from a few very tough years, planning this French Chateau adventure based on the Chateau DIY series provided reprieve and excitement. To think that one could actually meet the individuals that were featured on TV was beyond comprehension let alone stay at their beautiful works in progress – these stately historic homes.
Meeting up in Toulouse, France, my fellow adventurer and I rented a car and began our drive through the French countryside (also a requirement for this adventure) to our first chateau - Domaine de la Barde. NOTE: some of these homes are named 'domaine' but for all intents and purposes, will be referred to as chateaus in my blog. In any event, they are stately homes.
We checked into our gite, a self-catering apartment in a handsomely converted walnut mill that sat to the side of the manor. The property itself was a tucked in, almost hidden treasure amongst hundred-year-old-plus trees. Tim & Krys (if you follow the show) have done an unbelievable job bringing this property back to life after 10 years of sitting idle and becoming majorly overgrown. The home itself will be ready for a reveal and occupation in the next series I'm told.
After touring the grounds, and taking jaunts in the local town during our stay, Krys gave us a tour of the home and their progress so far. It is an amazing home - full of old beams, exquisite stonework, a grand staircase, and newly renovated chef's kitchen. They are just finishing up an outdoor pool patio which will be an incredible refreshment as the summer ensues.
Waking up to birds chirping, breeze blowing, and wandering through the grounds of paths, trees, streams, frog pond, fruit orchard, and bamboo forest, all senses are fully stimulated for an unbelievable awakening and renewed strength. A trained chef, Tim is gearing up to conduct some cooking classes in a newly renovated classroom kitchen in the coming months. You will learn all about this on the upcoming season if you haven't see in already.
Want to learn more or book a stay? Contact Krys on Facebook Messenger and choose domainedelabarde. Hope you enjoy the photos on the Gallery tab above.
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