EXCLUSIVE TOUR: Abandoned CHÂTEAU farmhouse. 100 years OLDER than the Château!

At Château de Purnon the Château is not actually the oldest building on the estate. That title belongs to a building from the mid 17th century - over 100 years older than Château de Purnon!
~ Products we use & love ~
www.farrow-bal...
www.hardyakka.com
www.skydio.com
riluxa.com
tadelakt.com
dumondglobal.c...
~ Join us ~
/ chateau_de_purnon
Patreon funding will go directly toward the restoration of Château de Purnon's epic 1812 front gates and haha. You can help support the historic restoration of Château de Purnon via joining our Patreon Community where we share an exclusive weekly video. A very special thank you to our Platinum members Charlotte, Bob & Laurie and Matt & Michelle for your wonderful support.
~ KZbin members~
Early access to all our videos:
/ château de purnon: rea...
~ Follow us ~
Instagram: / chateaudepurnon
Facebook: / chateaupurnon
~ Support us ~
www.fondation-...
~ With thanks ~
www.culture.go...
www.missionber...
www.fondation-...

[@elsiestormont1366]

As you showed us the interior, I couldn't help but imagine all the generations of people who lived and worked in this wonderful old house. Thank you for caring for it as much as they did.

Thanks for your message. It's a chateau with a wonderful history. It's a joy to uncover it and share this history and our journey to save Chateau de Purnon with others.

[@CynthiaBerry713]

As much as I love old Chateaux and their caretakers bringing them back to life, the stories of the outbuildings are almost more fascinating and amazing to watch! Everything you guys do is interesting, so I have no doubt the coins and their histories will be as well! Can't wait!

Thank you for your message. We're thrilled you're enjoying all the disparate elements of the incredible story of Chateau de Purnon.

[@bobbiejay2085]

A treasure trove of buildings and history ... and Mother Nature claiming her territory back at every chance. Another touching walk through with you. Just love her.

[@katehobbs2008]

I had not realised that you had all these many other buildings. Just enormous task you are undertaking. 🇦🇺🌹

It's a huge project with many elements that need to be carefully planned and phased so that we have sufficient resources to save the most historic and precious features as the highest priority. Thanks for your message Kate.

[@andrews8259]

Get some goats in there, they will keep that brush down.

[@SabineSontheim]

Exactly

[@zeenatbaer138]

Just when i think it can't get any better ... what beautiful buildings imagine what a rural idyll that must have been ..

Thanks for your message. We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour.

[@lindalowe5592]

The maintenance and functioning of the chateau must have been like a small village requiring an army of craftsmen, cooks, gardeners, woodsmen to cut wood for the fireplaces/cooking, livery people, servants to grow your food where you could. I cannot imaging maintaining the smooth working nor the expense. I guess I’m a peasant at heart. :-)

[@terrylichtenberg7618]

Love this video, the 🎵 music 🎶 is just beautiful and I'm so glad your saving these historical buildings 🙏🙏❤️

We're thrilled you're enjoying our journey!

[@jonimarchese7655]

Bonjour Felicity and Tim, thank you for showing us these beautiful buildings, I hope one day you will be able to get to them and bring them back to their former glory as well. I would love to see the plans. Here's to your future Moulin Bigeard. Thanks again. Love from N.Y.

Thank you for your message Joni. We're a little way off preparing plans etc as we focus on saving the chateau itself and several of the other buildings in peril. But when we're ready to set to work on the Moulin Bigeard we'll share our vision with everyone following our adventure.

[@brendahill7596]

I love these videos, and the longing to know what kind of life the people lived. Would love to read even a non-fiction book based on this area and these buildings. ❤

[@gwyndixon7023]

So glad to have found you! Wishing you all the best for your journey from Hobart.

Thanks for your message. We're thrilled that you're following our adventure from the Apple Isle!

[@estavoyernathalie9433]

Un trésor ce château ! Il faut mettre des chèvres pour nettoyer cette friche 😉

[@ruthwuebbeling9584]

I am a new subscriber and am mesmerized by the gorgeous chateau and the surrounding buildings. The videography and music selections are perfect. Thank you for letting us come along with you to experience what the chateau was like many years ago.

Welcome! We're thrilled that you're following our journey.

[@garyi.1360]

It's quite scary with that sag in the farmhouse beams, falling fireplace keystone, and wall cracks.

[@acadacad1]

I can't wait to see your plans for this "task".

[@megbond]

Good to see you wearing the trusted 'Hard Yakka' Aussie workwear. Have you explained what yakka means to your viewers?

It's come up a couple of times...

[@sanjacavlovic7399]

Omg ❤🎉😮 the glass house 😮❤😮❤

It's wonderful! We can't wait to restore it one day.

[@petrekovairena1891]

Wow úžasná časová kapsle. Moc vám fandím a držím palce.

[@jillgrannon5149]

So enjoyed your tour, fascinating information, keep up the good work

Thanks for your message. We're thrilled you enjoyed this episode!

[@joshuas.762]

I would love to have that as a home.

[@pedroluisbrito8704]

Fantástico y emotivo vídeo de " moulin bigeard". Vale la pena que el Instituto de Patrimonio colabore en la recuperación de esta espectacular obra. A lo largo de la historia han habido muchos héroes, pero para mi. Esta pareja, que llevó a cabo el proyecto de rescate y restauración del castillo Purnon, se merecen el título de héroes por llevar a cabo una obra grandiosa para devolverle a los franceses parte de su historia.

[@sanjacavlovic7399]

Your life is hard but it is fascinating. most of us will never even have a chance to see the chateau, you are so lucky to give it a chance and a another life ❤🎉

We're thrilled that people from around the world can share in our adventure. Thanks for your message!

[@Kitty_cat2001]

You were extremely brave walking through all of the overgrown areas - meat safe. The pigeon house is incredible, do you think you’ll end up sorting this out & would you be eligible for a grant to do this? Central Victoria Australia 🇦🇺

[@nospin1394]

Really well done on your drone shots especially the opening sequence, how did we survive without them? It has to be frustrating, like you said needing to prioritize knowing the work that needs to be done and not having the time or the means to do so. If only the uber rich would open their wallets to these type projects but of course we know why they are uber rich. What really struck me was that beautiful wear pattern on the stairs, imagine the generations of use to do such a thing. Fortunately the roof system is in fairly good shape to keep your hopes up to one day…

[@paulrosa6173]

No wonder the old families gave up. There are no small buildings and no cheap repairs. And so many large stone walls. It will be wonderful when you pull it all together. In the american colonies at that time few people could do the very high quality stone cutting as Purnon took for granted. There were so few people who could afford to build like that even in Philadelphia and Virginia, some of the wealthiest areas in the colonies. But nowhere in any of them were there such large houses and such extensive outbuildings. It shows how large a population and how wealthy France was at the time. It's always amazing watching your vlogs. I think the farmhouse may be about as long as Mount Vernon. It may not be as wide but is almost as tall . And of course Mount Vernon has elaborate interiors in some rooms. But even Mount Vernon started a downward decline by the middle of the 19th century. I don't think it was rescued until the last quarter of the 19th century. .Monticello would be somewhat more than a garden building on the estate of some of those old French Chateau. This comment isn't smearing at this country's heritage or origins. Just putting it somewhat in perspective. BTW -The view of you walking in the park looks very like the last scene of the 90's movie "Valmont".

Thanks for your comment. Interesting perspectives. Different societies at different stages of economic and social development. As Australians we often reflect that Purnon was finished the year before Europeans settled on the east coast of what is now Australia.

[@ktjomeyers]

You do fantastic videos. I would love to come stay at your estate someday. ❤

Thank you for your message. We can't accommodate overnight stays but we are open each year for the weekend of the Journees du Patrimoine in mid-September. This is the very best time to visit Chateau de Purnon. Entry is free and we open as much of the estate as possible.

[@westpacificmarketanalytics2384]

In just a few hundred years it really shows how civilizations can crumble and do not for a moment think the one we live it cannot as well! My project is forward projecting economic modeling.

[@kailand3056]

Thank you for the tour through some of the chateau’s history. I hope there’s a plan to fix the hole in the roof of the farm house in the near future because you’re going to lose the entire building due to the wood rotting. It’s wonderful to show us the beautiful old interior but it’s not going to last very long if it’s not protected from the elements.

[@sherrymullins102]

Thanks for the history lesson!

We're thrilled you found it interesting.

[@დონა]

მადლობა ხალიან საინტერესოა!! რამდენი სიტუაცია წარმოვიდგინე… ❤❤❤

[@isabelmariamartineznavas3011]

¿Van a restaurar todos los edificios anexos? Enorme trabajo. Gran proyecto. Espero verlo todo terminado. Un saludo desde España

[@expertdufour3084]

Do you know Leon Bollee s family (windmill engineer) is living in the vicinity of Poitiers?

We didn't know. Thank you for passing that on.

[@natesquestyouknowthatsrigh8269]

Will it be saved?

Who knows? You'll have to start watching...

[@invest48]

Genial. Le chateau a ete finance par l'activite economique de cette ferme. Il serait interessant d'evaluer les hectares et la population qui travaillait dans cette exploitation. Ces poutres en chene ont ete montees en inserant les pierres du mur en dessous. Plus au nord de la France, les charpentes combinaient chene et chataignier. A proximite d'un de mes batiments, une eglise du 11eme siecle conserve une charpente qui a resiste aux siecles. J'ai remarque des tirants en metal relies a des croix sur les facades. Suivant les zones, du fait du changement climatique, des sols argileux autrefois stables, sechent et rendent les fondations instables.

Merci pour votre message et pour avoir partagé votre point de vue sur la région de France où vous vivez. Vous avez tout à fait raison. Le changement climatique a un impact sur les sols et la stabilité des bâtiments.

[@michaelzimmerman635]

I haven't seen any wild animals on the property. No deer, fox, etc?

Plenty of deer and hares, occasional wild boar and foxes.

[@AndersBu]

Why is it that a fully listed chateau and surrounding can come to this decay?

A long and complicated question. Fundamentally, grand chateaux and their estates are no longer economic (if they ever were!). As ownership passes to an ever expanding number of inheritors with each generation, it becomes harder and harder to garner the financial resources and the shared vision across different branches of a family to maintain all of the buildings and the broader estate. Eventually, the decision is taken to sell the chateau. However, by then there has often been several generations of neglect and under-investment. That's why chateaux are often cheap to purchase and expensive to restore. Thanks for following our journey.

[@AndersBu]

Thank you. It is a pleasure to follow your journey !!

[@seanmcguire7974]

You could remove the trees, grass n bushes just clean it up n give a better perspective. Wouldn't be abig project

[@RandyWWhite]

What is your vision for the farmhouse. What will you use it for?

A great deal of work has to be done assessing the structural challenges of the various buildings and determining their heritage value before we can make a definitive judgement about the future of this building complex. In the meantime we will endeavour to protect it as effectively as possible. Thanks for following our journey!

[@ruarifinn]

Would you please spell the name of the moulin? My understanding of French is terrible and I would appreciate the spelling because I am a more visual learner.

It's the Moulin Bigeard. Thanks for following our journey.

[@ruarifinn]

Merci!

[@paulrosa6173]

How did the revolution stop pigeon abuse of tenant farms? Land ownership didn't change that much as I understand the post revolutionary period. Many of the aristocratic emigres came back and often reclaimed their holdings. Napoleon gave away a lot of the confiscated properties of those who went under the knife to his generals and new men. Did they outlaw pigeon breeding? It always sound4ed like one of the cruel ironies of the revolution that those with wealth and contacts elsewhere lived to return while those who fought the revolution and stayed in France often didn't. There were over 300k people who could claim noble titles (and the title often came with the land) but of the tens of thousands killed during the terror, about 80% were commoners. As for pigeons,I think urban areas are just killing them off today.I haven't seen many in decades. Now many cities have Canada Geese infestations. I think they might be killing them off too. I live in a rural area and someone keeps taking the Canada Geese that summer in a man made pond near here on an abandoned farmstead. This is an ideal area for them yet people around here complain? I don't know why as they always seem to stay near the pond and only graze the field the pond is in. I'll bet a lot of game wardens and their friends eat more goose..

One of the first decrees of the Revolutionary Government was to 'deregulate' the ownership of pigeons. Now, peasant farmers could treat the pigeons on their land like any other wild bird (ie they could kill them). This meant that pigeon owners had to start feeding them from their own stored feedstocks to keep them alive. The economics of pigeon ownership thus changed (it became more expensive to own them as you had to feed them yourself). Overtime, the ownership of pigeons started to decline. It's an interesting example of successful deregulation! Thanks for your question and for following our journey!

[@airplanes42]

Sees wall 6 inches from foundation and movement sensor on fallen off on floor, "That suggests there are some serious structural issues in this part of the building." Master of understatement. Later, looks at collapsing stonework, "The stonework is in pretty good shape." I'm thinking that your love of the place may be clouding your judgement. These buildings look too far gone to me. Of course, they could be saved but so much would have to be replaced/redone that not much of the original fabric would remain. And it would be ridiculously expensive, more so than building new. Sad to see this level of decay.

You are quite correct that building new is often cheaper than restoring. We feel however that you're missing the point. Chateau de Purnon is fully heritage listed. So are almost all of the outbuildings, including the farm that featured in this video. Our starting point is to save what we can. We are legally obliged to do so. We also feel a moral obligation to save what we can, where we can. Using just your criteria of saving what is economical feasible, we would have been, frankly, barking mad to have embarked on this adventure in the first place. Instead, enjoy the journey. We will not save everything but we will save much that, but for our intervention, would have otherwise been lost. We're thrilled that you and others across the globe are sharing in this adventure!

[@SusanZiegler]

What a fascinating tour! And you always choose wonderful music. This one was truly lovely.

We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour (and the music!). Thank you for your message.

[@lornasimmons5499]

I absolutely love this channel. The way you film and tell the history and the stories of the place is magical. Its fascinating to see the items from years gone by. Its sad and beautiful at the same time xx

[@texaspatty458]

Purnon is truly one of the most beautiful chateaus I have ever seen, she's glorious !!

[@LadyLJOII]

Goats 🐐 moving from sections to sections would clear out some of that underbrush. Just an idea, fabulous history in the farmhouse and glasshouse. How exciting.

[@marienz9555]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@24NunuGraph]

I always love the outbuildings! Thank you for this video

[@tonimason8737]

It's funny how sometimes it's the little things that trigger my imagination. I saw you touch the bed frames and thought who has slept on these? Farmers children perhaps? What were their jobs? Who was the last to use them? It's so wonderful that this place still exists.

We walk in the footsteps of the generations that have preceded us. It's very humbling. Thanks for your message and for following our journey!

[@jlhenderson2]

A rented goat herd would make short work of all that vegetation in the walled garden.

[@MmeZorg]

Purnon and her estate must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. She's so lucky to have you.

[@ji8044]

Those buildings alone would be a restoration project worthy of a lifetime. It's amazing you're undaunted by all these tasks.

It's exciting and daunting at the same time!

[@deb.m.7458]

There so much restoration needed that parts of the estate might still be lost. Filming these videos keeps an important record. Thank you for a fascinating glimpse of history.

Thank you for your message. We're saving as much as we can with the enormous projects already underway. This tour reminds everyone of how much there still is to do!

[@256087]

Next restoration project : farmhouse + serre + glacière + pigeonnier + four à pain + ...

[@kathyevans2968]

This whole place is intriguing, full of history, and on an epic scale. I wish for you that your enthusiasm & energy levels continue, to keep your momentum going!

[@BColliegal]

I think the old farmhouse is romantic even in its state!

Thanks for your message! Yes, we love it too!

[@thegeorges2384]

Watching from Melbourne 🇦🇺 & all I could think about is, don’t go in the long grass 🐍

[@kathyevans2968]

At least they’re not as poisonous as in Australia! Great for hay making though!

[@ep7503]

No risk with long boots. I could count on one hand number of snakes in fifty years. And vipers are very rare to see.

[@rhondayoakum3622]

So incredible! You're filming made me feel like I was right there I could almost smell the sunflowers 🌻 Thank you I can't wait to see more 💗

Thanks for your message. We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour!

[@ManWhoLovesTheMary]

As mesmerized as ever. Comme d’habitude. Les mystères et les mystiquement sont toujours et tout choses. Precious. Inestimable. I hope the project on this building doesn’t make the rest too crazy overwhelming. Was so shocked at how quickly the new roof came up on the bâtiments de vignobles. Un jour à la fois. Had no idea just HOW MANY buildings and structures were all over this estate.

We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour. Yes, one day at a time. Each day we progress a little on our various projects. With the wonderful skills of our artisans amplifying the work that we are doing, we can slowly save and restore as much as possible. Thanks for your message.

[@IngridGreen-fw5bj]

My goodness what a project, I am in awe you both just take it in your stride. This episode has made me think about Dumfries House in Scotland, which King Charles inherited when Prince of Wales and has overseen its restroration and development of community farm (specialising in local rare breeds), set up a school for traditional crafts where the apprentices rebuilt a doocot among other things. They also do self catering, weddings all the traditional stuff.

Thank you for sharing that with our community here on KZbin.

[@TheSecretChateau]

The light through the spider's webs, the weathered stone, the growth slowly smothering the building - it is a photographer's dream. Yet beware of vipers. They will love it too.

[@jeanhawken4482]

Fabulous buildings. May have to put a bit of tin in those roofs until the slate tiling can happen.

[@donnabrennan-i8g]

so glad you are restoring this beautiful chateau and other buildings. it really is a magical beautiful place.

[@SharonRidings]

What an amazing structure. Bread oven, old beds, and more. Fantastic!

[@FloridaClay]

I know you have such huge tasks on your plate already, but I hope this marvelous old building can be preserved and eventually brought back to life.

Thank you for your message. We are confident we can save her.

[@robinmeek7593]

Amazing pigeonnier, Ive never seen one in this shape!

[@trajanparker]

Love this one!! Thank you. Cheers from San Diego .

[@hrep14]

Fascinating grounds, lots of things to discover.

[@lyricsdebra]

Your filming and knowledge of the history and passion to share it is so wonderful. I get so tearful watching videos like this as I hear your passion and imagine your hopes and dreams for the buildings and land. The history is seen in those steps warn away from hundreds of thousands of busy footsteps crossing over the many years. It just is so wonderful you two were appointed the guardians of this magical village of Purnons

Thank you for your wonderful message. We're thrilled you enjoyed the tour!

[@brettkruempel244]

I have for many years found the exploration of ancient living and working spaces intriguing. What you have on the domain is to my mind a gold mine. To imagine how a place was lived in and used is exciting. Thank you for these little trips of imagination. I’m enriched by them.

[@stephaniegaromon3244]

Owning this magnificent estate must overwhelm you with prioritizing what needs immediate care and what can wait. You are the perfect couple to own this estate. Your drone footage and music and peaceful way you both speak is so very enjoyable. ❤

You're quite right - sometimes it does feel a little overwhelming but with patience and optimism we know we can find a way. Thanks for your message - we're thrilled you're following our adventure.

[@elisabetharzberger2456]

thank you very much for your historical & sociological excursions connected to the château - love them!

[@melissaeden1219]

I love this old building. While the chateau has magnificent elegance, this one has rustic dignity. A great complement to the chateau and worth the care I know you'll give it!

Thank you for your message. You've captured the true charm of this beautiful place.

[@jimdepereira985]

The bread oven must have fed the entire estate based on the size and more so.

Quite right. It's enormous. Thanks for your message.

[@Free2bMe]

Why not own a small group of goats to contain in targeted areas of your Chateau at any given time to keep the green growth in check year round until you can get to those projects? In that manner, you’re not always starting from the beginning when embarking on a new project or inspecting outbuildings periodically.

[@rvaprep]

The farmhouse is in fragile condition, but I see the structural bones and envision it restored to its magnificent beauty. Take care, Ralph Rocchiccioli

Thanks Ralph. It will be a challenging project when the time comes. We're glad you're following our adventure!

[@Django44]

At the close of each episode I sit quietly and let it settle, such is the impact of your respect and reverance for this historic site. She is fortunate you are her new custodians, and so are we - if even at a distance. Chaque nouvel épisode est très attendu. Continue le bon travail et merci.

Merci pour votre message. We're thrilled that you are enjoying our journey!

[@janeblandford852]

Wow...Purnon just keeps on giving....another amazing building with so much history. Thank you for the tour.

Thanks for your message. It's a very special place.

[@64cuspofchange]

Those old bed frames would be great in a veg patch as trellis for different things, and even repurposed as gates , or even a pergola

[@sdole9448]

Ye Olde Farmhouse looks more like a manor house converted to or including a farm component. Is there any evidence that the family who built the chateau bought the land from the owners of this farmhouse, or that it was all a more ancient estate? Would love anything you have on the more ancient land use! :)

[@donnadodman8865]

Thank you for the tour. Still always find it intriguing to learn about this property, a great history lesson as always! ❤

[@hnorthca]

You think about think about making friends with local goat farmers. The goats will clean out that growth in no time and the local farmers get free feed. Win win

[@mariaandeysel9160]

Will you be renovating this ops Farmhpuse

[@mhale-mi9iy]

Wow! Amazing to see. It’s another world to be living there. U are so blessed!❤

Thank you for your message and for following our journey!

[@christinemay2411]

No red belly black or brown snakes in that long grass! Love your chateau, your dedication and your videos!❣️

Nope - thank goodness! Just vipers and the occasional wild boar! Thanks for your message!

[@Mej_Javiky]

I love, love, love, the history lessons. Please expound on future videos. Were pigeons banned after the French Revolution? Wasn't that a bit unusual to have what appears to be a pretty substantial farm house on the ground floor, but then only open attic above, more like a working barn usage? *(except in the part that had living space up stairs of course)

Thank you for your message. They actually didn't ban pigeonniers during the French Revolution. They simply deregulated them. Once the pigeons could be hunted by peasants like other game birds and the wealthy farmers had to feed them from their own grain stocks (which was expensive) the economics of owning them starting to change.

[@cindybanks6844]

Couldn't you remove the trees and over growth to protect it? The sooner the better. Those tree roots cause the most damage. Why let it fall to ruin

[@SheenaPerry1923]

Good grief! This is such a massive project. I’m certain they don’t have a bloody money tree! I’m certain that they have a priority list and are working with experts to determine the way forward. I’m in absolute awe of the way you guys are dealing with this mammoth project. Thankyou for sharing this with us all. My liver would be shot!

[@katehobbs2008]

They are a bit busy…..

[@cindybanks6844]

@@katehobbs2008 no doubt, my thought was it doesn't take much money or time to weed wack, or cut down trees 3 or 4 ft around the building. Cheaper in the grand scheme of things to pay a local to keep the area around it clean than to let it get worse and pay to repair. A stitch in time saves loosing the button so to say

[@dianetipton6040]

As someone who owns a 160 acre ranch with eight buildings to maintain I can assure you what looks like and easy, cheap job to do can be an overwhelming project on top of all the others. Try logging 80 acres and then disposing of all the slash that accumulate and you will understand. Yes, it is obvious it would be best to take care of it immediately but add that to a list of about 200 similar projects.

[@cindybanks6844]

@@dianetipton6040 the reason it has lasted so long was the fact that it was taken care of. Sadly not much lately

[@charlesscottbuchanan4188]

Have you considered having the farmhouse restored as a separate home or foundation. Maybe restored as part of restoration training under a French education program? It is unique.

You're quite right - it is a unique building. It's heritage listed but not at the same level as the Chateau itself. While we plan to restore it one day, it will need to be done following a diagnostic study and with a masterplan that includes the Potager Garden etc. We can really only turn our minds to this project when the Chateau itself (both inside and out) and the two huge 'communs' are further advanced. Thanks for your message and for following our journey.

[@rgrndu]

Loved this video. Why did they keep pigeons? For food?

[@francebarthelemybathelier5864]

…/… Pour 3 raisons : l’alimentation avec : 1/ les œufs très goûteux 2/ la chair très tendre et parfumée des pigeons 3/ les fientes ou excréments qui servaient de fumier pour amender le jardin potager… et autres terres si beaucoup de pigeons …

[@rgrndu]

@@francebarthelemybathelier5864 I’m unable to translate.

[@Sarah-fy3qf]

It's says for the eggs. For the meat. For the droppings to use as fertilizer.

[@fredhansford8347]

I enjoy the application of history to the various buildings and structures. Makes it real. You have a marvellous way of connecting old and current. Thank you.

Thanks for your message. We're thrilled that you enjoy the history of this wonderful place.

[@blinkingmanchannel]

🤯🤯🤯♥️ You had me at "100 years older than..." By the way, cinematic photography quality in your walk down, today. Fantastic!❤ I finally got curious enough to search on Google maps to see where in France you are. Yeah the coins (from your other video) obviously show people really got around, even when the going was rough. OKAY here's a left-field question: Why are all the doorways and windows framed with the big blocks of the buff local stone? I'm guessing it looks half way decent and they really didn't have waterproof paint for wood back then... I'm guessing it's mostly pragmatic because literally all the buildings seem to use that fundamental technique...? Now we do it for looks, in homage to that period. But if stone is costly now, with machinery, I imagine they must not have had a real alternative back then... thoughts? ...I still think you could get some kind of program going with a university for summer internships to get people living in/around those stay corners of the estate. Lotta project you've got there! ❤ Keep going!

[@magpiesmith971]

As I’m watching this I’m wondering how you prioritize what restoration you do, in what order and why! I find this process very interesting. Do you ever decide that you have no choice but to let Mother Nature take over because of extensive damage and resources? I’m constantly amazed when I watch a channel like yours that there is anything remaining of a building from the mid 17th century ❤❤❤. Thank you for becoming the chateau’s caretakers.

Thanks for your message. Prioritising is complex. We may save the most important buildings first (the chateau and the two large outbuildings). At the same time we must recognise that some projects are more urgent than others (eg a roof that is about to collapse is more urgent than restoring our basement). Some projects get prioritised because they allow us to live here with a modicum of comfort. There is a division between projects we can do ourselves and those projects that can only be done by professionals (eg electricals, plumbing, roofing etc). There are a limited number of skilled professionals for us to use, so we must provide them with a clear set of priorities so that their limited time is used appropriately. Finally, we have a limited capacity to finance work each year and so we must stick to our plan for phasing the various works over multiple years. We hope that answers your question and we're thrilled that you're following our journey!

[@davidgarner2852]

Y’all need a herd of goats to keep all of that trimmed.

[@EdwardSeymour-v7j]

Watching you two lovingly restore these old buildings is one of the great pleasures of life. Thank you…

We're thrilled you enjoyed this episode. Thanks for your message.

[@maryfrump7937]

So sad no one has been in it to keep it up

[@romaint.1381]

C'est tellement visible que vous aimez l'histoire... et l'histoire des lieux et des gens du passé ! Cela fait extrêmement plaisir !

[@mimimimi_]

OMG I just found that the chateau de Purnon is 1 hour away from my house ! I didn’t know it was so close ! I dont know why but it makes me so happyyyyy !!!❤❤❤😱

Wonderful! You must come to the Journees du patrimoine (this year Saturday September 21 and Sunday September 22). You will be able to see all the progress on the exterior of the chateau as well as enter several of the chateau's principal rooms. We open the stables, chapel and we make bread in the boulangerie oven. There are demonstrations of the artisans' restoration techniques as well as wine tasting from a local winemaker. We conduct tours in French and English. Entree is free. We'd love to see you there!

[@mimimimi_]

Oooh that would be lovely and the fact the tours are in french is very practical !!! Thanks 😊😊😊

[@cathyriley5735]

I think you said the farmhouse also was a grade 1 building. I know funding is probably an issue, but things like support for sagging beams, making all areas water tight - just shoring up the risky areas until you can get to restoration should be done before more damage occurs. Is something like that in the plans?

[@SteveAbrahall]

It's amazing just watching this... it gets you thinking about future planning - things like, do you have oak trees that you could harvest, that could be used in the restoration? Could you use some of the older buildings to shelter the harvested timber while it dries out and matures? Would it be a good idea to plant and grow a grove of oak trees for use way in the future? How much wipper snipper string would you need just to keep those gardens under control 🙂? Would it be better to get some goats and fence them in and get them to do the clean up? My heart goes out to the 2 of you, renovations and repairs take so much energy. Take care of one another and thank you so much for sharing your journey.

Indeed. Many questions you raise and there are many others! Thanks for considering our welfare amongst all the decaying beauty and the restoration work that is already underway. We're thrilled you're following our journey.

[@hubertphilippe7719]

Merci pour cette vidéo très émouvante qui illustre très bien l'ampleur de la tâche qui vous incombe. Votre domaine est si riche, quelle chance que vous soyez tous les deux à son chevet. Ces bâtiments agricoles du XVII ème siècle sont très caractéristiques de cette époque et reflètent parfaitement l'architecture et la vie rurale d'alors. Nul doute que vous saurez leur redonner vie et que vos projets leur rendront leur âme. Vous êtes véritablement des sauveurs et des passeurs du patrimoine extraordinaires et courageux... Merci merci à vous, quel plaisir de vous voir aussi mobilisés et enthousiastes. Bravo, bravo...

Merci de votre attention ! Comme toujours, vos messages sont merveilleux pour notre moral. Nous ne pourrons peut-être pas tout sauver, mais nous sauverons tout ce que nous pourrons. Et, ce faisant, nous espérons célébrer l'extraordinaire patrimoine et l'histoire de ce pays qui est désormais notre patrie.

[@simonwalker8300]

Each episode is more amazing than the last!. What a huge responsibility you have for those fabulous old buildings, not just their architecture, but their place in the technological time line. The know how of that past, perhaps we could learn something, you never know.

You are quite right. We are always conscious that we walk humbly in the footsteps of those who lived and worked here before us.

[@cherylcook6284]

I'm not familiar with the French historical reenactor sceen, but here in the "colonies," it is very popular. I can see these buildings as a series of workshops/retail spaces for historical renactors. Most of these people are very talented and can help do the work and rents would pay for supplies. As well as living spaces and workshops.