And we thought we were cool.
There’s an Australian couple who is doing everything we’re doing, but to the nth degree cooler.
“There are many reasons why you might start a blog, but documenting the revival of an 18th century neoclassical ruin seems like a pretty damn good reason if you ask me. In 2013, Australian husband & wife team Karina and Craig Waters purchased the Chateau de Gudanes, a decaying fairytale mansion in the Midi-Pyrénées that had been sitting on the market for four years.”
http://www.messynessychic.com/2014/03/28/couple-buys-abandoned-french-chateau-start-blog-share-journey/
Here’s the official blog: http://www.chateaugudanes.com/
I invite you to check it out, because it really is amazing what they’re doing.
Here’s their “about” part:
Built in the teens of 1700’s Chateau de Gudanes still stands proudly in the south of France in the small village – Chateau Verdun. The Class 1 Historic Monument listed building was architecturally designed by Parisian architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel, famous for his neoclassical architectural symmetry including Petit Trianon and Place de la Concorde.
But now the passing of time and neglect has taken its avoirdupois.
After two years of negotiation, the chateau has been purchased by an Australian family. Follow the progress of events as planning, official permission and renovation which started in November 2013.
The blog shares the story of the past, present and future of Chateau de Gudanes.
The past – clear and defined, the present – expected chaos…… and the future – a surprise!
So basically, any time I feel like we’re doing something insurmountable by restoring an 1850 farmhouse, I will think of this couple living a much crazier adventure in France and smile… at the end of the day, we’re probably both crazy, but it helps put my life in perspective! 🙂

6 comments
Donna says:
Apr 4, 2014
Fascinating, mesmerizing, gorgeous, stunning! The location looks like heaven. And the same for your cozy spot in VA 🙂
Lynne says:
Apr 5, 2014
🙂 Thank you!
Heike says:
Apr 4, 2014
In France we saw many wonderful houses which had been renovated starting from ruins and now are woderful houses. For example two years ago we stayed in a house in the Cevennes. The owner an English woman (single, her husband had left her after they had bought the house), had rebuilt it. She even had to collect stones in the surroundings for the walls. And now it is a wonderful house with holiday apartments.But I think it was worth doing it!
https://www.facebook.com/lElzet
http://www.cevennes-holiday-gites.com/home.html
There are lots of houses like this in France.
Lynne says:
Apr 5, 2014
Wow! That’s amazing. Gorgeous pictures… makes me want to take a trip to France to see them for myself! Thanks for sharing!
brady feussner says:
Apr 6, 2014
you are doing such a great job here…. maybe your 2nd home will be in France one day…. Would not surprise me… What an awesome couple…
Lynne says:
Apr 6, 2014
Thank you so much!!