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A few years ago, my husband Craig and I stumbled on a French property blog, enticing us with photos of farmhouses in picturesque rural villages. Before we knew it, we became hooked into French real estate websites and the promise of another life: a small renovated apartment or farmhouse.
We weren't discontented with our current situation in Australia, it just seemed the future was before us. Could we try something different? And perhaps my family roots were coming to surface with a great-grandfather originally from Brest, France, and a great-grandmother from Turin, Italy.
My first road trip to look at properties in France was unsuccessful. So many places were modernized and renovated, lacking the French charm that we had our hearts set on. In 2010, I did a second road trip circumnavigating France with Craig. We decided to search for something a bit bigger in original condition.
Our son had found a place called Château de Gudanes on the Internet and we included it into our itinerary. We had no idea where the Pyrenees were geographically, but being Australian and used to long drives, we decided it was worth a peek.
We drove slowly into the petite village, not sure of where the GPS had delivered us to, but as we approached, we both looked up, cheek to cheek peering out through the car window, so close we could hear each other inhale, gasp. The moment when a beloved groom sets eyes on his bride for the first time. The château right before us high above the village.
A few minutes later, we parked at the gates still in a trance by what stood before us. It was like all our senses had settled in for timeout. I exhaled and felt life's never-ending tension in my shoulders give in: just like that! Birds were chirping, a nearby river flowed gently, crisp mountain air promised a scent of something special. We had never believed a place like this existed!
It was spectacular, but a complete disaster. Before our visit, the real estate agent warned us it was in need of renovation, but the email exchanges were vague and it was hard to estimate what the situation was or what work was needed. It turned out the previous owners had left this 18th century château and Class 1 historic monument to decay. Broken windows and walls. Crumbling ceilings and giant holes in the floor. Water damage and debris everywhere. Too dangerous to walk through apart from a few front rooms.
But we were enchanted and decided to take on the challenge of renovating the 94-room château. After two years of negotiation, Château de Gudanes was ours. We decided to use a Facebook Page to keep friends up to date on our progress. I was able to set up the château as a landmark, which was important. I didn't want it to be about me but rather about the chateau.
Renovation began in November 2013. The rubble and debris took 3 months to clean out, even with a team of 12 working from dawn to dusk. Then they rebuilt the floors, walls and ceiling and suddenly many of the rooms were accessible.
When we started the project we hadn't anticipated discoveries such as painted ceilings and frescoes, which were covered by years of white plaster or weathered over time. We found other treasures amid the rubble, and I documented these finds along with other stories from the restoration process.
One night earlier this year the Facebook Page went from 500 to 6,000 likes after being shared by some popular sites. We woke up and logged in and thought one of our children had somehow played a joke. Now a few months later, we are past 57,000 likes. Our message box has been overflowing with offers from TV producers, literary agents, magazine editors, curators, restorers, publicists, volunteers, pastry chefs, candlestick makers, and other people who simply want to send a donation or wish us well on our adventure.
This has gone from an exciting project to something beyond our wildest dreams. I love that the joy of this project can be felt by so many friends worldwide. It's like the chateau is reawakening and its energy and positivity is boundless.
The comments are inspiring and keep me going. It can be lonely at times, with me in France and my family in Australia. Just reading comments offers a great deal of comfort and community spirit. It reminds me of a leisurely, long table, Sunday lunch. Honest, frank, humorous conversation breaks out, new friends are made.
Many of our new Facebook friends have messaged to offer their financial support and now we are in the process of setting up a non-for-profit organisation called the Château de Gudanes Restauration. The aims of the foundation are to assist in the restoration, renovation and maintenance of the interior and exterior of the château, areas which are designated for public access, and promote education and cultural activities.
There is much more work to be done, but we are hoping to open the doors as soon as we can. We want to open a cafe and have tours for people to check out the château even in its rough state. We are hoping we can offer accommodation and maybe even weddings and workshops by 2016.
It won't be Versailles style or modern fit-out. It will be relatively minimalistic. A place where you come for timeout, to rest, restore and breathe.
Sometimes when I think about the future and what to tackle, my mind begins to become blurry. I have learnt to deal with it by starting to think more about the immediate rather than the future. I'm not worrying about everything that can go wrong or contingencies. I just deal with the issues at hand. My mother used to tell me, "Let tomorrow look after itself."
So, I do what I can, just one step at a time, sharing our journey with supportive friends around the world.
Karina is a West Australian, married with two children. Previously working in tax accounting, she now lives between Perth and the Pyrenees, managing a restoration, and a french rural lifestyle whilst trying to learn French and driving on the other side of the road!