COTE DE TEXAS

LOOKING TO LIVE IN A FRENCH CHATEAU?

I love when a reader, or in this case, a sometimes-reader(!) emails me to say, “I think I have a house you might be interested in showing….”

As you know, I have now entered my 10th year of blogging and after exhausting every topic there is (I think!) I am always on the lookout for a new house to dissect, a new movie set to discuss, or a new designer to introduce to Cote de Texas readers. I am truly always open to all story line offers. The only criterion is “will the readers like this story?”

The vineyards around Saussignac, France

And so, I was thrilled when this sometimes-reader (two lashes with a hot noodle!) wrote that she was a fan of the Skirted Roundtable interview with Francophile Vicki Archer HERE and she thought I would be interested in her house in France.

The reader, Andrea Bradley, informed me that she was going through a career change, leaving the corporate world in New Zealand behind her. She thought about studying Interior Design and so she did what any other interior designer wanna-be does – she bought an apartment in a chateau in France!! During all this, she managed to get a degree in Interior Design and is now mulling over her options.

Another vineyard near Saussignac.

As for the chateau? Andrea, the sometimes-reader, will be renting it out during the months when she returns back home down under, and would I want to advertise her chateau?

A few back and forth emails, including a long distance phone call, we decide that rather than running an ad, we would do a story on her vacation house so you can see the photos, and perhaps someone will want to lease it this summer: end of July onwards.

X marks the Chateau.

The Chateau is located in one of the oldest wine regions of France - in the tiny village called Saussignac. The village lies between Bordeaux and Bergerac, two well known names to oenophiles.

A misty morning view of the vineyards of Saussignac. Photo by Ed Purcell.

And here is an aerial photo of the U-shaped Château de Saussignac – where Andrea’s apartment is – in the wing on the right.

The Château de Saussignac is one of the oldest chateaus in the area. It sits on the tallest point in the village and its twin towers can be seen from far away in any direction.

The Château de Saussignac dates to the 16th century and before. Its oldest section are the two towers, connected together by the long expanse between. Sixteenth century. Wow! Think about that – the chateau was started a century before there was even a United States.
And, even older – the chateau was built atop the ruins of an abbey. The oldest section was completed in the 16th century and the two wings were added later - during the 17th century.

An aerial view from the opposite direction. The two long wings, that make up the courtyard, were added a century after the towers.

The wChâteau de Saussignac, with its two wings, was built by Pierre D’Escodeca de Boisse, aka the Cavalier de Pardaillon, an important man in the area under the rule of King Louis XIII. This was a time of great strife between Catholics and Protestants and to keep his prestigious position, de Boisse had to convert to Catholicism. The Protestants weren’t happy with his conversion and de Boisse was murdered by a gang in 1621 just 25 miles from where his chateau is. Work on his chateau stopped and it would be another century before the work was taken up again, but his original plan was never completed.

The vineyards to the north of Chateau de Saussignac.

The courtyard of the Château de Saussignac, showing the left wing. Andrea’s apartment is located on the opposite wing, on the right side.

The courtyard is filled with flowers during the different seasons.

During the 1850s, Château de Saussignac was divided into five apartments. One wing remained the property of the county, or commune, as they are called in France. Today, an English family owns one tower which they use as a vacation home. In the center section, a French family lives there full-time. American artists live part-time in the second tower. Two-thirds of the right wing is owned by Andrea. A French farmworker owns the apartment between the right tower and Andrea’s – but it has remained empty for half a century.

The French family’s apartment once was home to five shops on the lower floor. Under the cellar stairs, they discovered a Protestant bolt-hold where they hid from Catholics during the One Hundred Year War with England.

Andrea’s own apartment was once the local post office!

Wisteria blooms along the oldest section Château de Saussignac.

Inside the courtyard, the right wing – where Andrea’s apartment is.

Built during the Renaissance period, this section of the chateau is more sophisticated than the older sections, including the towers, of Château de Saussignac.

The courtyard photographed by Craig Hollis.

A view from the apartment of the village church and the landscape beyond.

The same view at sunrise.

An early cold, spring morning with the large cherry tree blooming.

The front of the apartment.

The living room’s tall window, above, overlooks the lane that runs through the village.

And the front of the apartments captured at night.

Inside, the apartment is filled with beautiful antiques, fireplaces, beamed ceilings and Baccarat crystal chandeliers.

The ceilings are over 13’ tall with whitewashed beams. In the living room, there are paneled walls with armoire styled doors.

Most interesting and a bit unbelievable, in an earlier life, this room was once the Post Office for the village of Saussignac. At that time, the ceiling was lowered and you can still see evidence of that in the paneling.

The windows on the left overlook the courtyard.

Notice the beautiful chandelier and amazing fireplace and paneling with the beautiful doors!!

The other side of the room – the main window on the right as seen before, overlooks the village. The tapestry is one of two in the room. The side window on the left overlooks Andrea’s own garden:

The private garden of the apartment. Through the open window is the kitchen and dining room. Recently, a wedding took place in this garden:

The garden is large enough that a permit has been obtained for a swimming pool to be built which should be ready by next spring.

Andrea has been spending some time in France’s brocantes, adding to the antiques already in her apartment. Love the mix of the dressy crystal chandelier with the rustic horns.

The main room has an antique rug and is filled with antique furniture. I love how the paneling opens through two doors to the dining room.

The crystal chandelier adds just the right amount of finery.

The mantel with antique books.

This apartment reflects its setting, in the ancient wine country. It’s more sophisticated than Provence with its country look. The chateau in this region have a similar look with pointed towers and gray stone. Here, this apartment shows a more fancy aesthetic with all the crystal chandeliers, velvet fabrics, and antique rugs.

I love the ancient tapestry and bench beneath it which are in perfect proportion to the tall windows! LOVE!!!

Another view of day to day living in the chateau. And look! “Beautiful” by Mark Sikes made its way across the Atlantic.

The two doors lead into the dining room and kitchen.

The dining room which is on the other side of the living room.

That mirror! It fits beautiful in the over mantel. AND of course I love the oval framed portrait to its left. I just love those so much!!! At the side is the baker’s rack and another tall window that overlooks the private garden area. Antique rug with large table and French chairs. Notice that through the double doors is the living area with a lighted niche that wasn’t seen before in other photographs!

At this side is a large painting. Beautiful plates and glasses. Even the votives are pretty!!!

Close up of the dining room details.

After the photoshoot, the gilt barometer was added to the right of the mirror. Beautiful!

Beautiful ceiling of beams, whitewashed with a crystal chandelier that sets it all off. AND notice there is a stone floor, not wood. Notice one door is shorter than other. The tall door was for the noblemen, while the shorter door was for the servants to use.

And notice, there is a second tapestry in the living room, across from the one previously seen. Very nice.

The kitchen is off the dining room in the back part of the room. Wood stairs lead to the upstairs bedrooms. AND notice the beautiful armoire, again tall enough so that the proportion with the tall window is perfect.

The painting is of King Charles I, a copy of the one by Gainsborough which today is hanging in the National Museum in London.

The galley kitchen proves that you don’t really need all those humongous kitchens that are in newer houses. Here, you have a nice sized refrigerator, sink, and range. The island adds counter space. Under the window is a table/desk/counter – whatever you need. Love the stainless backsplash and the row of small pendants – the smaller size allows room for four and it doesn’t look overcrowded at all. At the right is the large armoire which holds linens and dishes.

The kitchen looks so nice from this angle.

Notice it was built so that the top of the backsplash is in line with the top stair, another nod to perfect proportion.

Another view of the dining room. Notice how the chandelier is perfectly reflected in the mirror – just how it should be!

NOTE: Mirrors should always reflect something beautiful. Be careful how you hang them so that reflection is just as pretty as the mirror itself.

Doesn’t this make you want to dress the table with crystal and china every night?!?!? Love the texture of the seagrass placemats with the finery.

Tulips and a barometer.

The host likes to antique, adding extras to make the apartment even more beautiful.

A beautiful photo of the beams reflected in the mirror. Notice the curvature of the stairs and how pretty it looks from below.

The view from the landing shows there is yet another crystal chandelier!

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and one bath. Here, the guest room is painted a soft green and is filled with romantic antiques. Crystal candelabras light up the side tables. The small chandelier overhead is a nice touch!

Another view. Notice the floors are wood upstairs.

Against this wall are two charming oval portraits. LOVE!!!!!!!

Toile headboard.

The two nightstands are painted the same green as the walls, with pink accents.

Love!

The bathroom is a mix of new and old. The hardware is brass – with a lovely towel warmer. White tiles are mixed with a painted vanity.

Who knew a towel warmer could be so beautiful???? Love the side table with marble top.

A view of the tiled tub. The vanity – everything is done so nicely! Orchid and French soaps.

The master bedroom is rather large with windows on both sides. The iron chandelier is a surprising change from all the crystal ones!

Or you can have this velvet bedspread.

On this side of the bed is another beautiful carved wood door. And the silvered headboard is quite pretty!

I love the armoire doors.

One more look at the dining room and….

the living room.

the vineyards to the north…

and the private garden of the apartment.

Renters can play tennis in the village, canoe on the Dordogne river, and play 27 holes of golf at Chateau de Vigiers.

The village is on the pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela, which makes the area popular with cyclists and hikers.

The Deets: Included with the apartment are kitchen, laundry and bathroom consumables, including coffee. There is also a washer/dryer.

Included are high quality linens and towels from the The White Company in England.

In addition to the two bedrooms, there is a double sofa bed.

Mid-week housekeeping is included for full week renters.

There is Wi-Fi and satellite and local telephone. There is an alarm system and a BBQ and free parking.

If you wish to participate, rather you are a renter or not, Andrea has established two tours in April and May 2019. There is the Fine Wine & Food of the South-West especially geared for gourmands. It includes dining at three Michelin Star restaurants.

The other tour is the Chateaux & Vineyards of the South-West, focusing on beautiful castles and gardens found in the area.

If you are interested in staying at Château de Saussignac or visiting the area, or joining in on the tours,

Please contact Andrea HERE

AND please visit her instagram HERE

A huge thank you to Andrea for sharing her beautiful chateau!!

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Can’t go to France to antique shop? Try these ideas!