This is very much a website about our project “in progress”. If you want to know more about our work at Chateau La Breche in the Northern Burgundy area of France or maybe want to stay with us - this is the story of how we came to be here.
BACKGROUND
For nearly 20 years we, Anna and Tim Colman, owned a villa in the south of France, but at the end of 2018 decided the time had come for a change of scenery. The village where we were located was changing and the sense of community was drifting away. So we decided that we would sell up and consider other options for our future “French adventures”.
We wanted a property that had character and preferably with 10 (or more) bedrooms that we could use as part of a business.
And due to the travelling time from UK we felt we wanted to be somewhere north of Lyon.
Our Provencal villa went on the market and we began our search for our new project.
Much of our research was Internet based, and by Easter 2019 we had a list of around 10 properties to look at – ranging from Normandy down into Burgundy.
But when we started visiting the properties – we were generally disappointed. Properties described as “recently renovated” were sometimes little more than building sites and others had a range of issues. One seemed fine until the wind changed direction whilst we were looking round. The stench from a nearby poultry farm was unbearable…
So all those ten were rejected and we redoubled our Internet searches – encouraged by the fact that our Provencal villa was “sold”.
We produced another “shortlist” – this time with about 5 properties and we began our visits to view our latest selection. The first two were disappointing for various reasons, but whan we arrived at La Breche - we immediately struck with what we saw:
There was a lovely “courtyard” in front of the main building – a “mini-chateau”:
There's a huge barn/stable block on one side of the yard:
and another large house on the other side of the yard:
Also there is a duck pond:
...and even a big swimming pool (full of frogs and fishes):
There were problems. The main building had some subsidence causing cracks in the walls of the tower at one end. But all in all it was what we wanted and looking for. It would involve a lot of work, but the potential was obvious.
The local area is beautiful and La Breche was situated on the edge of the village of Montigny-sur-Canne in the North West corner of Burgundy, near the Morvan National Park and a short drive to the historic city of Nevers.
We left and a short way down the road stopped for a discussion. We recalled the agent and returned to La Breche thirty minutes later. We made an offer and were told it would probably be accepted – something that was confirmed a week later.
So - our property search was finished successfully!
OUR PLANS
We knew there was a lot of work ahead but were really motivated by the massive potential of the La Breche complex.
We have a five year restoration plan – starting with the barn/stable block. Here we will create 3 two-bedroom self-contained Gites and 2 smaller self-contained studios – one of which will have full disabled access.
There is a 25 metre long function room – which again will have disabled access - with a wonderful oak beamed roof.
A commercial kitchen and preparation room that will also be used to host French cookery lessons (we already have a chef on standby….) and gourmet weekends.
Then we will move on to the Chateau itself. Having addressed the subsidence issue we will install 12 bedrooms (all en suite) on the ground, first and second floors.
From the Chateau La Breche we will offer:
- residential French and cooking lessons
- gourmet weekends with local wine tasting
- conference facilities
- corporate parties
- wedding venue
- all types of family parties
- a base for tours of the local area
And combining the stable facilities with the 12 chateau bedrooms we will be able to provide comfortable accommodation for up to 40 people and receptions for up to 60 people.
