Escape To The Chateau Diy Armour In Lake: Even though the historic chateau on our postcard was built with strong walls to keep people out, the Orne valley where it sits is now a tranquil Location for us to enjoy its beauty. And we intend to remain…For most of Orne’s history, the Bailleuls were on the side of the majority.
More than a Millennium of History
Renaud de Bailleul, one of the Bailleuls who accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066, erected the first stone castle in this valley. Following an order from his father’s fourth and most successful son Henry I, William the Conqueror demolished his castle that year. A second Renaud de Bailleul was one of a number of local lords and their henchmen who had resisted Henry’s reign in Normandy. It was inevitable that an example had to be set, and Renaud was no exception. The Souvre, Louvois, and Corday families, who have resided in this bountiful valley for generations, agree.
Eventually, the occupation by the enemy came to an end. The roof of the new chateau at Le Renouard collapsed during a particularly harsh winter because of ruptured water tanks. There was a lot of work to be done during those tough years, and the stones were rapidly transported to nearby farms in need of repair and to Vimoutiers, where so much had been destroyed and needed to be rebuilt. The old mansion was abandoned for twenty years. The government finally decided to put it up for sale.
In the midst of the 20th century’s turmoil, a family vanishes: The Balliol family had been residing at Le Renouard for 12 generations by the turn of the twentieth century. The original chateau had been replaced by a white box of a home built in the 18th century on top of the hill. In the old chateau by the lake, they displayed a collection of medieval armor. When the Germans marched into Normandy in 1940 the chateaux were taken over like many other stately houses. Nothing is known about the family that once lived here; they have not been seen or heard from since they left.
Revealed: a knight’s past, present, and future
Since the end of World War II, Le Vieux Chateau Le Renouard has been owned by four different people, each of whom has worked tirelessly to preserve it for future generations. The chateau is now safe for another 1000 years, despite villagers’ doubts about some of the improvements that took place in the 1980s (hopefully). Historic murals and a 15th-century hexagonal tower are the only parts of the castle on display today. Until a careful restoration uncovered these beautiful gems of history and a paint test confirmed their antiquity, these murals remained hidden and outmoded under elegant wood paneling.
The Chateau was established more than 1,000 years ago and was home to 12 generations of the Balliol family for 700 years. Charlotte Corday lived in the Chateau with her Uncle during the French Revolution, but after she was convicted of the murder of Marat, the family moved out. In Autumn 2014, after two years of restorations by owner Donna McDougall, she opened the Chateau’s doors for guests to experience the grandeur and romance of her ancient property. The Chateau was occupied by the German troops during WWII. During the first season of DIY’s Escape to the Chateau, residents told stories about objects concealed in the lake to thwart the German Army, which sparked the lake search with Dick Strawbridge’s help. Having been sold, the Chateau is now a private residence.
There are no regrets for the DIY star of Escape to the Château: The owner of Le Vieux Château in Le Renouard, Basse-Normandie, didn’t plan on renovating and living in a big château by herself, but taking a risk paid off. The realization of a magnificent dream for many would be to live in a luxurious 1,000-year-old château with lovely grounds in the unspoiled Normandy countryside. Donna McDougall and her partner Brian relocated to Le Vieux Château in France in 2012, but she wasn’t sure if she’d like it. “When Brian, a competent French speaker who had spent summers in the nation as a youth, proposed the relocation, I was a little dubious. I had just bought a lovely cottage in Wiltshire and was working part-time as a veterinary surgeon, so I was really content at the time,” she recalls.
A Shift in Strategy
An unusable portion of this castle was purchased in 2012 by the couple, who intend to refurbish and restore it over the course of a year, spending six months there each year. Although some of the structures were rendered uninhabitable, “the main part of the house remained in decent order, so it wasn’t a complete wreck,” recalls Donna. “We were not in a hurry to complete the work; we wanted to do it slowly.”
However, the relationship between the two ended 18 months later. As Donna puts it, “My partner returned to the UK and I had to make a decision.” “Should I stay here, finish the renovations, and establish a business, or should I sell and return to my previous location? ” When Donna decided to open the historic building as a chambres d’hôtes despite having no previous expertise in the hospitality industry, she took a risk. “Things had to alter since I was left ‘holding the baby,'” she explains. “I had to finish the renovations before I could start earning money.”
With Brian’s encouragement, Donna and the couple set out to find an ideal home in Normandy, where Donna could keep her horses as well as enjoy a peaceful rural lifestyle. There are only two locations in Normandy that aren’t flat: Pays d’Auge and the Normandy countryside. This is a stunning place, as you put it. A château was never in the plans for the couple who wanted a big house but had no idea how big it was when they first saw it. Even though someone told us there was a house for sale nearby, Donna admits she had no idea it was a château. “However, once we visited the property, we fell in love despite its size and the work required.”
The moat is full of armor Perhaps
A tale of a missing treasure was told. According to an elderly man who had lived in the valley for generations, the chateau formerly housed a magnificent collection of medieval armor. To prevent the enemy from seizing the armor, it was stowed away in a ditch along with about two dozen other items during World War II. Nobody remembers it ever being taken out of its place.
The construction of the gigantic edifice was completed by Donna’s local craftspeople, who she communicated with using “Google translate.” She then set about designing and decorating it herself. “Decorating has always been my love and hobby, and there are several auction houses in the UK that know me by name,” she says. Designing a room that is both bare and a blank canvas excites me more than anything else. With no luck at all, Dick Strawbridge sought to find the treasure at Le Renouard (UK Channel 4 link) during his appearance on Escape To The Chateau (UK Channel 4 link). Is it still in the area? We’re not going to find out.
The heroine of the revolution: Ms. Charlotte Corday, however, was the exception to the rule. She rose to national prominence during the French Revolution as the well-known niece of a landowner. In a fit of rage, she stabbed Jean-Paul Marat, one of the regime’s more extremist figures, in the bathroom. In her final words before being guillotined, Charlotte expressed her optimism: “I have slain one man to rescue a hundred thousand people.” Due to retaliation, the Corday family was destroyed.
