The first grand contender
Couture Sur Loir
Château du Pin
November 2015. A wide avenue of matured Platanus trees guided our way as we drove in through the South Gate. The white, three-stories building filled with large arched windows, was pleasantly waiting for us at the end.
Two reception rooms, two kitchens, a dreamlike library opposite a Large dining room, eight bedrooms, six bathrooms and 300m2 of an undeveloped top floor lined with tomettes tiles, made of this house a glorious project of palatial proportions. Château du Pin was indeed a splendid building.
This stately home built in the 19th century on the bank of the river Loir, came to represent not only the first property Jeff felt a connection with, but the first time the idea of permanently moving to France came up as a plan.
However, not everything about this story was a regal fairytale. The price-tag this place came with required a bank loan for us to be able to purchase it and face all the renovations needed. The three hectares of land the house was siting on were classified as farm-land, meaning that nothing could be built on it, even setting up the stables would’ve represented a headache to make it happen.
The stately Château du Pin came with its own private island on the Loir river, an unspoiled and picturesque spot where France’s Prince of Poets, Pierre de Ronsard (1524 – 1585), used to escape to for inspiration —but it floods every year.
No, not everything about du Pin was enchanting, but we moved forward. Made an offer that was accepted and applied for a loan.
Back in Greenwich, London, floorplans had been made, all the interiors spaces defined and designed and the grounds landscaped. Everything was right there, built-up in blue ink over crispy white paper.
