For more detailed descriptions of what to see around this beautiful part of France visit: www.uk.leroannais.com

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Sponsored and supported by several key businesses from the Roannais region, including Purefrancenow, the evening reception to launch this remarkable display of contemporary art was a resounding success. Not only were the many guests amazed at the presentation, but there was also some keen interest from a number of serious art buyers.

Frédéric Diart: Painter Extraordinaire

‘If The Black’ Exhibition

The Pure Art Gallery

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It is sure to be an intriguing experience! Purefrancenow will definitely be their to cover the proceedings.

Frédéric Diart – Painter Extraordinaire!

Our Man from Dubai and Frédéric Diart

The Pure Art Gallery

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Based in a region famous for its gastronomy, the Château du Bourg has a large summer house (it’s original orangery), recently renovated with heating and air-conditioning. This beautiful building, full of ancient character, is ideal for weddings, receptions, or business seminars and events. It can accommodate up to 200 guests.

This magical Château and its stunning countryside location also has a recently restored 17th century house with 3 bedrooms, and 2 suites which can accommodate up to 12 persons for self-catering or special events.

Apart from the magnificent grounds around the chateau where you can relax in the gardens or stroll through the estate, there is also a 120 acre fishing lake where you can fish for pike, carp, and black bass. It is a perfect place for a fishing holiday or just for some holiday fun. Ideal for both family and business events, too.

Close by you can enjoy golf, horse-riding, and swimming, as well as a huge variety of country and water sports, including different types of flying opportunities at Renaison airport nearby.

An absolutely perfect place for a weekend or holiday break.

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Château du Bourg

Specialities : foie gras, viande charolaise, poissons, desserts maison. Closed Sundays, Saturday lunchtime, Wednesday evening, and Bank Holidays Open daytime 12.00 to 1.30pm, evening from 9.00pm (summer), and from 8.45pm (winter). Menu – 12€ (during the week) to 34€.Menu for children 10€ (up to 10 years) Groups 60 max. Handicap access. Terrace. Take-away Service: foie gras,terrine, poissons, viandes, dessert. Order 1 week in advance.

Purefrancenow Directory – La Rocadine

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Following on from our new discovery in the Roannais, Rhône-Alpes, and our eventual purchase of ‘The Stables’ there is, of course, much more to tell.

We paid around £12,000 for this building which needed a complete renovation job. Some of this money was also part of a contribution to the communal courtyard and pool.

Basically we had bought into a small ‘co-propriété’ (joint ownership of communal grounds) of about 10 other dwellings which formed part of the original courtyard of the Chateau des Cresses (an ornate, gothic-style pile built around 1908)

The courtyard – ‘Cour Rossignol’ – made up the ‘servicing’ complex of the chateau.(with Bakery, Winery, Butler’s Pantry, Barn, and, of course, our Stable block)

The other building which formed this courtyard was, in fact, the stylish ‘Pavillon de Chasse’, an 18^thcentury hunting lodge and salon, built around the time of the French Revolution, and oozing ‘old French Empire’. This was the original and only building on the site before the chateau was constructed clumsily around it.

It was a picturesque location, however, with great potential. Our excitement and eager anticipation at developing our ‘ruin’ in this wonderful location was immense. Our uncertainty substantial!

However, we made our decision to apply a clean, contemporary approach, and involved one of our architect friends in England to create an outline interior concept that was simple, stylish, and which maximised on utilising the potential living space available to us. How smart!

It was sharpen pencil time! There was no shortage of ideas. We were creative, that was our job in England – interior design, image-building, photographic concepts for kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living rooms. In fact, totally in our realm! France here we come!!

I’m not going to turn all this into some ‘Grand Design’ type saga (It was not big enough for that, of course! That will come a few years  later.), but it could turn into a saga all the same. A different type of saga. A saga of intrigue, and the ‘mentally’ insane. Of the’ ups and downs’ that occur when you take a ‘runner’ – a risk. A small risk it maybe, but a risk all the same, entwined with heartfelt dreams of a new home, and a new life experience.

Yes, we got ‘ripped off’ a bit.

Although, it is said of the French: ‘they see us Brits coming’ , maybe it is  because they see an easy ‘kill’, an easy ‘euro’ or two (it was actually the famous French Franc, then), because our brains were still, temporarily at least , resting, sloppily, on the dockside at Dover!

Our many dealings with the French have been incredibly rewarding, and in our relationships with artisans, shopkeepers, neighbours, and with those that have become great friends, we have found all of them to be incredibly generous, exceptionally friendly, honest, and personable people).

Yes, there are always ‘rogue traders’ about (so you have to watch out!), and you are never far away from diabolical experiences, whether from individuals or from the famous meanderings of the over-developed (and often over zealous) French bureacracy and legal sytems.

We bought into a 10-dwelling co-propriété, and our experience of this was certainly not an ideal one.

It is difficult to get all people to agree, and conflicts occur. These type of co-ownership organisations may work for apartment buildings, or well-organised holiday complexes in places like Spain, but my suggestion would be to avoid getting involved in this type of property arrangement despite some of the price advantages, and shared communal costs for items such as pool maintenance, gardening, insurances, etc.

They are often troublesome, and your several neighbours can be just a little too close! However, at the same time, all the negatives and positives of this experience were thoroughly stirred into a pot-pourri, a melange of wonderful discovery, fun, and friendships.

We had, in fact, a brilliant time planning and designing The Stables.

Our, discovery, too, of Lyon – France’s second city – was also a fantastic experience, and Lyon is now a place which we regularly re-visit.

The local Roannais region, also, was, and is, brilliant and has so much to offer, from medieval villages and chateaux to picturesque wine-growing countryside, mountain vistas and some of the best food in France.

To be fair,  in the early days, and the early year or so, things moved on pleasantly, albeit very slowly.

We finally signed for our ‘ruin’ and full payment was duly made (some of it, I might add, siphoned off to some unknown destination and bank account in England! You have to watch out for this sort of thing, because any money paid outside the transaction is not recorded, so you are likely to pay more capital gains tax on any profit later further down the line if/when you re-sell your property)

Our real fun and adventure with France could now continue with a vengeance! For a while the distance actually helped between England and France.

Yes, the communication and project control aspects were difficult and frustrating at times. French language problems were always an initial hindrance, and part of the equation to solve. But, we were tenacious.

It was something we had to accept as part of the ‘risk’ of buying  and renovating in France from a distance. We had to put it all down to experience – ‘The French Experience’

The Stables moved gradually on, and started taking internal shape. It was beginning to look like a home on the cusp of habitability. We made decisions, we flew over as regularly as we could, and thoroughly enjoyed ‘The French life’ as we found it.

We also continued to throw more money at the project!

And gradually, bit by bit, over 2 years or so (It wasn’t rapid!), we turned the place from a ruin into a home.

‘The Stables’ ended up as a delightful 2 –bedroom dwelling (with retained French character on the outside and a contemporary, clean ‘look’ on the inside!). We were very pleased with the results: Good-sized kitchen and dining, separate lounge with wood-burning stove and exposed chimney. Feature stairway and landing to two large double bedrooms, and bathroom with bath and shower.

The countryside and woodland views of the original chateau grounds were superb, and a great setting for our own new piece of France .

And our new French way of life!

www.thisfrenchlife.com

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For this month’s newsletter article on ‘Discovering the Roannais’ visit thisfrenchlife.com

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The new Perreux magazine has been launched again full of useful information for the community, including all forthcoming events to be held in the ensuing months.

Visit our previous editorial on this beautiful, ancient village, only  5 minutes away from Le Cuvage (a superb luxury holiday gite with pool – available for rent throughout the year.)

Wonderful Perreux !

More on Perreux in the Roannais

www.perreux.fr

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A simply adorable ‘character’ property with courtyard and swimming pool, set within the original woodland grounds of the Chateau des Cresses. Near the medieval hill village of Perreux, and close to the main township of Roanne.

The Old Bakery, Chateau des Cresses
2 double bedrooms sleeps 5 set in a lovely Chateau courtyard
Delightful cottage, originally a bakery, part of an elegantly restored Château in the heart of Burgundy/Loire countryside. Ideally located for access to Loire river and several lakes with swimming and watersports, horse riding etc.

The Beaujolais Hills, Burgundy vineyards and the ski resorts of the Madeleine Mountains (Massif Central) are all within 30 minutes drive.

Accommodation: Downstairs: large beamed living room satellite TV/video/DVD with well equipped kitchen (microwave, washing machine) and living area (with sofa bed), wood burning stove, bathroom with bath/shower. Upstairs: 2 large bedrooms (one double, one twin), electric heating.

PRICE: £85,000 (inclusive of fees)
For more information, and to arrange a visit to the property please contact www.purefrancenow.com – Brian Franklin direct:  info@purefrancenow.com
www.purefrancenow.com

An amazing opportunity to buy into your own slice of France in the beautiful region of the Roannais, Rhône-Alpes. The remarkable “Old Winery’ part of a chateau, near the medieval hill village of Perreux, has already been renovated to a high standard. Situated with original chateau courtyard and woodland grounds, there is also a swimming pool and ample parking facilities, including garage.

Ground floor: Large open-plan living/dining area, kitchen to rear with integral fridge/freezer, four-ring electric hob, electric oven and separate washing machine. Ground floor bathroom. Stairs to first floor.

First floor: Two double bedrooms, each with ensuite shower room, one with fitted wardrobe. Spiral stairs to second floor.

Second floor: Landing/sitting/study area. Shower room. Two double bedrooms, one with fitted wardrobe.

Heating: Ample electric wall heaters (installed approx. 2007) are provided throughout the house. There is also a new hot water cylinder,  installed in 2007.
Outside: Single brick-built garage with pitched roof, with up and over door.

Woodland grounds, courtyard with swimming pool.

PRICE: £140,000 (inclusive of fees)

For more information and to arrange a visit to the property please contact www.purefrancenow.com – Brian Franklin direct:  info@purefrancenow.com

www.purefrancenow.com