Hi everyone,
The weekend during my stay in Normandy back in September happened to coincide with "Les 36e Journées Européennes du Patrimoine", when what we would call stately homes are opened for public viewing. This is not an event I had heard of in europhobic Britain but I don't suppose our landed gentry would take kindly to the idea of opening their gates, (let alone their doors) to us lower orders, and certainly not for free, However, in the rest of undemocratic Europe and in particular...
...close to the village of Beaucamps-le-Vieux, is Beaucamps-le-Jeune...
...which has its own eponymous chateau, that opened with a display of classic cars, mainly Panhards, but the red one on the right is an old Porsche...
...and we could walk through the arched entrance...
...turn right to admire the sheer size of the place...
...then enter, into the apparent chaos of a restoration in progress..
...wherever you look...
...but, as we are given the unofficial guided tour, we can see, here and there, that progress is being made on a grand scale...
...and where we encounter some of the more eccentric residents...
...some of whom seem less than pleased to have ended up here...
(Photograph removed as requested)
...but Jan is keen to show me...
...some of the sunnier aspects...
...of what has been achieved so far...
...which includes this little vaulted chapel...
...and some rooms that appear to be actually lived in...
...with decorations...
...like these two paintings...
...and this striking chandelier...
...similarly, some of the outside is looking great...
...while other parts are still in need of attention...
...but it is a really big job...
...though this wrought iron work is still looks in remarkably good nick...
...whereas this roof doesn't...
...and suddenly I'm being checked out through the gate...
...but, no, I'm not casing the joint...
...I'm just looking to take some interesting photos...
...even in the most derelict parts...
(Photograph removed as requested)
...and enjoying the hospitality with, (from the left), my friend Jan; Olga, originally from Paraguay and owner of this enormous pile; Marienne, a local friend and helper; and Yanek, who is perhaps what we would call the estate manager...
..but, alas, Jan sent me this pic last week, showing even more damage caused by a storm...
...however, I would rather leave on a happy note, remembering what a fabulous time I had there and all the wonderful people I met.
More soon.
Love,
Philip Xx