Help with gardening and household project at a pretty French chateau in Quantilly, France

Details

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  Description

  Hello! Thanks for taking the time to look at our profile.
  
  We are a fun loving Australian/English couple and we moved from Australia three years ago and bought a pretty French château in the heart of France.
  
  The 18th century Château has 36 acres of grounds, there is a small lake with two Geese plus a good size Pool (summer only) , probably the worlds smallest chapel plus a couple of outbuildings. Always wandering around are a few garden (stray) cats which we spoil.
  
  We would prefer to host a couple or two friends.
  
  We’d love some help with general upkeep/ cleaning/ gardening /window cleaning and perhaps help with renovations (depending on your experience). Cooking skills a bonus.
  
  We have about 30 acres of forest (with walking trails) which we need to manage. Any experience in woodland management would be massively desirable! If you have experience in using wood chippers etc. we’d love to hear from you, even if you are travelling solo.
  
  We work hard to restore this beautiful place but we also take time to enjoy the beauty that this part of France has to offer.
  We are passionate and hardworking and looking for likeminded workaways. 5 hours per day for 5 days a week but we are flexible and will encourage you to make the most of good weather and explore, and there is ample opportunity to relax and travel too. We are certainly open to the 25 hours work over 4 days instead of 5 days if that is your preference.
  
  At this stage we prefer volunteers who have already been reviewed.
  
  Strictly no smoking inside the château.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Our area is not massively touristic so you will be immersed in true French life. Enjoy beauty and wildlife by spending time wandering our private 30 + acre forest.
  
  Avid readers will be able to utilise our library which is filled with a few thousand interesting books (all in English).
  
  We are a friendly couple and will enjoy sharing time and learning from each other’s cultures.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We need help with general maintenance, cleaning, gardening, possibly DIY, depending on experience, perhaps some cooking also. Ideally, we would prefer a couple. Forest management would be great. This may include moving and stacking firewood.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  Would love to learn more French
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  Accommodation

  Located on the first floor of the Chateau, you are allocated the largest bedroom with super king bed with your own full size bathroom (bath & shower). Additionally, the room also has a little turret with two sinks.
  
  The room is very comfy & has a sofa and possibly the prettiest view in the château.
  
  3 meals per day will be provided.
  Breakfast is from 8.30 am - coffee/tea, cereal, bread, butter and preserves, yogurts and fruit.
  Lunch at around 1 pm - usually salad with a sandwich or homemade soups and sandwiches.
  We eat evening meals together at 7.30 pm - main course and dessert.
  all our water is potable (drinkable).
  Naturally we will try to accommodate any allergies. We often eat pescatarian and vegetarian.
  
  We are happy to share meals (except for breakfast as we are flexible with work starting times and people get up at different times) and daily conversation but just as happy if you prefer to do your own thing.
  Ingredients will naturally be provided for any meals we do not share together.

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  What else ...

  We are located in the centre of France in Center Val de Loire, Cher region.
  
  Although we are on the edge of a very small village, you will still need to get car to get around. When you don’t feel like driving there is a bus stop in our village but the buses are not very frequent and do not go to many places.
  
  There are a Carrefour supermarket, bakery, pharmacy etc. only 2 kms away.
  
  Local beautiful places to explore are
  stunning medieval Bourges, 20 minutes drive.
  It is filled with half timbered buildings and home to the cathedral, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.
  
  Interesting old Scottish town Aubuny-sur-nere, 20 minute drive.
  
  The absolutely beautiful hilltop village & wine region Sancerre is 30 minute drive.
  
  10 minutes drive to Henrichment for the Wednesday farmers markets.
  
  Our village has a small restaurant (Monday to Friday lunch only) but it’s also a bar /microbrewery, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. It’s very charming and very French). Once a month they schedule concerts and occasionally street parties
  
  The village next to us is Menetou-Salon which has a number of restaurants, wineries (during summer), a large Château worth visiting and owned by a German prince, (also seasonal) and a weekly farmers market.
  
  Saint-Palais is the village on other side of us, which has a cute Lebanese restaurant / bar.
  
  If you want to explore a little further afield on your days off, the Loire Valley and some of France’s finest Chateaux are an hour away by car.
  
  We can help you with trip advices and travel plans to the nearby region..

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have starlink

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  Space for parking camper vans

  3 meals per day will be provided. Breakfast is from 8.30 am - coffee/tea, cereal, bread, butter and preserves, yogurts and fruit. Lunch at around 1 pm - usually salad with a sandwich or homemade soups and a sandwiches. We eat evening meals together at 7.30 pm - main course and dessert. all our water is potable (drinkable). Naturally we will try to accommodate any allergies. We often eat pescatarian and vegetarian. We are happy to share meals (except for breakfast as we are flexible with work starting times and people get up at different times) and daily conversation but just as happy if you prefer to do your own thing. Ingredients will naturally be provided for any meals we do not share together.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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