Stay and help at our small fairytale castle in Loire Valley, France

Details

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  Description

  Hello! Bonjour! Bienvenue! Friendly & Mature Couple Wanted for small Fairytale Castle in France
  PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR LOVELY REVIEWS! WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS!! :-)
  
  We are an Anglo-American family (a couple and university-aged daughter) with a very sweet little dog who are relaxed, flexible, trustworthy and friendly, and look for volunteers who share these same qualities. We love to play music (guitar, piano & harp), do art/decoration projects, cook & experiment with the amazing local foods on offer at our many markets, visit local historical sites, and share/learn about other cultures.
  
  COUPLES only (sadly no children or pets), please!
  Ideally should have own car, though --if not-- must have valid driver's license.
  
  Our chateau is a 130-year-old neo-Renaissance fairytale-style castle (with a turret!) on 2 hectares of land in a region famed for its history and beauty. It has been mostly renovated, though there are a few fairly easy decoration/renovation projects left to do. (If you have skills to share or would like to learn some new skills, this is a lovely opportunity.) Also, the chateau regularly needs general attention such as cleaning of communal spaces and gardening. The property is also equipped with a fabulous indoor pool, gym and spa, which we happily share with our volunteers.
  
  The chateau is our family home, and we try to treat all of our guests as family, too! We are in an idyllic location in the Western Loire Valley of France in the middle of a beautiful little village with shops, a bar, a bakery, post office, church, music school, etc. Just behind the chateau are magnificent walks through the many local vineyards. It's just a tiny stroll through the gates to buy wine from one of the neighbours! A 10 minute picturesque walk away is an incredible leisure center on a huge lake with sailing, canoeing, tennis, archery, mini-golf, camping and two lakeside cafes. The nearest 2 mid-sized towns with all amenties are each under 10 minutes away, and one features a main-line railway station. The two nearest large cities, Tours & Le Mans, are 30 minutes away. We are only 1.5 hours south of Paris by train, or a 2 hour drive. We are also very close to most of the renowned castles of the Loire Valley, and many other exciting tourist attractions.
  
  The region is very hospitable, and we try to be as well! If you have pleasant and relaxed personalities, don't mind cleaning to a high standard, enjoy the outdoors and gardening, and have fluent English-language ability, you may be the couple for us.
  
  If you are looking for a beautiful French adventure and think that you might fit our requirements, please contact us! We'd love to hear from you.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Animal Care

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  France is a magnificent country and we are very proud of the region in which we live. Art, culture, music, food and magnificent scenery combine to create a truly magical environment. Learning French and immersing oneself in local culture is an exciting challenge. Contributing to the upkeep of a beautiful and historic property is extremely rewarding, and then being able to live in this very property is a delight! We are constantly in awe of how lucky we are to live here. On a personal note, we have made many exceptional friendships through our Workaway experiences. It is not unusual for us to have former volunteers come to visit and meet our current helpers!

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  Help

  *️️️️️*️️️️️OUR IDEAL COUPLE*️️️️️*️️️️️:
  -Trustworthy, very discreet and reliable
  -Have own car (though not a deal-breaker if you are over 25 & have clean driver's license)
  -English-speaking;
  -Are physically fit and strong;
  -Have a relaxed ‘can-do’ attitude and initiative;
  -Enjoy smiling, being flexible and creative problem-solving
  -Have excellent spoken English
  -Enjoy keeping the house and garden to a high standard
  -Have a keen interest in France;
  -Love to travel;
  -Love the outdoors but do not mind helping indoors;
  -Have had some experience in DIY renovating
  -Are Mature in Age and/or Attitude;
  -Get along well with each other and enjoy working together;
  and, are very discreet, pleasant, and undaunted by the exciting challenges that a new country can offer.
  
  Each should have a clean driver's licence and no criminal history (will be checked).
  
  It is not necessary that you speak French, but an assertive attitude toward getting out and getting things done, plus an interest in picking up a few key phrases is very helpful.
  
  This is not a paid position but a very rewarding volunteering-holiday cultural-exchange arrangement.
  
  It is important that both have travel insurance in case of illness or accident. If one has any particular skills or talents, either artistic or practical, we definitely encourage this creativity.
  
  Interested candidates please include CV, PHOTOS and REFERENCES in your profile.
  
  We look forward to hearing from you!

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Within the chateau is a lovely private bedroom and bathroom. Excellent quality mattress and linens. Separate sitting room with television, wifi, netflix, etc. On the grounds are woods with paths for nature walks, and a superb walled garden featuring every imaginable fruit and vegetable (in season). Unlimited use of the large indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and gym.

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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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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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