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<h2>Chateau:DIY</h2>So filming has just finished for another series of the renowned Channel 4 Chateau:DIY programme and changes continue afoot at Chateau de Séguenville. The development of Gite du Rossignol from an unkempt, overgrown outbuilding to a stunningly majestic residence for up to 10 guests has largely been captured in glorious technicolour since our involvement in the production in 2019.The crews have followed us over the last 5 years as we worked to build relationships with our neighbours, create a home for our family and develop a business to sustain us in the future.We will continue to enhance the Gite, with enhancements planned to the East garden where we discovered the foundations of an old Chai and have rebuilt the end wall of the Mare including renovating the gulley that collects water from the roofs and feeds the pond. We have plans for a hot tub and still have a hole to beautify / landscape as well as the pond to bring back to life, but such is Chateau living.The Gite has been a project involving both local and UK artisans, some truly world class! From digging out the old floors to concreting a new one, the installation of an amazing staircase with local French Oak steps and the combination of local and UK oak to complement the original chestnut beams; plus the blood, sweat and tears of the Chateau owners and their friends. From pulling out old tree stumps to clearing out the bottom of a puis, the film crews have followed our journey of discovery as we converted the outbuilding into a modern and magnificent guest house sleeping upto 10 guests in 4 bedrooms.Nothing beats an summer evening out on the Gite terrace with a simple fayre of wine and cheese whilst soaking in the views to the white topped Pyrenees.&nbsp;

Chateau Life - en Caméra

With Summer fast approaching, the Gite is now ready for guests and for those wanting to soak in the best of France's countryside, wine and gourmet food. Here we offer some or our thoughts on getting the best out of the summer in the region...<figure id="figure-ndzihjrn5elww6icfj" class=""><img id="ndzihjrn5elww6icfj" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/30EuaM1bCsGuaTAFFUoveaMFkMLZraWkPFmAvQgoXgVQEIcMqp9Aq6ac4yMe48zR.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/30EuaM1bCsGuaTAFFUoveaMFkMLZraWkPFmAvQgoXgVQEIcMqp9Aq6ac4yMe48zR.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Summer brings the opportunity to breath in the fresh countryside air, walk through (beside) fields of Sunflowers or take in the many Marchés Gourmands and day / night markets across the Occitane region. The Capitale and many of the major towns and cities have vibrant streets with Cafes spilling out and allowing visitors and locals alike to soak in the sun, the atmosphere and the ambiance of Europe in Summer. July brings local festivals to the area, such as the Purple Garlic festival in Cadours, a local speciality of which there are over 450 varieties. It also sees the arrival of the Tour de France - mainly across the Pyrenees - but ending the sector this year in Agen. Summer walks in the Pryrenees are amazing as are the Swimming lakes for the perfect cooling dip or a play on the inflatables, a sail or a paddle.&nbsp;Further afield in the fields of the Gers are the vineyards of the Armagnac and chestnuts in Armagnac are amazing gifts and to die for as a dessert. Equally unique is the Velorail at Nogaro - allowing a family to cycle on specially adapted bikes along an old railway track.August is when most of France takes a break for 2 weeks and so a lot of activity and businesses tail off during this time, but again Cadours offers it Motor Race around a 3 km circuit on the outskirts of the town looping in Lareole.

Summer is Coming

So with the major works all complete and the Gite now looking stunning with its views and staircase, we have turned our focus to the outside...Finishing off the garden was always going to be a challenge as we weren't sure if the pond next to our Gite would recover (following the drought of 2022 that also led to the courtyard walls being taken down).However, as is nearly always the case, we found new treasures - in this case flooring from an old Chai and have set about creating a space for a future hot tub and a sunken garden.Les travaux principaux étant terminés et le gîte étant maintenant magnifique avec ses vues et son escalier, nous nous sommes concentrés sur l'extérieur...La finition du jardin a toujours été un défi car nous n'étions pas sûrs que l'étang à côté de notre gîte se rétablisse (suite à la sécheresse de 2022 qui a également conduit à la démolition des murs de la cour).Cependant, comme c'est presque toujours le cas, nous avons trouvé de nouveaux trésors - dans ce cas le plancher d'un ancien Chai - et nous avons commencé à créer un espace pour un futur jacuzzi et un jardin en contrebas. <figure id="figure-u7tfpof1telurcf37f" class=""><img id="u7tfpof1telurcf37f" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/34v3KhR1nTggGwjYWU492kG96TZZNcWxMdcCuc783yAs1ZEjGYxPkNMLYzG2unm3.jpg" alt="Cruising through Aspen in our Mitsubishi Outlander" title="Cruising through Aspen in our Mitsubishi Outlander" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 45% 50%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="Grass, Chai and hidden Fosse - work in progress" data-positionx="45%" data-positiony="50%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/34v3KhR1nTggGwjYWU492kG96TZZNcWxMdcCuc783yAs1ZEjGYxPkNMLYzG2unm3.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 45% 50%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2"> Grass, Chai and hidden Fosse - work in progress</figcaption></figure>The walls have continued to grow and now we have to finish the floor of the sunken garden, add some trees &amp; plants and finish the paths. The views from this side across to the Pyrenees can be stunning and the spot is nicely sheltered from the prevailing winds. Access through the ground floor bedroom is an added bonus but who can't resist using those bi fold doors out onto the main terrace?Les murs ont continué à pousser et nous devons maintenant terminer le sol du jardin en contrebas, ajouter quelques arbres et plantes et terminer les chemins. De ce côté, la vue sur les Pyrénées est époustouflante et l'endroit est bien abrité des vents dominants. L'accès par la chambre du rez-de-chaussée est un atout supplémentaire, mais qui ne peut résister à l'envie d'utiliser ces portes pliantes qui donnent sur la terrasse principale ?

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Chateau Life - en Caméra

Summer is Coming

Finishing - the endless task