Ep 138 | New Year's Eve 2023 Château Fire | What a Tragic Loss | French Farmhouse Life
A 17th-century Château de Serquigny, of which tragically only the shell remains after a fire that ravaged the building on morning following New Year's Eve 2023, one of whose facades is inscribed as historical monuments; the French historic building register. This video offers a snapshot into its history and previous ownership and shows the fire being fought by the brave French firefighters.
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This chateau needs someone like Dan from Escape to rural France!
He sure can lift back all the beams and noggins.
Apparently he doesn’t own that building he is working on
@@hazel1960than who does??
Local and regional authorities are stepping in to sort out the situation. First of all there are about 40 owners so the situation is complicated on a legal standpoint. The chateau is listed at least for some parts and the restoration cannot be done DIY but by proper specialized artisans. The mayor is involved in to solving out various issues. Stephane Bern who works with the fondation du patrimoine has already announced wanting to help restore the chateau.
Dan has mentioned, several times, that he bought it and has even said what he paid for it. Pay attention!@@hazel1960
Surrounded by water, defeated by fire. Such a shame. 😢
Let's get serious about this. I live in France, and the word is that the local municipal council have tried for years to get the 'owners' to use the building. It appears that a consortium bought it with the intention of opening it as a hotel. There are apparently about 40 investors involved. They have owned it for about 10 years; but it has remained empty. Appartently it is held in a Trust - not normal in France. The Council say they 'cannot identify the individuals involved, therefore'. Don't try to tell me that these people do not have their money, which they've invested in this property, insured to the hilt! If this property has added value as a business - you insure that as well. So now they can cash-in their investment to a serious level - all of the 'value' insured, plus the sale value of the remains and land on top . . . . not a bad investment, eh? If you own a 'Monument Historique' like this in France, you can't even decide what paint colour you want to use - the State enforces what they want. Conversion to a hotel? - you just can't imagine the rules & regulations that they impose. Change the internal room layout - NO! You can't touch it. Double glazing? - 'Pas possible!'. It all costs an extra fortune. So why can't the State step in, and insist that the Insurance payments must be used to restore the building for a practical use - and the 40 investors can then sell it to cash-in their investment?
Thanks for the extra, veryspecific info about the protective listings, frontenac, very helpful. But - I am not going to address your political rant about Président Macron. Suffice to say as a Brexit victim, I am emancipated from any ability to even have a vote! However - you are not correct in what you say about State support in France for owners of 'Monuments Historiques'. I don't think anyone knows how many chateaux & manoirs there are here, but 45,684 of them are Listed as either being 'Inscrit' or 'Classé' as a historic monument. A staggering number! All of these are eligible for financial support - starting with Tax breaks for the money spent maintaining them by the owner(s); and up to substantial Grants from the Government coffers. As I write, the little Rennaisance chateau in the valley below me is covered in scaffold as a total exterior renovation of stonework jointing & cleaning, roofing, windows, and guttering is underway in meticulous detail, thanks to funding from 'Bâtiments du France'. The previous owner tried to pay the bills by running a B&B - and went bankrupt. Also - I totally disagree with you in your other rant about the potential for conversion onto apartments of major buildings such as that at Ch. Serquigny. Dividing up these properties into manageable sized portions has got to make sense! Britain is full of such conversions, and you can get to live in a castle for £450k or so, paying a yearly contribution for the upkeep of the grounds etc. Even the future King & Queen (Wills & Kate) live in such a conversion (Kensington Palace, London - divided into about 15 separate apartments and 'cottages'). My concern - which you haven't addressed - is with the motives of the owners of the chateau at Serquigny. As I pointed out, they are hiding behind a Trust that now legally owns it - not a financial vehicle that is normally used in France. It's advantage is that the members of the Trust (reportedly 40 of them) remain incognito; but the Tax authorities recognise it as a way of avoiding liability and Taxes, and consequently do not allow any tax-offset claims. So why would the owners have set up this arrangement? Would all 40 of them have insured their investment in this arrangement? How did the fire start? . . . . . @@frontenac5083
Sad to see a beautiful historic building being reduced to rubble. But then there are people like Dan from "Escape to Rural France" that are restoring historic Chateau buildings back to their glory. He is beginning to put a roof on his Chateau almost single handedly.
I thought of Dan right away. ❤
Since it was abandoned, and there are 40 investors, maybe they are happy about the outcome. Thank you for the reportage!
That does raise questions.
It was for sale
That’s a pretty bad way to take care of an investment! They really should have done better.
Insurance job
👍🏻 They Torched it…
Sad what a loss.
What a shame! Thank you for reporting this Peter. This is a true loss.
Thanks for this video I sent it to another chateau owner as a reminder that the gates and moat is a deterrent when they need fire help. This should be seen by all KZhead Chateau owners as a reminder to take seriously any thing that would hinder help for fires. You did a great job on this video! Thanks for the reminder to all to protect our property and ourselves! Beautifully done!!!!!!!
The owners should be brought to justice !!!
How sad to see such an attractive Chateau now no more. Makes me think of Dan restoring Chateau Chamuant after a terrible fire. Happy New Year to you both. 🍷🍷🇬🇧🇬🇧
I as well am a huge fan of Dan. Now I am hoping Stephanie has a fire drill WITH her local fire department.
Why?
Thank you for reporting on this Peter This is truly a tragedy.
So sad when these places are abandoned. Tragic negligence.
Wow. The timing is indeed strange. Can't help thinking someone somewhere is benefiting from an insurance claim.
I was thinking the same thing. The property may be worth more than the structure.
A tragic loss, truly a monumental loss, I think of all the workers masterful contributions that they made with their life skills
Deeply sadden about this beautiful Chateau, such a loss.
So sad. I had read about the fire and thought of all those who are restoring chateaux in other parts of France. Hopefully they will review their fire plans.
My sympathy to the owners. Tragic.
How sad to see such a beautiful building firstly left to go to rack and ruin and now consumed by fire. It must beg the question was this planned? For now the land can be cleared and become prime real estate?! Afterall if the 40 investors were committed to its restoration why have they left it abandoned for 10 years?
Because the real estate developer in charge of the project (turning the building into flats, scandalously) filed for bankruptcy. The investors were committed to nothing. This was only a shady deal to be granted tax credits (because they were doing work into a listed building).
@@aiglonducal314 well there you go what a surprise!
Absolutely heartbreaking the beauty and the history gone for ever, so sad.
France has thousands of chateaux, the government can’t maintain all of them, it is up to the owners to maintain it or let it go as it happens for often than not. For those saying Dan is the man, or we need another Stephanie. Please people! A gardener with no experience as a builder and a lady that buys Chanel bags while crying poverty are not the people for the job. Professional builders, carpenters, roofers, those are the people for the job.
Dan and Stephanie are certainly NOT the people you want to emulate. I used to follow both but Dan got a little too scary taking chances rebuilding the chateau without safety equipment. Stephanie doesn’t really do any renovations, just spends and travels.
What an absolute tragedy. Such a beautiful building.
Everytime l watch so many great artstic buiding burned to the ground lets me heart breaking.
Last year I visited a small town here in Dordogne and at it's centre was the most beautiful little 18 th century chateau, perfect proportions with a park around it and many outbuildings. it belonged to an American who lived in the region but he didn't take care of it so it was squatted and burnt in April, gutted totally. It is still worth restoring at it is not huge but as the owner wasn't interested in it before he certainly wouldn't care for it now. It could have been prevented by allowing a caretaker to live in the gate house. This happens a lot and many times it's an insurance scam.
That's such a shame,,money, 😢
A tragic loss! Never should have been left empty for bums
What a loss of another beautiful chateau. Thank you so much for sharing this sad event with us.
Always sad when one of these buildings goes to ruin
Very sad! What’s worse? Chateau left to decay over decades of neglect Or fire finally taking the last remnants of what once was? Either way - heartbreaking! Maine USA
I do agree. It needs to be rebuilt and loved again.
Heartbreaking, the loss of this exquisite gem. Maybe hope is not lost and some of it can be salvaged. Thank you for telling us about it.
Hi, There are no words to express the tragic loss of the Château du Grand-Serquigny. A word to the wise is to be sure that the bridge over any moat should be updated to the current code and that any entry gates to a property should not stand in the way of modern fire fire-fighting equipment from getting as close as possible to the building. Despite the tragedy at hand, Happy New Year. Mark & Scott
That´s a vey sad story. What a beauty has been lost. Peter it would be appreciated if you could do a follow up about who did it? what will be done next? restore it? or let it go ( what would be a shame )?
What a beautiful building and a real shame it is no more. Just hope it does not go to ruin. Thankyou for the lovely report for it Peter❤
Peter, thank you for your integrity with your channel. I admired you so much when you told your viewers that you would NOT be opening a Patreon account many months (years?) ago. It seemed like you viewed the chateau as your responsibility and yours alone and that is so refreshing. It flabbergasts me how many chateau owners rely on their viewers for money. If a person or a couple cannot afford to renovate the rundown chateau on their own, then they should not buy it! It is so sad that people are no longer responsible for their own finances and prefer to rely on total strangers for help.
What a tragic loss to the chateau world. It looks like more than 60% of the structure is gone. Given the size and history of the building, restoration costs would be astronomical. It appears to be twice the size, or more, of Dan's Chateau de Chaumont, which he is presently restoring. Thank you, Peter, for this video.
How sad and tragic.
Truly a shame.😢 Peter, thank you for sharing.
So sad....bloody vandals I imagine 🤬
TRAGIC,!! All of that history lost forever now!!
So sad! It was so beautiful! Thank you for sharing this story.
Such a beautiful Chateau, absolutely heartbreaking to see the devastation and aftermath of such a destructive fire. So sad xx
It reminds me of the favorite movie. It is a time, Gone With The Wind!
Tragic and sobering story. Thank you for sharing Peter x
That is so incredibly sad to lose that history and beauty.
This is simply a tragedy! To loose a chateau like this is heartbreaking. It is/was magnificent! Roof, leaks, rewiring! Three simple things to keep it safe and dry! I have to turn it off. I’m going to be sick! Squatters???? WTF???
Thank you Peter - excellent reporting on another tragic loss to French Heritage.. so many lessons current Chateau owners can take on board. Some Excellent comments from the online chateau-watchers too. Happy New Year Peter & Anna & your menagerie: stay safe 🙋🏻♀️🥰
It breaks my heart to see the devastating results of this fire. Another beautiful piece of history may be lost 😢❤ Deborah North Carolina USA
This is so sad. Thank you Peter. ❤
This is so sad. Thks for sharing
Totally totally heart breaking! Totally! 😮😢
For once it would be a good thing if the boiseries had been already stripped out. Very sad, but I can see the exterior as being restorable.
How very sad thanks for sharing
Such a shame that they let this grand dame go to wreck and ruin. What a terrible waste of
This is so sad historical building gone in a blink of a eye the owners must be devastated i wonder if anything can be saved or left to decay for mother nature to takeback
So sad. Thank you for sharing with us
I think it’s the worst thing to see a grand place go down in flames…😢😢😮
A heartbreaking loss. I am at a loss for words…💔
Omg. so sad it was so beautiful ...
Thank You for this story, so sad...
Sadly this is all to common. Another beautiful building lost, such a shame.
Thank you for reporting this and may you and Anna continue to have a wonderful life in 2024
This is so sad. Thank you for the report.....it is a true loss!
A terrible historic loss for everyone who cares about history.
What a tragic story
BEST WISHES TO YOU FROM N.J. USA
Insurance job? If all the owners had a real estate deal, it makes you wonder. In Australia this happens often with old buildings, especially if they are heritage listed. That or demolition through neglect. Hopefully they’ll be forced to rebuild it.
How very sad!
What a shame, a tragic loss for sure. Hugs and love from Texas!
hopefully they will preserve what is left of the facade and other features
What a heartbreak-such beautiful architecture!
This is so sad to watch but thank you for such a good job reporting the story and also showing us how it looked on its best days and times.
Breaks my heart to see this elegantly beautiful structure destroyed. The consortium should be held responsible for not ensuring the safety of such an important historical site.
How heartbreaking
Stunning. What a great loss.
So sad! Thank you for sharing, please have a Happy New Year for you and Anna!
So Sad 😭 Happy New Year to you both 🌹🌹🌹💐🌹🌹🌹🍾🍾 Love Sue❤❤❤🇬🇧❤❤❤
What an absolute tragedy.
So sad. ❤❤
Heartbreaking! 💔
Thank you for sharing this. Heartbreaking!
What a sad news 💔
Thank you for this video Peter and the history behind the once beautiful chateau. Happy New Year to you and Anna. ❤❤
I know I saw a property listing for this not that long ago!!!
I wonder if the squatters had a hand, intentional or accidental, in the fire starting? Very sad no matter the cause of the fire.
Pity.😢. Thanks for video
If there was a refurb project on the table squatters may have acted in reaction to eviction notices.
Heartbreaking.
How tragic!
Thank you for share this video and some of the history of this beautiful building.
May you both have a Blessed New year. God Bless
I saw this on some news post. So sad! Thank you for sharing more information that matters to your viewers.
There is an American show on UTube called Restoration Nation. Kevin and Laine are a wonderful couple, so knowledgeable in the history of southern homes. They are working on a once beautiful plantation style home that had a terrible fire too. They are so brave and as Laine said, crazy, to take on this project. What a terrible shame the chateau had a bad fire. Squatters are causing a lot of fires everywhere. I wish these homes could be secured better. Thank you Peter.
So sad!😢
Very sad indeed. And I am sure this place will not be lovingly rebuilt like Chateau Chamont by Dan.
Why this negative attitude?
Such a shame 😢
Thank you for sharing this. It really gives a reminder to check for all eventualities. What a beautiful building it has been and sad to see what happened.
Sad...very sad.😢
ive been wondering were these two got too, his wife is a sweetheart in a pixie sort of way, i miss their vlogs, come back, come back..................
Such a tragic loss.
This is a sad loss for sure…but it does raise questions!
What a tragic end for a magnificent building.