How We Accidentally Bought a Castle in Southwest France
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Welcome to a new chapter in our château series, where real-life fairy tales unfold in surprising ways. Meet Julien and Charlie, a couple whose love story took a magical turn when they married in an 11th-century castle near Cahors (Occitanie), and eventually got the keys to their dream home.
What started as a charming wedding venue became the setting for their greatest adventure. Join us as they discuss the highs, lows, and unexpected joys of managing a wedding castle, where every weekend brings new love stories and every challenge deepens their bond.
“We never set out to buy a castle in France. It just sort of… happened.”
“Back in 2019, we got married in the most magical place imaginable — a slightly tumbledown 11th-century château near Cahors. It had this beautifully rustic charm, the kind of timeless character that makes you fall in love at first sight. We always thought of it as our place, but only in the sentimental sense — the backdrop to one perfect weekend surrounded by friends, family, and far too much champagne.
What If?
Two years later, quite by chance, we learned that the owner was thinking about putting the castle on the market. What started as a dreamy “what if” conversation over a glass of rosé quickly turned into something more serious. We spoke to the owner, gathered information, and learned that a long sale might be possible — giving us a year and a half to create a proper business plan, speak with lawyers and banks, and make sure we weren’t completely out of our minds.
We Were Lucky!
The château was already an established events venue — we knew this first-hand, having celebrated our own wedding there — and that gave us a huge head start. Our first summer was already fully booked with eighteen weddings. It was a relief to start with something running rather than facing years of renovation before seeing a return.
Of course, once things started to feel real, we had to make real-life decisions. Selling our flat in Paris, quitting our jobs, saying goodbye to the rhythm of city life… all for a dream that might have seemed a little reckless on paper. But by January 2023, we were all in.
A Thousand Days Later
Now, nearly three wedding seasons later, I can honestly say we haven’t regretted it once. It’s been intense, yes — a steep learning curve filled with triumphs, leaky roofs, and dubious wiring — but it’s been extraordinary. We’ve taken the business from its existing base and grown it into something thriving, with forty weddings a year and a loyal network of local suppliers and friends.
Best Château Advice
The best advice we received early on was simple: don’t rush into renovations. Take a year to really understand what matters. At first, we thought we needed to create as many bedrooms as possible, but we quickly learned that our couples were primarily focused on the reception spaces. Most just want enough accommodation for a few guests on-site and good options nearby. So we shifted our focus — and our funds — toward enhancing the event spaces, including a new roof terrace that’s set to transform the venue.
That project has already changed shape at least forty times, as we’ve met local artisans, navigated the intricacies of the Bâtiments de France and the DRAC, and built a trusted team of experts who understand historic properties inside and out. It’s been another education — one we couldn’t have imagined back in our Paris days.
More Rewarding Than Expected
Running a wedding venue has turned out to be far more rewarding than we expected. There’s something magical about working with people at one of the happiest times in their lives. Our couples arrive full of excitement and love, and their energy is contagious. Having a business built on joy is, quite simply, a privilege.
One unexpected bonus is the visibility we now have. Everything is booked at least a year in advance, sometimes two, which gives us a sense of stability rare in most industries. We’ve also expanded gradually — offering optional wedding planning services, especially for international couples who find the logistics in France daunting. I only take on a handful each year, and it’s a wonderful, creative side of the business — a chance to get to know each couple deeply and create something unique rather than formulaic.
Embracing Change and Community
My background is in digital marketing and project management, and my husband worked in television production, so the planning side of things felt natural to us — even if the world of heritage conservation and roofing quotes did not. He’s French, I’m English, and that balance has really helped: we can welcome both French and international couples, and it’s helped us integrate into the local community.
Before moving, we worried most about two things — the financial risk, of course, and the social side of rural life. We were leaving behind our careers, our friends, and the Paris rhythm we knew so well. But we’ve been completely overwhelmed by the warmth and support of the local community. We’ve made wonderful friends, built strong relationships with local suppliers, and genuinely feel part of something bigger than ourselves.
The Adventure of a Lifetime
It’s been three years of challenges, laughter, and a lot of learning — but mostly it’s been joy. Buying a château wasn’t part of the plan, but it’s become the adventure of a lifetime. And if we’ve learned anything, it’s that sometimes the best things really do happen by accident.”
Thank you, Julien and Charlie, for sharing your journey from a fairy-tale wedding to your château adventure. Your story highlights how the best plans often come from unexpected moments. Happy reading, and “à bientôt” on our French blog for more inspiring château stories.
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