DORDOGNE DELIGHTS, A SAD ANNOUNCEMENT, A MAJOR CHALLENGE & AN AMAZING CHATEAU STAY @ManorandMaker

After some sad circumstances, our dear friends Steve & Sara saved the new year with a very special invitation. Their "new" Chateau de St. Germain-des-Prés in the Dordogne, magnificent and welcoming and happy, was the perfect place to welcome slightly heartbroken guests. We were treated to delightful visits around the Dordogne and Correze countryside, and Sara and I planned an extraordinary challenge. Will we rise to the occasion? Who are the other friends joining us in Venice? Is it humanly possible to create several 18th century costumes in a couple of weeks? Projects are still underway at our own little château, and -- most importantly-- should Simon wear the cravat? ABOUT US: Hello! I’m Vivienne, the châtelaine of a small 19th century neo-Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley of France, which I share with my delightful (and wonderfully funny!) husband, Simon, our daughter, pets, and —whenever possible— lovely friends and family. This is not our first chateau! 20 years ago, we bought a much larger castle nearby, which we loved with all our hearts. However, nearly 18 years, many happy memories, countless renovations, and several small fortunes later, we made the very difficult, empty-nesting decision to downsize. With great luck and perseverance, we found our current petit château, which we are now decorating and updating with love, humour, comfort, and —of course— antiques and art! We adore France and its many unique facets: its people, culture, landscapes, wine, food, art, and history. We also love being surrounded by châteaux, both public and private, which we can explore together! After 20 years here, we have learned many things about living in France, renovating châteaux, and appreciating the extraordinary riches surrounding us. We originally decided to make these videos as a way to share our lives with our loved ones worldwide during the pandemic lockdowns. However, we soon realised that many others are at home alone, and it is our privilege to open our home to you, our new friends. We hope you will join us on our adventures in this exceptional location, and we look forward to sharing a little Château Love! #chateau #dordogne #chateaudiy #chateaurenovation #chateauvlog #france #frenchlife ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Links @Chateau Love Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chateauloveofficial/ Facebook: Chateau Love MUSIC: (sister) Ashley Locheed - "La Vie En Rose" https://www.amazon.com/Love-Chris-Rottmayer-Ashley-Locheed/dp/B08G1ZHNQY/ref=tmm_msc_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=