Chateau De Lamothe

20/09/2015
Entrance to Chateau De Lamothe
Entrance to Chateau De Lamothe

Veering off the freeway and meandering our way through narrow country lanes and small villages in the Pyrenees countryside wondering where on earth our trusty (or untrusty) GPS was taking us, we eventually found ourselves in the minute town of Moumour, in the heart of the French Pyrenees. Winding our small car through tightly angled stone streets, we reach the towering gates of Chateau De Lamothe, a grand guesthouse within a 13th century chateau.

Rolling down the long driveway, lush lawns are splayed to our right as the towering chateau looms ahead. The wooden shutters on what seems like 200 windows are all open, like welcoming open arms, the castle basking in the afternoon sun.

Chateau De Lamothe
Chateau De Lamothe

We are greeted by a red flushed face and a smile, from Christine, our host. She welcomes us inside and provides a quick tour so we have some sort of bearings in this maze of a mansion. An indoor cinema, library, two grand lounge rooms, an oversized dining room – more like a small ballroom, billiards room… the list goes on. It was then time to see our quarters. Our room, which is the size of our house mind you, had rooms and doors off every wall. Walk in robes, a sitting room with magazine stand, the bathroom alone was the size of our living room back home. Everything is opulent, grand and luxe. The toiletries are proudly Hermes, the toilet paper – wow – I’m sure it was at least 20 ply! Artwork and sculptures adorn the mantelpieces and walls, palatial day lounges are spread comfortably throughout the oversized sitting area. Fit for royalty.

Our room
Our room

“Will you be joining us for dinner this evening?” Yes of course. “Wonderful, we will serve drinks in the front garden at eight, see you then!” Christine vanishes. Moments later we hear a hum, we see her driving the ride on mower from our window – with no other staff Christine and her husband Laurent are definitely kept busy!

With a few hours left of what is a beautiful autumn day, we head outside to explore the grounds of the chateau and surrounding village. Outdoor lounges and tables are positioned comfortably in the sun, rocking chairs under the shade of gently swaying trees, manicured lawns and a selection of bats, racquets, balls and even a frisbee for those feeling energetic.  A large swimming pool with deck chairs, marquee and a fully equipped gym are also available for use. We venture further, down the long driveway and outside the grand stone gates, to wander the streets of the tiny village.

The village of Moumour
The village of Moumour

Quaint stone houses punctuate the sidewalk, a bakery or should I say boulangerie sits in the centre of town. A cute little cottage like school erupts with giggles and squealing voices of children and of course a church with its token bell tower make up this small hamlet.  After exploring, we make our way back, for a refreshing dip in the pool and to laze the rest of the day away as horses with large swiss like bells clunk away in the background.

As the sun dips, a cool breeze tickles our skin and lifts us back inside. The aroma of dinner being prepared floats on the air. We hear the voices of other dinner guests below and peer over one of our many balconies before making our way down stairs to take a seat in the front garden. We are greeted by Laurent, our cook and host for this evening. Champagne and hor d’oeuvres, oh how very French!

Pool at Chateau De Lamothe
Pool at Chateau De Lamothe

We are soon ushered inside, the oversized dining room, like the rest of the chateau, is filled with an eclectic collection of wares and art of all sorts. So large, I don’t even notice the piano. This room is dominated by an enormous, well used fire place at one end (and when I say enormous, think the size of a horse stable), and an equally outsized cupboard at the other.

The food served is regional fare with a vast selection of high end wines available from their inhouse cellar. From chicken and pastry parcels in a deliciously rich sauce, to a lusciously moist chicken and leek stack, to pork medallions and risotto Milanese finished off with a restaurant quality crème brulee.  Between courses we have the wonderful opportunity to speak with Laurent, a former businessman, lawyer, and now a trained cook and chateau owner!  We learn that he and his wife sold up and moved from Rotterdam in the Netherlands to France, buying the 13th century property in 2007.

Dining room at Chateau De Lamothe
Dining room at Chateau De Lamothe

Abandoned, left in complete ruins and pillaged of every fitting and fixture, the couple have performed an amazing restoration, paying respect to the grandeur of the building, with just enough modern touches. “We installed over ten miles of electrical cabling, and introduced over 80 radiator heaters”. “The only things remaining in this room were the flooring, and that cupboard. We used an industrial hydraulic lift to move it a little so we could clean and get behind it. It was too heavy to steal!”

Our classic crème brulee bowl now scraped clean, the bottle of champagne empty and tummys more than full, we head upstairs and fall into our (oversized of course) bed.

Living room at Chateau De Lamothe
Living room at Chateau De Lamothe

The next morning I rise early and go straight for the camera, to try and capture the elements that fill the chateau and give it such a great character. This perfectly placed ‘clutter’ consists of oversized reproduction artworks, brightly coloured vintage furniture, sculptures created by Christine herself and absolutely everything in between. Everywhere you look, there is something that catches the eye. But it is not just all these pieces that bring so much life to this property; it is the devotion and hard work of Laurent and Christine that shines through.

Another dining room at Chateau De Lamothe
Another dining room at Chateau De Lamothe

After a delicious breakfast of eggs, salmon, fresh pastries, baguettes, homemade preserves, fresh juice, (the list goes on!), prepared and served by Laurent of course, the time has come to gather our bags and bid farewell to our wonderful hosts. Thank you again Laurent and Christine, for saving this property and bringing new life to a beautiful piece of history.

Farewell Chateau De Lamothe
Farewell Chateau De Lamothe

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