When Trish Jasinski’s marketing career took her from Boston to an international posting in Paris in 2008, she had no idea it would ultimately lead to owning a historic chateau.
“My career had progressed over the years but as my 50th birthday approached, I was looking for an adventure,” she says.
“Covid restrictions limited my options, lockdowns already had me thinking about moving, and a friend jokingly observed that I could buy a chateau for the price of my Parisian apartment.
“Not long after that, talking to another friend, I realised that I wanted to explore south-west France more, particularly the Pyrenees, as I love hiking. By the end of our call – and a few glasses of wine – I’d planned a chateau-shopping trip.”
Château de Gère
In August 2020, Ms Jasinski had three appointments in southern France, but the agent mentioned another chateau to add to the list.
“I hadn’t really identified any requirements since I was only half-serious about purchasing,” she recalls.
“The first place was run-down and isolated, one was modern but by a busy road, another was very dark and gloomy, but the ‘add-on’ was Château de Gère and it was love at first sight.
“It was for sale for €599,000. I made an offer within a few hours and finalised on December 30.”
Living with history
Located in the Vallee d’Ossau, inland between Biarritz and Toulouse, Château de Gère is set in nearly seven acres, surrounded by established trees and snow-topped mountains.
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This 200m² medieval fortress was built in the late 1300s, with stone walls 80cm thick, and in the 1500s was used as a hunting lodge for Henri IV.
A menacing
messageChâteau de Gère
“It’s named after a feudal lord, Jean de Gère, who owned the chateau in the 1600s,” says Ms Jasinski. “It seems he was a bit of a tyrant. The plaque above the door reads ‘Wisdom begins with the fear of Jean de Gère’, which gives an indication of what he thought of himself.”
The chateau had long been neglected but the previous owner had made efforts to make it more habitable and homely.
“Originally, there were six bedrooms but I removed one to create an open mezzanine above the living space, which lets in some much-needed extra light,” says Ms Jasinski.
Some of her projects have been featured on the UK television show Château DIY, including refreshing the kitchen, constructing a bridge, installing flooring and replacing the decking around the pool.
“Thankfully, there aren’t too many restrictions as it’s not a listed building.” Ms Jasinski says.
“When replacing windows, they had to be wood, but I’ve been able to install solar panels and underfloor heating and make other cosmetic changes.”
Historical features include arrow slits for defending the castle, a vast fireplace with an old rotisserie and an ancient toilet hanging from the back wall.
The outdoor
toiletChâteau de Gère
“I was told that there used to be a balcony here so you could walk out of the window to do your business,” says Ms Jasinski.
When Ms Jasinski initially moved to Pyrénées-Atlantiques, she considered working remotely to continue her marketing career. However, she subsequently decided to open up the chateau for group retreats and workshops.
A wooden doorChâteau de Gère
Hunting parties are a distant memory: the thick stone walls now ring with laughter as groups enjoy everything from watercolour and photography workshops to culinary retreats and hiking expeditions.
With the sound of the burbling stream and sheep bells in the distance, there is a timeless feel to this historic place, a world away from the pressures of a Parisian career.
Find Château de Gère online and follow Trish Jasinski’s latest DIY projects, retreats and the escapades of her chickens.
