Château-sitters at your service
Professional female couple providing luxury house-sitting and estate management services in the UK, France and Australia.
About Us
The results of a 4am internet search was the sole catalyst for what turned out to be a life-changing adventure.
As our interest in eco-conservation and sustainability projects grew, the constraints of living in central London pushed us to explore different options. So when a caretaker vacancy at a rural château in France popped up we threw caution to the wind and went for it.
We drew on our past experience of property renovation, growing up on a large acreage in Australia, and a general obsession with power tools to become the DIY-doing, green-fingered gardening, swimming pool-maintaining, eco project-planning and security-patrolling caretakers the château owners needed us to be.
This leap of faith led to subsequent house-sitting and Workaway experiences in Covid-safe environments across France.
Recent Assignments
Château des Fougis
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Our first Workaway experience on an estate close to Vichy involved a surreal wool project, a German-English-French rock band member, and a fishing expedition with champagne.
Private Château
Dordogne, France
This ideal summer assignment involved us helping prepare for the sale of a 12th Century château in the Dordogne Valley. We never tired of our host’s great cooking and cocktails by the pool.
Private Manor
Gascony, France
We took on the challenge of transforming this eco-retreat from ‘wilderness wildlands’ into ‘horticultural chic’ in preparation for paying guests after it had been unoccupied for several months.
Private Château
Pays de la Loire, France
This is the property that began our French adventures! We adored our time on the edge of a small village in rural France, only a short drive from the coast and Mont Saint-Michael.
Projects
Wildlife and eco projects
Hedgehog houses, bee hotels and wildlife cameras
Garden revival
The ultimate garden turnaround challenge
Château and garden maintenance
A variety of indoor and outdoor projects
The Wool Road
An eco-friendly weed suppression project
Testimonials
“The visit of Caroline and Fiona was really nice and charming and we spent great days together. The two spread a good mood.
Both are communicative, intelligent and can work completely independently - in various technical domains, as well as in the garden and for renovation - and on the computer. They are very familiar with online projects and can help with online presentations. Caroline is also the queen of barbecues. She hosted all guests professionally at our event. Everyone was enchanted by her charm. Fiona is also accommodating, forward-looking, reliable. You could give them the keys to your house and go on vacation for a long time - your house would be perfectly maintained when you get back!
They're welcome back at any time!”
- Christine, owner Château des Fougis
“Caroline and Fiona are easy-going, hard working, hands-on sensible people who just get on with things. They are adept at using professional gardening machinery which was hugely helpful. They are also very good company and ready for a laugh and a chat.
As I was alone when they were here, it was a treat to have some company whilst remaining safe in our own little corona bubble.
Caroline introduced me to the delights of wildlife filming and I now have my own camera.
It’s a shame that due to the pandemic they were rather restricted in seeing many of the beautiful sights and taking part in regional activities, but they seemed quite content with picnics out and about and lounging by the pool at the end of the day.
I would unreservedly recommend Caroline and Fiona to any host and look forward to seeing them again - perhaps in Yorkshire.”
- Maria, owner of Dordogne château