A couple's ambitious DIY project to restore a historic French manor has suffered a major setback after a devastating fire, with repair costs potentially reaching €1.3 million (£1.1 million). Dimitri, 35, and David Petitpas, 28, purchased the 200-year-old Egmont Manor near Cloyes-les-Trois-Rivières, about an hour from Paris, in September last year for €330,000 (£285,763). The nine-bedroom chateau had no water, no electricity, and a leaky roof, but the couple planned to renovate it within 10 months and use it as a wedding venue.
Fire Strikes Shortly After Purchase
In November, they received a devastating call that their new home had caught fire, destroying the roof. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Photos show charred remnants of the historic roof and attic that collapsed onto the first floor, leaving the property exposed to harsh winter weather.
The couple is insured and awaiting confirmation of coverage, but they have been told repairs could exceed €1.3 million. Dimitri said: 'We have been told that we need 1.3 million euros to rebuild the manor, which is way more than what we were planning. We bought it to restore it, so we will restore it. It will be much harder and a lot more costly than we planned but we will do it anyway even if we have to spend three to four years.'
Determination Despite Setbacks
Dimitri and David, who live five hours away in a French Alps flat while renovating, received the call from police at 11pm on November 20. They sent friends to check on the property and were shocked by the damage. Dimitri added: 'At first we thought it was a bad joke. We called some friends who went to the manor to see if it was true and the place had been burned through. By the time the firefighters arrived it was too late, the place was engulfed in flames and we had already lost the roof. The attic was gone and everything had collapsed on the first floor.'
The couple, who are DIY novices, have been learning renovation techniques from YouTube. They had started removing damaged plants, moving the front gate to create a driveway, and knocking down walls to open up the space. They hoped to finish within a year, but the fire has delayed their plans until at least 2028.
Financial Challenges and Future Plans
They secured only €100,000 (£86,586) as a renovation loan, a third of what they need. Despite the challenges, they remain committed. Dimitri said: 'We only have problems. We find some nice surprises but mainly we find issues. We are having to do so much more than we had planned. We basically only had the four walls and we had to start all over. We need to take out everything and restart from scratch. That is all part of the experience.'
Egmont Manor was built in 1880 and the Petitpas are only the fourth family to own it. The 600-square-metre interior and 10,000-square-metre gardens are intended for a maze and Christmas markets. The couple hopes to eventually move in and host their wedding there, turning it into a luxury B&B. Despite the fire, they are determined to see their dream through.
