For Your Entertainment- The Chateaux of YouTube

 Here we are enjoying the last couple of weeks before classes start back again (and, yes, we are going back again this year). This means it's time to binge those shows we've been enjoying all summer while completing class prep. One of my favourites for the last few months has been The Chateau Diaries, which can easily be found on YouTube. I've actually taken to watching more short documentaries and vlogs on YouTube than TV, despite the Netflix, Acorn, Britbox, and Amazon Prime subscriptions. I mentioned in a previous post that properties in France, especially derelict chateaux, are incredibly cheap now, and Stephanie Jarvis of The Chateau Diaries was able to take advantage of this over a decade ago and now runs her own entrepreneurial business out of the renovated castle she bought with a friend. If you enjoy frivolity and antics, and especially if you like little tidbits about history and luxury goods, then this might just be for you.

The titular home of the Chateau Diaries is Chateau de Lalande, which was featured first on another show called Escape to the Chateau DIY, itself a spin-off of the very popular British series, Escape to the Chateau. As the IMDB page says "Many Brits have moved to France to buy crumbling French chateaus to renovate into stunning homes. This series follows their progress and sees them try to use their homes as a business for events, etc."  It's like one-stop shopping for all the chateau reality television you could want. I actually wasn't looking for anything of the sort when I stumbled across it on, you guessed it, YouTube, I was looking for videos on DIY renovations for installing faux fireplaces and wainscotting. Nonetheless, I have since been hooked. 

Another spin-off vlog from the spin-off series, is Chateau Life. There's a little less DIY on the Diaries vlog, which can be disappointing, but Life isn't set at a B&B, instead it's an outdoor events venue and work on the interior is very much ongoing, so it can be delightful to see how the owners tackle renovating the Chateau de Bailleul, with an emphasis on doing it on a budget. Ah yes, a chateau on a budget, that sounds right up my alley!

Enjoyed these series yourself? Have one I missed that you want to share? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!