Chateau en Champagne

We are looking for a reliable, practical and independent sitter, or family (pets welcome), who is comfortable caring for a large dog and being responsibly present at our château. The most important requirement is availability to remain on the property for whole days, sometimes for stretches of up to two weeks, while we are away. Responsibilities include feeding and caring for our large friendly dog, opening and closing the main gate daily for the house keeper, following our straightforward alarm procedures, in the winter, checking for error codes on the furnace system, in the summer, setting the irrigation system for 4 hours daily. You would not be expected to repair the furnace, but to contact the plomber promptly if anything seems unusual or urgent. You will stay in a private, self-contained apartment within our historic family château, surrounded by six hectares of wooded grounds, a remarkable arboretum, an orchard and a kitchen garden. You are welcome to pick apples and enjoy vegetables from the garden in return for occasional light weeding, if you enjoy gardening. Among the many places to visit nearby are Château-Thierry and its Champagne vineyards; Château de Condé in Condé-en-Brie; Pierrefonds and its medieval castle; Reims, worldly renowned for its Champagne houses and cathedral; Paris; Disneyland Paris; and the candlelit summer evenings at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. This is not an ordinary tourist stay: we need a genuinely reliable person who is happy to be on site every day and who will not plan long excursions or overnight trips while we are away. A car is strongly recommended in this rural area and we can provide one for you to use. Comfort around larger dogs, basic practical confidence and clear communication are essential. Yes

Responsibilities include feeding and caring for our large friendly dog, opening and closing the main gate daily for the house keeper, following our straightforward alarm procedures, in the winter, checking for error codes on the furnace system, in the summer, setting the irrigation system for 4 hours daily. You would not be expected to repair the furnace, but to contact the plomber promptly if anything seems unusual or urgent. You will stay in a private, self-contained apartment within our historic family château, surrounded by six hectares of wooded grounds, a remarkable arboretum, an orchard and a kitchen garden. You are welcome to pick apples and enjoy vegetables from the garden in return for occasional light weeding, if you enjoy gardening. Among the many places to visit nearby are Château-Thierry and its Champagne vineyards; Château de Condé in Condé-en-Brie; Pierrefonds and its medieval castle; Reims, worldly renowned for its Champagne houses and cathedral; Paris; Disneyland Paris; and the candlelit summer evenings at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. This is not an ordinary tourist stay: we need a genuinely reliable person who is happy to be on site every day and who will not plan long excursions or overnight trips while we are away. A car is strongly recommended in this rural area and we can provide one for you to use. Comfort around larger dogs, basic practical confidence and clear communication are essential. Yes