Posts tagged “Paix”

Looking for a new project and wide-open spaces, Dany Torchy, an event promoter from the Québec region, learned in 2020 that a rather unusual castle was for sale in Escuminac's Pointe-à-la-Garde sector, in Gaspésie.

 
Jean Roussy, the castle's designer and creator, had devoted nearly 40 years of his life to it, about 30 of them spent building it, and had announced his intention to sell at the beginning of 2020. As fate would have it, he died a few months later from a long illness, leaving his life partner and several family members in mourning. His estate therefore decided to put the Château Bahia property up for sale.

 Jean Roussy, creator of Château Bahia, died in 2020.

During a first visit in October 2020, Dany Torchy, who was then living on Île d'Orléans, fell in love with the place. He convinced his friend, Mickaël Retailleau, a Montréal-area expert in car and motorcycle interior design, to join the venture. "When we saw the castle, we immediately saw its potential," he said. In the end, they convinced the family to sell them the castle and another residence built on the 170-acre property, at the end of a 600-metre road deep in the forest. The family was looking for kind-hearted people who would continue the founder's work.

Château Bahia was built over 16 summers without a precise plan, as its creator admitted in a 2020 Radio-Canada interview shortly before his death. He had converted the roadside house into a youth hostel, where he welcomed young travellers, offering them accommodation in exchange for help with construction.

 
"At first, I decided what we would do," Jean Roussy recalled. "Then, after a while, it was the castle that told me what was missing or what needed to be added."

Dany Torchy and Michaël Retailleau believe they will be able to play the role of finishers, while continuing the mission the founder of the inn set for himself. The owners also plan to name a tower in honour of Jean Roussy, who spent 7 long years juggling the idea alone, suppressing the rational voice that would have told him, "It's impossible."

Since 2021, the new owners have had to face the COVID pandemic, like everyone else. This has delayed planned work in certain sections of the castle, which blends styles from medieval to baroque. The interiors of both buildings are also filled with images of castles from around the world that Jean Roussy had visited. The partners also want to carry out work to bring the castle's interior up to date. They hope to eventually decorate the castle's facade with flags.

 
Currently, visitors stay in the small castle (the five-storey tower just behind the main building) and in a few rooms in the main building, for a total of 10 rooms. Seven have private bathrooms, while three share a common bathroom. You're guaranteed a peaceful, comfortable stay. This isn't the "castle life" often compared to the luxury of certain hotels, but the welcome is warm, not to mention the view from the top of the tower over the surrounding area and Baie des Chaleurs.

While they are well aware that maintaining the property is a substantial task, the scale of the challenge is far from frightening the newcomers. The trio's dream is now to make the place accessible year-round and share it with Gaspésiens. They are also counting on a website redesign and new promotional campaigns in the region and beyond.

The partners are fully committed and also aim to make the Château Bahia inn a genuine cultural hub, featuring the work of Québec artisans and organizing performances. A big top tent set up in the back courtyard has been hosting evening shows with musicians and other performers since 2022, particularly in June, July and August.

 
They also hope to revive the ballroom as a dining room for meals prepared by their chef, in a "surprise" format, with limited but original menus.

In 2021, the mayor of Escuminac welcomed the arrival of these new entrepreneurs, calling it excellent news for the municipality of about 521 people, since the activities of Château Bahia will contribute to the area's vitality. He noted that the Château Bahia inn is now the municipality's only hotel accommodation.

Finally, it's worth noting that the castle's name was chosen in honour of a Véronique Sanson song, and the new owners decided to keep it.

Auberge du Château Bahia
chateaubahia.com
152, boulevard Perron
Pointe-à-la-Garde (Escuminac), Qc
(418) 330-1991

Barbara and Phil Thibodeau built from scratch, without a pun intended, this imposing residence assembled piece by piece, serving as a Bed & Breakfast by the sea in Pointe-Verte, New Brunswick. They named it Gîte Toutes Saisons (All Seasons B&B) to express their desire to make it a welcoming place all year round.

Each of the four rooms bears an evocative name: Summer Sunset, Autumn Sunrise, Winter Refuge, Spring Serenade.

Located between Bathurst and Campbelton, the B&B began welcoming travelers in 2000. A few years earlier, this site was just a large two-acre lot without any development. After acquiring it in 1999, they undertook to build a large house and develop the land to reflect their values and passion, with the added bonus of immediate proximity to the sea with its tides, sunrises, and aquatic birdlife.

Phil and Barbara hired local labor to build their B&B. This local cedar wood cottage, entirely designed by the owners, is a place of serenity in the Baie des Chaleurs.

Nature lovers, the hosts have a strong ecological conscience. They practice sound waste and food resource management, sourcing locally as much as possible, and highlighting local artisans. They opted for underfloor heating, which only heats occupied spaces during the day to reduce energy consumption.

With undeniable social commitment, Phil (originally from Bathurst) and Barbara (born in Ontario) are hosts who share their culture with authenticity and generosity. They sit down at the table with travelers and share life anecdotes and diverse knowledge. Phil has long participated in the multicultural committee aimed at fostering exchange between locals and immigrants, in addition to volunteering to accompany the sick. They are passionate about promoting change in their community. Barbara retired a few years ago from a teaching career in Chatham, Ontario.

The only house rules are: arrive when you want, go to bed when you are tired, get up when you are well-rested, and eat when you are hungry! The four rooms are spacious and cozy, inviting peaceful sleep. A fine cook, Phil will surprise you with a delicious local breakfast at the large table in their beautiful rustic dining room. "Phil loves preparing meals for people," explains Barbara. He is in his element in the kitchen. "You should see him go when we have family over during the holidays or when we welcome groups to the B&B," she adds.

They have many stories to tell, which they share authentically and simply with their guests. They raised a beautiful family of four children, one of whom still resides in Acadia while three are in Ontario. One of their granddaughters, a professional cook, has already shown interest in taking over from her grandparents when they decide to pass the torch. Phil is 83 and Barbara is 78. Even though they are in relatively good health, the day will come when they will have to think about resting and living peaceful days. Owning and managing a B&B for nearly 25 years is no easy feat.

Several services are included in the accommodation rate, including breakfast, Wi-Fi, direct access to the sea and beach, gardens, parking, etc.

What is certain is that a stay with these open-minded and welcoming people guarantees good times and happy memories.

Gîte Toutes saisons B&B
relaxseaside.com
10, rue des Oiseaux
Pointe-Verte (NB)
(506) 783-3122