Perpignan Couple Transforms 10th-Century Château into Event Venue Following Unexpected Inheritance
Taxo d’Amont, France – A Perpignan couple, Guy and his wife, are breathing new life into the Château de Siuroles, a historic domain dating back to 988, after unexpectedly inheriting it from its last private owner, Lady Agnès. The Sylvesters, as they are known, received the castle, its 3 hectares of land, 11 outbuildings, and expansive park following Agnès’s passing after six years of a close companionship. The inheritance included a 65% donation tax paid to the state.
Agnès, heiress to the castle and a life of privilege – including daily taxi fares of 200 francs, a regular hairdresser, and a tailor-made seamstress – had resided at Siuroles as inheriting it from her uncle. As age and illness made self-reliant living unachievable, she moved in with the Sylvesters, who regularly transported her back to Taxo to oversee her estate, including her animals and stage manager. “She dreams of going to a convertible,” Guy recalls, noting her wishes were always honored.Following her death, Agnès bequeathed the entire property to the couple, a gesture they describe as “blown by Agnès who supported us from above to the end.”
Originally used as a hospital under Napoleon, the Château had fallen into disrepair by the 19th century when it was purchased by Agnès’s noble family. The Sylvesters are now undertaking a colossal renovation, balancing structural repairs, gardening, and annual taxes exceeding €10,000. They’ve already opened holiday rooms in the old stables, hosting weddings, ceremonies, and concerts, alongside their own musical evenings to help offset costs.
“Sometimes work, sometimes spectacle,” Guy, also known as Johnny Galaxi, observes. While the castle boasts around thirty rooms, lounges, and a chapel, the couple acknowledges they cannot maintain the entire estate alone. They are considering involving their sons or seeking an investor tenant to develop portions of the property, perhaps as a retirement home, with the firm intention of preserving the spirit of Agnès and never selling the historic site. “The potential of the site is staggering,” they say, committed to continuing the legacy of the Château de Siuroles.
