Walking in the Pyrenees, twenty years ago, Matthew Parris and his sister came upon a magnificent medieval house. It had crests and a date - 1559 - chiselled into the stone: its walls and foundations were intact but the ancient oak ridge timber supporting the roof had split and was ready to collapse into the rotten floors beneath. Renovation would be an epic undertaking - a massive investment of time, money and emotion. And, the locals warned, nobody ever left L'Avenc with any money. A few years ago, Matthew (with his family's help) went back and bought the place. Astonishing and arguably idiot, his decision resulted in a phenomenal amount of hard work, and this hugely enjoyable book. Inspirational, instructional and utterly irresistible, this is the story of one man's dream to turn a forgotten ruin into his very own Castle in Spain.
- ISBN10 0141019433
- ISBN13 9780141019437
- Publish Date 4 May 2006 (first published 6 October 2005)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 13 June 2007
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
- Format Paperback
- Pages 256
- Language English