Chateau de Candes, the hidden gem in the heart of the Loire Valley
From fire dancer to château host, Bertrand Pignet shares how he and Jingwen, his life partner, transformed heritage into art. A story where ancient stones meet modern rhythm, and creativity, and every guest becomes part of the dance.
When I look out from Château de Candes at the meeting of the Loire and Vienne rivers, I remember the road that brought me here.
It all feels natural now, but nothing in my past pointed in this direction. I was a dancer, a juggler, a wanderer. Becoming a château host was never part of the plan. And yet, every flame, every step, brought me here.
In 2011, I left Paris with a backpack, two fire batons, and no plan other than to reach Sydney through Asia by land within a year. I performed across Europe and Asia, sharing movement and beauty in the streets. After 6 months, I arrived in Dali, a mountain town in Yunnan, China, filled with artists and freedom.
That’s where I met Jingwen. She had the grace of an Asian dancer and a deep calm. Freshly graduated from Singapore, she had just spent a year backpacking through Asia, Tibet included.
We connected instantly. Our first performance together in the streets of Dali revealed something special. She brought precision, I brought chaos, together, we created harmony.
We performed wherever people gathered, from temples to riverbanks. Our perseverance brought us to the biggest stages and ultimately to “China’s Got Talent” in 2021. We reached the semifinals, but more importantly, we realized how art could transcend culture.
In 2013, we married in China and lived there for almost a decade, performing, teaching, and raising our two children. China shaped us. It taught me silence and patience; Sam showed me that light needs structure to shine.
But eventually, the call of home grew louder
In 2022, we returned to France, to my family’s château in Candes-Saint-Martin. While we were abroad, my parents had restored it with passion. They even created the Street Art Parc, an open-air gallery where contemporary works bloom among centuries-old trees. Without realizing it, they had prepared the stage for our return.
We took up the challenge and expanded their vision, turning the château into a living space where art, hospitality, and joy come together.
Every Summer, we host our Street Art Festival, bringing together painters, sculptors, and performers from around the world.
Sam and I still perform, a reminder that art is movement. Guests gather on the lawns, music fills the valley, and for a few days, the château becomes what we dreamed of: a celebration of creativity without borders.
The rest of the year, the château lives many lives
Some guests stay in our four-star rooms and charming houses that line the river. Families enjoy the freedom of these unique homes full of character; couples find peace in our elegant suites. Mornings begin with light over the Loire, and evenings end beneath the stars.
There’s also the troglodyte spa, hidden beneath ancient wine cellars, with three pools, one under vaulted stone ceilings.
The château once belonged to monks in the 16th and 17th centuries, and echoes of that history remain: an old wine press, a dome now used for yoga and meditation guided by Sam.
Others come to privatize the entire estate for weddings, family gatherings, retreats, or art events. During these moments, the spirit of the festival comes indoors: live music, performances, and experiences that turn dinners into memories.
For us, true luxury isn’t about perfection, it’s about emotion and presence.
This place is not a hotel. It’s a heartbeat
Its walls carry centuries of stories, but they breathe with the energy of each guest. A laugh in the courtyard, a sketch on a napkin, every visit leaves a mark.
At night, when I walk through the garden, sculptures glowing in the dark, I remember the young man who left Paris with two fire batons. Every step of the journey, from street performances in Asia to stages in China, to the quiet strength of this château, led here.
Jingwen still brings balance where I bring fire. Together, we’ve created more than a destination. We’ve built a rhythm. A place where art, comfort, and connection coexist.
When guests arrive, we tell them: Don’t come just to stay, come to feel.
Whether it’s the peace of a riverside room, the joy of a family holiday, or the thrill of a performance under the stars, the château offers something rare: not escape, but belonging.
And sometimes, when the evening light turns the Loire gold, I look up at the tower and think – every journey, no matter how far, is just a way of finding home.
- About the Author
- More info
Chateau de Candes owner and manager Bertrand Pignet, originally from Paris, France, grew up in a family of hotel managers. He graduated with a Master’s degree in 2005 and became a web developer in Paris. In 2011, he decided to travel the world performing as a fire juggler. Taking only a small backpack, he traveled 30,000 km by land and sea. During this time, he met Jingwen, who was also hitchhiking, and it was love at first sight. They married and founded ” Fire Nomads,” and performed in festivals all over China, and then at the “Dali Flow Festival.” In 2021, the couple accepted the invitation of China Got Talent and reached the semi-finals. That same year, the couple and their children moved back to France to rake over the family’s Chateau de Candes and Street Art Parc, adding and expanding the offerings, taking it from a historical chateau to a 4-star offering.
