Today we’d like to introduce you to Bertrand PIGNET.
Hi Bertrand, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Here is my Bio
Bertrand PIGNET, Born in 1984 in Paris. Grown in a family of hotel managers he has this in his blood since his young age.
He started Juggling and travelling when he was 18 years old as a student.
He graduated with a Master degree in 2005 and became a web developer in Paris.
In 2011 he decided to stop this activity and undergo a one year travel and have his fire juggling tool as a communication device along his way.
A small backpack and his thumb are all it needed to take the road : 30 000 km by land and sea toward sydney.
No Laptop, no mobile phone, just the strict necessary, a passeport, a credit car , a few clothes, camping gears, and fire juggling tools.
He will cross : eastern europe, turkey, Georgie, Iran, Turkmenistan, OUzbekistan, Tadjikistan, Kirghizistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia and North Korea and arrive in CHina where he will continue is travel on a small motorbike traveling 11 000 km through the country before arriving in Dali. After 6 month travel he finally finds a place where he finds a feeling of belonging.
This is also where he will meet Jingwen, on december 4th 2011, who was also travelling by hitchhiking from India.
It is a love at first sight story and they will not part from each other from this day onward.
Together they travel through south east asia from 3 more months before they decide to settle and develop together a common project in the place of their first love : Dali.ev
They get a Big house where they start a guest house welcoming travelers from around the world, and to finance the expenses of renovation, they go in the streets making fire performances in the evening with a hat on the floor.
Quickly they realise that performing could offer a better income than the guest house project as they grow stronger in their mastering of their art form: “duo fire performing”.
From there they will keep on developing this new born project : ” Fire Nomads 火游牧“
They invest in new equipment, stage lights and sound , stage decorations are all homemade.
from 2014 onwards they are invited to festivals all over China, not only to perform but also to create creative stages where other artists will come to showcase their skills.
After the birth of their first daughter, they want to settle more in Dali and create a long lasting project : “Dali Flow Festival”
In 2018 they organize in Dali the first “Chinese Juggling convention”. Gathering 100 juggling enthusiasts and 20 international teachers for a week long of workshops and performing in Dali. The night shows could gather up to 400 persons in the audience.
In 2019 they do the second edition with 150 persons.
In 2020 the coronavirus will give an end to the festival that couldn t continue as international travelling is banned.
They decide to refocus on their performances that they continue to show case with their baby girl all around China.
In the fall of 2021 they finally decide to accept the invitation of China Got Talent where they will reach the semi finals.
In the same time frame and as they now have a second baby, they decide to go back to France to take over the project of the Chateau de Candes and Street Art Parc.
It was quite a challenge, to learn again the skills of Hotel management and to give it their Own Spirit.
Year after year they instilate in the place their vision :
Organisation of night events in 2022.
Creation of a massage area in troglodytes in 2023 to add to the ART in the Parc the SPA dimension
The new swimming pool and creation of a restaurant and new rooms designed by street artists in 2024.
And finally in 2025 the All domain is granted 4 stars.
I hope that gives you a ruff idea of the story we have to tell.
There more to stay about our attachment to yoga, dance and body movement that has been a big part of our story too.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course it wasn’t smooth,
To reinvent your self, your relationship and the place you manage is a crazy endeavors but I guess it is worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are before anything a place that belong to history back from the XVth century
In it we have several activities such as accommodation, spa, art parc, restaurant.
What sets us apart is the contrast of high end accommodations and quite relaxed and chill atmosphere with very universal art project.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck, except for the family I was born into.
For the rest it is circumstances and this comes from choices.
Pricing:
- Accommodations fee from 160 euros per night
- spa access from 48 euros
- Parc visit 8.5 per adult
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.chateaudecandes.com
- Instagram: Chateaudecandes
- Facebook: Chateaudecandes
