“See these black streaks on the floor?” says investment banker Marc Deschamps. We all nod, holding our third glass of magnum-served crémant. “They’re the tyre marks of German soldiers’ motorbikes from WWII.” We’re all stood around the restored entrance hall at the Chateau de Vezins in the Loire Valley. This is Canadian Marc’s second home and he’s showing us around.

The 18th-century property has been a long labour of love, with Marc dedicating serious resource to bringing it back to its former glory. The tyre marks remain, though. This, I guess, is on purpose, as it’s clear on our saunter that Marc is something of a history fan. And there’s plenty of that round here.

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