Chateau Charmant began as a labor of love, but is now a part of the community
Nestled in a serene corner of Christian County, Mo., surrounded by lush hills and towering trees, lies a breathtaking castle straight out of a fairy tale: Chateau Charmant.
Approaching the castle, can be much like a fairy tale, as guests cross over a babbling stream and navigating winding switchbacks that led to the castle perched atop a majestic group of hills.
As the castle comes into view, it is like a scene fit for Cinderella, Snow White, or Rapunzel, with awe-inspiring architecture and enchanting presence.
The story behind Chateau Charmant is as remarkable as the castle itself, and it all started with a couple who shared a passion for castles.
Robert and Bonnie Palmer, an adventurous duo who had spent their early years in Europe, fell in love with castles during their separate travels. Robert had explored the grand castles of Scotland, while Bonnie had been captivated by the charming castles of France. They immersed themselves in the history, lore and architecture of these majestic structures, even making sketches of the castles they visited. Robert is a skilled builder, and Bonnie has a background in the airline industry. Fate brought them together in California, and they eventually bought a piece of land in Missouri.
During one of Robert’s scouting trips in Missouri, he sent Bonnie a sketch of a castle with a simple message scrawled at the bottom: “I want to build you a castle.”
Initially, Bonnie hesitated, concerned about what people might think, but soon she realized, “Why not?”
In 2003, Robert, Bonnie, and their daughter Brittany embarked on an extraordinary journey to build their own 13th century French chateau. They lived in a trailer on the property while they tirelessly worked on the castle. It took five years to complete this labor of love.
It was an impressive feat, with Bonnie recounting how they operated heavy machinery and their 15-year-old daughter Brittany played a pivotal role in their efforts, even operating machinery to put some arches in place. They also enlisted the help of Amish craftsmen to build the exquisite wooden arches that adorn the castle, meticulously crafting them without nails or screws to ensure authenticity. Robert even created his own forms for the ornamental sculptures that grace the castle walls.
Chateau Charmant boasts a grand main room that serves as a venue for events such as balls, weddings and mystery dinner theaters. The castle also features rooms designed to accommodate bridal parties during weddings, as well as suites that can be rented as a bed-and-breakfast.
Robert and Bonnie live in a section of the castle where they have their own apartment. They are constructing an outdoor stage where they plan to host a musical production of Rapunzel, for which Bonnie has written the play and enlisted a music student from Missouri State University to score the music. The castle grounds also include a tower near the outdoor theater and a life-sized checkerboard, adding to the whimsical charm of the palace.
Bonnie is also an accomplished painter, and has adorned much of the castle’s interior with her own paintings, including reproductions of masterpieces and her original artwork. She painted reproduction of the two young princes, Edward the V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, who disappeared after being sent to the heavily guarded royal lodgings in the Tower of London. Bonnie passionately shared the story of their fate, the cutthroat reason they were killed and how their remains were discovered in the 1990s. Queen Elizabeth did not grant permission to test the DNA for confirmation, although there is speculation King Charles III may have a different perspective on the matter.
The castle is preparing for a Great Imposter Masquerade Ball to benefit the Greene County Library. Adults and children can attend and are invited to dress up as their favorite storybook characters. Chateau Charmant has opened its doors for many non-profit events, making it a valuable asset to the region.
They have provided educational experiences for public school classes, offering a wealth of historical and architectural information. Students are assigned castle jobs, in order to immerse them in the historical experience. They also get to see a trebuchet launch, which is a machine used in medieval siege warfare for hurling large stones or other missiles. Bonnie can expertly describe the names and functions of different parts of the architecture as ascended the battlements, providing insights into their protective design during that period.
