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Who is Selmar at Chateau Lalande?

Dutch tango instructor Selmar Duin showed up at Lalande just as the first lockdown hit France. He drove up to the chateau in his camper van, accompanied by his dog, Diesel.



Selmar Duin is a well-known former volunteer and resident of the Château de Lalande, featured prominently in the popular YouTube series The Chateau Diaries hosted by Stephanie Jarvis. A native of the Netherlands, Selmar originally arrived at the chateau as a volunteer worker and quickly became a fan favorite due to his gentle demeanor, his passion for tango dancing, and his skills in various restoration projects. During his time at the chateau, he lived in his camper van on the grounds and assisted with many of the intensive renovation tasks required to maintain the historic property. However, in recent years, Selmar moved on from Lalande to pursue his own projects and dreams of owning a chateau or a similar historic property. His departure was a significant moment for the show’s long-term viewers, as he had been a staple of the "Lalande family" for several years, often bringing a unique, artistic, and calming energy to the often chaotic environment of chateau life.

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