The incredible story of a family who stumbled across an abandoned French Chateau during a holiday - before spending two years renovating the property (and exploring its secret tunnels)

Karina and Craig Waters from Perth in Western Australia purchased the Chateau de Gudanes in the south of France back in 2013

Karina and Craig Waters, including their two teenage children, immediately began restoring the sprawling property, which was built in the mid 1700s

Chateau was built in the mid 1700s and designed by Parisian architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel

The restoration is being documented on the chateau's website and social media accounts. The walls are crumbling and the paint is peeling

The historic chateau, which overlooks the Midi-Pyrénées in southern France, was half in ruins when the Waters family took over

Built in the mid-eighteenth century, the sprawling property was designed by Parisian architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel and originally owned by an influential member of Toulouse Parliament

Since they purchased the property, the Australian couple have uncovered mysterious tunnels (pictured), ancient artefacts and even a fresco painting after peeling away some old wallpaper

The restoration on the spectacular 94-room property is being documented on the chateau's website and social media accounts

Since November last year the Waters have been restoring the huge mansion, which was on the market for four years before it was purchased by the Perth-based family

Many rooms had no ceiling or floor and the place had remarkably never been outfitted with heat or electricity

The roof had collapsed in four places and many room inside had become rubble and were inaccessible

The Waters left their hometown of Perth to take on the mammoth challenge of restoring the Class 1 monument building

There are dozens of rooms in the sprawling property with original brickwork and plastering still visible

Members of the public have made contributions to help with the restoration and maintain public accessible areas

All of the rooms apart from three were reduced to rubble due to collapsed ceilings and floors

The chateau sits on the edge of a ledge overlooking the Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France

Spiraling staircases, dozens of rooms, spectacularly high ceilings and original details on the walls of the property are some of it's most impressive features

A magnificent pool out the back, the stunning setting and original brickwork, paintings and architecture plus friendly animals which roam the ground only add to the wonder

The Waters hope in the near future to have a running cafe and tours of the stunning rooms, with their impossibly high ceilings and intricate detail dating back centuries

The historic chateau sits on the edge of a ledge overlooking the Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France

Since they purchased the property, the Australian couple have uncovered mysterious tunnels, ancient artefacts

Looking ahead to 2016, the Waters aim to have accommodation, a gift shop, spaces for weddings and other functions, plus the ability to host local music festivals, fetes, conferences and other events at the chateau

Since they purchased the property, the Australian couple have uncovered mysterious tunnels, ancient artefacts and even a fresco painting after peeling away some old wallpaper