Brad Pitt begins renovating 35m home

Brad Pitt has left Angelina Jolie alone in Los Angeles to jet to France to oversee extensive renovation work on their £35 million mansion.

The Hollywood star - who flew to Paris on Wednesday (02.02.11) - obtained a building permit in 2009 to make huge changes to the 35-bedroom Chateau Miraval estate in Provence, which already boasts his-and-hers gyms, a Jacuzzi, sauna, billiards room and huge banqueting suite.

Now the architecture enthusiast is hoping to give the mansion a more "contemporary feel" adding hot tubs, steam rooms, a spa, a new gym, a larger wine cellar and a motorcycle track.

The high-profile couple - who have six children, Maddox, nine, Pax, seven, Zahara, five, Shiloh, four, and two-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne - are also said to be planning a complete overhaul of their security system adding a surveillance centre, spy cameras, alarms, and infra-red sensors.

The mansion is surrounded by a dense forest, giving the couple and their children privacy, and the grounds also boast more than 20 fountains, olive trees and a lake.

Upon submission, Brad's plans for the estate were welcomed by the mayor of the nearby town of Correns, who promised a civic reception to "honour" the famous family to the area.

He said: "The application has been received for widespread work on their new house, and we are delighted that they will be here more permanently. They are a wonderful couple with beautiful children and we will hold a civic reception to honour them."