THE OTHER SOUTH OF FRANCE

HISTORIC CHÂTEAUX

I first discovered Gascony just after the pandemic thanks to the owner of an extraordinary château. He had spent years restoring it, creating an exceptional home with incredible interiors and impeccable attention to detail. He was determined that I should represent the property.

At first I kept refusing. I didn’t know the region, I rarely handled estates of that scale, and from Paris it wasn’t exactly convenient. Eventually, mainly to stop him asking, I agreed to take the train down for a visit.

The moment I arrived, I completely fell in love with both the property and the area.

The owner, David, was a fascinating perfectionist, and through him I met someone who has since become one of my closest professional contacts in Gascony: Andrew Nadin.

Andrew, originally from Britain, has built an exceptional business restoring historic properties and looking after overseas owners. His knowledge of the local architecture and heritage is extraordinary, but what really sets him apart is the level of personal service he gives every client.

Interestingly, Andrew also played an unexpected role in my own life. During the pandemic he spoke so positively about his children’s boarding school in Britain that it inspired me to look into it for my own daughter. She eventually left France for England, and Andrew was incredibly generous in helping us navigate all the complications of arranging interviews and travelling during that difficult period. I’ll always be grateful to him for that.

The château itself sold remarkably quickly to an American client who bought it for his parents, who moved permanently to France. It was a wonderful introduction to the region and to the kind of international buyers who are increasingly discovering this part of the country.