FRANCE

The Provence bolt-hole with star quality

A bijou home in a stunning corner of the South of France is proof that certain properties really do have that celebrity ‘je ne sais quoi’ after changing hands between film-star owners! The celebrated actor Richard E. Grant recently sold his charming French holiday home to famous Hollywood couple Jim Piddock and his wife Ann Cusack.

The area where the house is located, known as the Haut Var (the high Var) or Provence Verte (Green Provence), has attracted many international stars over the years, including Brad Pitt who owns a vineyard there, George Lucas, the Clooneys and Eric Idle.

Jim Piddock with wife Ann Cusack – now homeowners in France!

The idyllic farmhouse, situated in the small village of Aups, in a hidden part of Provence, was owned by Richard, who has starred in Loki, Star Wars and Withnail And I, and his late wife Joan Washington for more than 30 years. The property, called Le Pigeonnier, was a getaway for the couple and their children, as they would spend their summers swimming, dancing and playing badminton at the home.

Upon selling the property, Richard posted
a heartfelt message on social media, which read: “Heart sore to sell Le Pigeonnier in Provence after 30 Summers. Sleeps seven. Pool, badminton, olive and fruit trees.”

The property is located on the edge of the pretty village of Aups, a 90-minute drive from the airports of Marseille and Nice. Aups is a vibrant year-round destination surrounded by vineyards, stone terraces, olive groves, truffle forests and wilderness of the Var region, and is far removed from the glitz and glamour of the Cote D’Azur.

As the new owners of Le Pigeonnier, British actor, writer and producer Jim and actress Ann, a couple who best known for their roles in Independence Day and A League of Their Own respectively, should have little difficulty unwinding together at their French bolt-hole.

Jim began his acting career on the stage in the UK before emigrating to the US in his early twenties where he made his theatrical debut in a one-man show, The Boy’s Own Story, in 1982. He has also starred in The Five-Year Engagement and Austin Powers in Goldmember. Meanwhile, Ann, whose brother is American actor, producer and screenwriter John Paul Cusack, has made several appearances in famous films including Multiplicity, The Informant!, Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill and Fargo.

Lovely shady terrace at Le Pigeonnier

The three-bedroom property boasts a swimming pool, perfectly landscaped gardens with olive trees and ancient mulberry trees, a badminton court, as
well as a pool house which offers an extra bedroom with a shower room. Images of
the property show a rustic kitchen brimming with bronze saucepans, while the living room is adorned with outlandish wall art and trinkets the couple collected.

Speaking about why the pair bought the home in the south of France, Jim Piddock said: “I was first introduced to the Var about a quarter of a century ago by my dear friend Eric Idle and have been visiting the area almost every summer since then. During those years, Ann and I have made several other friends locally and fell in love with all the beautiful villages in the Haut Var. It feels a million miles away from Hollywood, and the insular world of show business, and forces you to appreciate a much simpler, slower pace of life. 

“Every year, I’d fantasize about buying somewhere in Provence and we’d maybe look at a small handful of places for sale, but we never quite found the right fit. But this year, when Richard — who was one of the people we’d met in Provence and London over the years — told me he was selling his place in Aups after having spent more than thirty summers there, I was extremely sad to see him go. The time and the place both finally seemed right. So, after twenty-five years of careful deliberation, I finally made the impulsive choice to buy it!”

The light and airy living room at Le Pigeonnier

Jim released his first non-fiction work last year, a bestseller titled ‘CAUGHT WITH MY PANTS DOWN and Other Tales from a Life in Hollywood’, which details hilarious stories about his visits to Provence over the years.

And commenting on how the purchase will aid his flair for writing, Jim said: “I also think the house will be a great place to write. There’s a room at the very top, which was the original ‘pigeonnier’, and the minute I walked into it I knew it would be a perfect place for me to write, with bucolic views of the rooftops of Aups in the distance through the window.”

And the agent who handled the sale said:
“I was delighted when Jim contacted me about Le Pigeonnier, it was easy to see why they had fallen for it, it is a magical place and it’s in a wonderful location.

“Jim and Ann asked for our support and advice throughout the buying process. It has been great to be able to share my knowledge with them, we have helped to find the right notaire and other specialists, get the best deal for currency exchange, help to obtain quotes for works, handle administration about moving in – utility bills and much more – and generally guide them to ensure a smooth purchase.”

And speaking about the area of Aups in the Var, the agent added: “Aside from the climate and the beautiful scenery, I think one of the big attractions to this area is the lifestyle. It is very laid back and relaxed here, clients – famous or otherwise – can visit a local market or spend an afternoon enjoying a long lunch in a village square without worrying about being disturbed.”

Photo credit: Yann Grossi

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