Not Beyond Burgundy

Last weekend, I spent two days enjoying the beauty of La France Profonde, in the tiny villages of Burgundy. Burgundy is the region in France known as the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, a region created by the territorial reform of French Regions in 2014, from a merger of Burgundy and Franche-Comté. The new region came into existence as recently as January 1st, 2016 and covers an area of about 48,000 square kilometers.

Well known for its wine, the most famous referred to as the “Burgundies,” are dry reds made from Pinot Noir grapes and whites made from Chardonnay grapes. The region has a higher number of “appellations d’origine contrôlée” (AOCs) than any other region in France. My very favorite wine (top of my list of all French wines) is Burgundy’s “Morgon.” It’s one of the 10 Beaujolais crus grown on the western slopes of the Saône River. Made of Gamay grapes, it’s an earthy wine, aged in oak for five years, that has a silky texture. The hillside of Côte du Py, in the center of Morgon, produces the most powerful examples of Morgon wines.

In Monday’s Parler Paris Nouvellettre®, I described the overwhelming impression this part of France made on me, not just because of its beauty, but because it’s just one small part of an endless stream of esthetically pleasing countryside in what is known as La France Profonde — an expression the French have to describe “the deep sense of the nation that exists far from Paris, in the provincial towns and villages. No matter how much and how quickly things change in the big cities, the essence of the nation would always subsist in Deep France.” (Source: theamericanconservative.com/)

One of the reasons we Americans so appreciate this profundity, is that what drives the French in all they do to appreciate their own land has nothing to do with money — that which drives our own capitalistic culture. It’s why we dream of living out our days in the peace and quiet of an old French farmhouse in the midst of small villages and rural roads, like my friends who live there.

Years ago, prize-winning American poet, Jeffrey Greene, and his wife Mary, along with his mother, Gretchen, discovered a moss-covered stone presbytery in one of Burgundy’s beautiful villages, that the locals believed was inhabited by spirits. They fell in love with it, purchased it and over time restored and enhanced the house, then Jeffrey laid the story down in the form of a memoir titled “French Spirits: A House, a Village, and a Love Affair in Burgundy.” (See our Recommended Reading pages to learn more) 

I didn’t go to Burgundy for its wines or to visit Jeffrey and his family. I went to Burgundy to see another old farmhouse. It was hard to say how old it really was, but it was made entirely of stone with exposed beams of solid oak. The floors were stone and some rooms had clay tiles. There was a fireplace in every room, thank goodness, because heating the house was no easy task. At one time it was a working farm evident by a cheesemaking corner, and a few outbuildings such as a “pigeonnier” (dovecote), a little structure where perhaps bread was once made and a cellar. The house had been neglected for many years so the owners now find themselves with an enormous project. Little by little it has and will become not only habitable, but beautiful, as the core esthetic of the structure cannot be altered.

This kind of work and devotion to a property like this is not to be taken lightly. While the property may not cost much to purchase — between 750€ and 1,680€ per square meter (1st qtr. 2018) — you can expect renovation and maintenance to be expensive and laborious, but ultimately rewarding. Consider that your ownership will be an act of love — a home you can enjoy for the rest of your life and while the property will be at the center of your existence, the cost of living in La France Profonde is less than you’d ever have imagined and your peace of mind, something one cannot put a price on.

The photos above are just a few examples of the kind of homes one might find in Burgundy, ready for you to buy and dream no more. The source for price information was: immobilier.notaires.fr/ and meilleursagents.com/.

If you are interested in learning more, or finding a property for yourself, contact us at [email protected].

A bientôt,

Adrian Leeds
Adrian Leeds Group

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P.S. Did you know that in addition to our rental apartments we also have listings for apartments and houses for sale? We do! Visit our Properties for Sale site for available listings. We are also well prepared to assist you if you’re looking to sell your property.