Life in a Medieval Village in 2023
An Act of Rebellion.
One of the curiosities of living in a small, 12th-century village in Provence in 2023 is working out who else has chosen to live here. My curiosity has led me to meet the most fascinating people hidden in the hills around my village.
A person whose company builds concert stages for some of the biggest names in the music industry.
A former cruise-line masseuse whose private practice clientele includes Hollywood A-listers.
A renowned sculptor whose work is displayed at museums around the world.
Several rockstars from the โ60s and โ70s still going strong.
An internationally renowned home decorator who has published 20+ books on interior decorating and lifestyle.
A former art dealer turned antique shop owner.
An early-career person launching a tech start-up.
BAFTA-winning behind-the-scenes people who made big-name films sing.ย
Young couples who have fled the Paris scene to create cheese farms, รฉpiceries, beekeeping & honey enterprises, and more.
People who have โretiredโ from their first or second professions are now on to their third or fourth. Cue cool craft beer brands, cultural advising, vineyards & winemaking, and more.
And thatโs just the beginning. I meet many others as they pass through, like the caravan of 70+-year-old Dutch hippies we hosted in our garden who told tales of travelling the Silk Road. Or the man with aย veryย unique antique car collection. Or theโI could go on, but you get the idea.
The one thing I have in common with all these people is that Iโve also chosen to live here. Although, on the surface, that may not seem like much, Iโm beginning to realize thereโs more packed into that common thread than I initially thought.
All of the exciting people above could live anywhere. Like me, most are not French and were not raised here. Nor are they expat retirees, although they live here too.ย ย
We are working professionals who have deliberately chosen to leave our lives in whatever country weโre from and, instead, live in a 12th-century village with less than 1000 year-round residents, learn a new language, and, for many of us, take on a load of immigration paperwork associated with the well-known French bureaucracy. And, no, itโs not the weather, although 300 days of sunshine, even in winter, is definitely a bonus.
Living in a medieval village in 2023 is an act of rebellion.ย
Against who or what?ย
Against aspects of the modern world.
Weโre choosing materialistic minimalism in exchange for natural maximalism:
A pared-down lifestyle:ย Including fewer material goods and ready - but less easy - access to the modern world, resulting in a streamlined lifestyle and a smaller footprint.
Wellbeing:ย Life en plein aire - in nature - and daily access to low-cost farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat, with a side of old-fashioned neighbourliness.
Focus:ย A slow life + less noise & light pollution + less โbusyโ = an uncluttered mind, headspace for thinking & creativity, and time to work.
Proximity:ย Train, car, and easy airport access to major cities and natural heritage sites across Europe and the UK.
These elements support me in creating - and living - my dream life. And when I talk to the people above - they say the same thing.
Now, life in a medieval village in 2023 is certainly not for everyone - and Iโll write more about the more challenging aspects of life soon.ย
But to createย yourย dream life - you first need to figure out what conditions best supportย yourย success and put them into place.ย
How do you do this? I suggest you begin by tapping your inner rebel.
If youโve lost your inner rebel, you might find it here.