My French Country Home

MFCH is a luxurious bi-monthly publication which features the greatest elements of French life. Join us as we explore lush gardens, bustling brocantes, the elegance of baking from scratch, and living simply but well. Our pages will transport you not only to the glamour of Paris, but to the sweeping lavender fields of Provence and the rolling hills of Normandy.

Editor’s Letter

Contributors • We are delighted to have the following talented writers and photographers contribute to this issue.

Whispering Woods • Deep in the heart of the French countryside, a clandestine tradition thrives, passed down through generations like a whispered secret. A noble pursuit requiring an astute awareness of nature’s hidden signs — we are of course talking about the delicate art of mushroom foraging.

QUOI DE neuf ?* • What caught our eye this month

Modern Country Design • Emmanuelle and her husband hadn’t planned on embarking on such a large-scale restoration project, but when they fell in love with a run-down 18th century mill in the Gers, their mind was made up. With the work now finished, they savor their new life in the countryside.

Get The Look • Combine earthy colors with natural textures and antique gold accents to achieve a comfortable and authentic French country home atmosphere like the one at Emmanuelle’s.

Fall Flavors • Camille Chamignon is a gourmet by birth. Growing up on the family farm, her childhood was filled with growing fruit and vegetables in the garden and cooking exquisite meals from the bounty of simple ingredients. Her mother entertained often from the kitchen of the family farm, where meals were joyful occasions.

A Small Piece • Céline Chollet’s passion for illustration dates back to her childhood in eastern France, where she grew up surrounded by idyllic landscapes dotted with picturesque farms and cottages. Today, she is sought after as a painter of bespoke portraits of private homes and gardens.

Labor of Love • More than 30 years ago, Alain Durante scoured France in search of the perfect ruin. A banker who had always dreamed of being an architect, his plan was to devote his retirement to rebuilding an ancient farm and giving it a second life. When he finally set eyes on the spectacular property of Le Jardin de Chaligny in the Vendée, it was love at first sight.

A Royal Seat • We caught up with Mathilde Costeux in the exceptional setting of Le Pin, in the Orne region of Normandy and home of the Haras National, France’s most renowned horse breeding farm. She recently took up residence in the saddlery workshop there, creating made-to-measure saddles, tack and other fine leather goods.

The Flowers of Provence • The photographer and artist Jamie Beck revisits her cherished Provence with a new book highlighting the flowers that she meets along her path.

Glorious Minimalism Along the Camino de Santiago • Every year, Christèle Ageorges and her husband, Hubert Delance, walk a section of the celebrated Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James) — an epic 500-mile pilgrimage route from the Pyrenees mountains in France to the Spanish town of Santiago de Compostela. Several years ago, their path led them through Lectoure, a quiet hilltop village overlooking the fertile plains between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

The Nuns’ Table • For many years, the food stylist and photographer Laurence du Tilly, a specialist in French art de vivre, had fixated on how best to create welcoming environments for her clients. But in March 2021, feeling overwhelmed by the events of a deeply challenging year for all, Laurence stole away from the refinement and froth of Paris in search of some solace. She found it, unexpectedly, on a retreat with Benedictine nuns living on Mont-Saint-Michel.

The French Table • Here is a selection of some of...