Gilles Rolland
Published on
From the depths of Aveyron to the sun-drenched lands of Gard or Pyrénées-Orientales … Many cinema stars, music, or literature personalities have chosen Occitanie to live away from big cities or find a refuge to recharge. In the region where several actresses, musicians, and artists own a house, often in utmost discretion. Take a look at these celebrities you might encounter one day in the fruits and vegetables aisle of your supermarket.
Celebrities who lived in Occitanie
While the presence of an international celebrity is known to the residents of the neighborhoods where the star resides, sometimes it only becomes public when the celebrity pays a visit.
This is how many fans of the cult series New York, Special Unit discovered that Richard Belzer (John Munch in the series) had been living in a house in Bozouls, Aveyron for several years.
Famous for its canyon, Bozouls had welcomed the actor and his partner in 2013. In his residence, he enjoyed a certain calm, especially by his pool overlooking the iconic picturesque cliffs that attract hundreds of tourists every year. It is rumored that it was due to the presence of the actor in Bozouls that Scott Frank decided to film in town Monsieur Spade, his mini-series with Clive Owen and Chiara Mastroianni.
Funny anecdote: Richard Belzer was able to buy his house in Bozouls and one he also owned in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in Alpes-Maritimes thanks to Hulk Hogan. Hogan had sued Belzer during one of his TV shows with a chokehold, causing Belzer to pass out, leading him to file a lawsuit against the wrestler and eventually receive five million dollars in damages.
Known for actively participating in his community, present at local festivals and gatherings, Richard Belzer passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2023. Not in Bozouls but in Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
Flight over Tarn
Louise Fletcher, on the other hand, lived quietly in Montdurausse in Tarn. It was in 1997 that the Oscar-winning actress for her role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Milos Forman’s masterpiece with Jack Nicholson, settled there. She had chosen an abandoned farm that she had completely renovated and where she lived peacefully six months a year. Although best known for her memorable portrayal of nurse Mildred Ratched, winner of a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, Fletcher had also appeared in Robert Altman’s The Player and Exorcist 2 by John Boorman. Unlike Richard Belzer, she maintained a rather discreet profile.
It was in Tarn, where she was treated at Albi Hospital, that she passed away on September 23, 2022, at the age of 88.
Rolling Stone
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, known for his calm demeanor, discretion, and love of fashion, chose the Lot. Always seeking tranquility to recharge away from the massive tours of his band, Charlie Watts acquired a house near Cahors in the 1970s (some mention Le Bastit). It was where he enjoyed the countryside and raised Arabian horses with his wife.
Charlie Watts passed away on August 24, 2021 at the age of 80.
Master of Words
Famous for his Alexandria Quartet, a series of novels published in France between 1959 and 1969, British writer Lawrence Durrell settled in Sommières, between Nîmes and Montpellier, in 1957. He first stayed at Villa Louis on Chemin de Paillassonne, then moved to Maset Michel, just outside Nîmes towards Uzès. In 1966, he permanently settled in Sommières, living quietly in Maison Tartès at 15 Route de Saussines. It was there that he took his last breath on November 7, 1990.
Occitanie, a refuge for stars
The residents of Uzès in Gard have often encountered actress Kristin Scott-Thomas, where she settled in the early 2000s with her family. In search of peace away from London or Paris, where she worked, the English actress (granted French citizenship in 2017) has always maintained close ties with France. Although she no longer resides in Uzès, the star of Four Weddings and a Funeral and The English Patient continues to hold the town and Occitanie dear to her heart.
Renovation Operation
Less known, English actress Fiona Lewis, known for her role in The Fearless Vampire Killers, bought and entirely renovated a castle in Verlhac-Tescou in Tarn-et-Garonne. The place quickly became a haven for stars seeking tranquility, as evidenced by photos posted by the actress on Instagram of Robert De Niro peacefully settled on the terrace, amidst the countryside, a short distance from Montclar-de-Quercy.
From Colombia to Pyrénées-Orientales
It is also worth mentioning here Shakira, the Colombian star, who owned a residence in Céret in Pyrénées-Orientales while living with Antonio de la Rua. Little information has surfaced over the years about the singer’s habits in Céret, where apparently she did not frequent the local grocery store for frozen pizzas.
Punk and Confits
The case of Siouxsie Sioux, the high priestess of punk rock, frontwoman of Siouxsie and the Banshees, is unique. The musician managed to almost go completely unnoticed for over 20 years, “hidden” in a townhouse in Condom in Gers. It was where she recharged between her global tours and where she composed and recorded in her home studio.
Aude, a haven for writers
Kate Mosse, the novelist, has dedicated several works to Occitanie, especially to the Aude department. Her biggest success, Labyrinth, takes place in the Carcassonne citadel. A historical site she extensively explored, as she has been living in the area since the 1990s. Her case is interesting because apart from living in Occitanie, Kate Mosse has greatly contributed to its international reputation through her works. Despite not having the fame of Dan Brown or J.K. Rowling, Kate Mosse has sold over five million copies of her books worldwide.
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