LIVING THE DREAM

 If you were to ask Jurriaan Geldermans and his partner Elly how they found the house of their dreams, they might get a bit philosophical with you and say that it found them.

Elly comments: “Lots of people dream of owning an old house in France and we can say from experience that you should try to make those dreams come true because nothing is as bad as looking back at the end of the ride and thinking… if only we had done it.” And in today’s world turned upside down by COVID-19, there have never been truer words said.

Located in the heart of the Morvan Regional Natural Park, an area of outstanding natural and unspoilt beauty, their renovated home Maison Bellevue now welcomes holidaymakers who are also seeking their own adventure exploring the surrounding countryside and its historic villages.

Elly and Jurriaan admit that for them buying the house was an adventure. They had grand plans for the renovation that amounted to two full pages of things they wanted to do to the property.

“That turned out to be a bit too ambitious,” says Jurriaan, “for our first three weeks’ visit after we had bought it, I spent the whole holiday grouting the north-facing wall. And you know, twenty-three years on, there are still things on that list to do.”

That is not to say that they have not achieved an awful lot and enjoyed it along the way. Through sheer hard work and help from family and friends, they have returned the property to its former grandeur. It now comprises: four gîtes, plus their own personal space within the attic of the main building and a spacious bistro-style kitchen (known as a ‘Cuistro), where guests are entertained. The property also has a good number of barns and other outbuildings.

Families are welcome and catered for, and there’s a small playground for the kids, a petanque court (France’s popular bowling game), a garden, meadows, and part of a forest to explore.

Jurriaan and Elly have lived there permanently since 2005 when they quit their jobs in the Netherlands and moved to Moux-en-Morvan. The area is popular with the Dutch because of its proximity to the Netherlands. Less than a day’s drive from Amsterdam, it is an ideal location to find some peace and quiet and to see nature up close.
House prices are still very reasonable compared to Holland (and to the UK) and the local French population is welcoming to fellow Europeans who are eager to renovate the old houses scattered around the village and its surrounding area.

As many will attest, it is essential to integrate into the local community. Elly adds “We have done our shopping in the village from the start. The car is serviced at the local garage, we joined the village committee des fêtes, helping to organise local festivals and things like that and Jurriaan plays his accordion at local flea markets and during the public holidays. Add it all together and that’s a great way to learn French and make friends.”

The Morvan area is now their home and Elly & Jurriaan would not change it for the world – they are definitely living their dream and loving every minute of life in Burgundy.