Imagine living in a unique property with eight centuries of history, where you wake to birdsong, the sounds of the nearby river and the breeze in the trees.
For Giles and Fi Stonor, this has been a privilege for countless mornings, since they bought Moulin de Latreille back in 1991.
Giles and Fi with their son and their dogFi Stonor
Originally built by Cistercian monks in 1247, Moulin de Latreille is a watermill in the rural village of Calès, which sits in the Lot roughly between Limoges and Toulouse.
It is a peaceful spot on the River Ouysse, surrounded by sheep, oak trees and forests – not an obvious place in which to find a British couple.
“We both grew up in the south of England and built our careers in London,” explains Fi, 59, “but we’d spent time coming on holiday to France and bought the mill in 1991.
“After a few more years, we had really had enough of living and working in the City, and decided we would take a leap of faith to live in France.
“We both felt that the mill deserved more than being a holiday home – it needed to be loved and lived in.”
When they first fell in love with the mill, the property was habitable but in a very basic condition, and the outside was completely overgrown.
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Fi describes its development as “a labour of love” over many years, saying that the mill has evolved along with them.
“It has such a long history, starting with the monks in the 1200s,” she explains, “and it carried on as a working mill producing small amounts of flour right up to the 1950s or so.
The inside has been restoredFi Stonor
“It has always been a residential dwelling, because people have been living here and harnessing the energy of the river ever since it was built. As far as I know, it was never completely abandoned, it just wasn’t lived in all the time and got rather neglected.
“We restored the inside of the mill but have never altered the outside structure, because it was important to us to keep its authenticity.”
Holy secret
The 'hidey hole'Fi Stonor
The cellar underneath the property is built from bedrock, and contains a quirky detail. A small hole in the wall – which Fi and Giles call “the hidey hole” – contains two ceramic pots that are built into the stone. These could have been used for holy water back in the day, or to hide coins.
“There is a story of buried treasure somewhere on the property,” says Fi, “but to be honest I think the mill and its location are the treasure. If there is anything else stashed away here, then I believe it will be found when it is meant to be found!”
Having trained in decorative arts and restoration, Giles was a decorator in the UK, while Fi worked in film.
As there was no opportunity to continue that particular line of work when they moved to France, she turned her hand to creating and maintaining several gardens in the area.
Although neither had any previous experience in hospitality, the couple also decided they were both sociable enough to try their hand at running a bed and breakfast.
“We created three double bedrooms for guests, plus a function room that we call The Ark. It’s a renovated barn space with exposed timbers on the side walls, an unusual feature that adds to its atmosphere.
"It’s a wonderful space for creative people to come together for activities such as painting and photography or for yoga, pilates and QiGong workshops."
As well as choosing this location for harnessing the power of the River Ouysse, the Cistercian monks clearly valued the natural beauty of the site.
Here, you can appreciate wild orchids, damselflies, butterflies and herons, as well as nightingales and dazzling kingfishers.
A kingfisher sitting on a branchFi Stonor
“It truly is in the heart of nature,” says Fi, “and anyone who appreciates nature tends to fall in love with the place, as we did.
“You can really feel the natural ecosystem at work, and although we don’t use the watermill to make flour any more, we do use it to generate electricity.
“Living in a watermill can mean you are beholden to the weather, so you have to keep a close eye on the water level and it is a responsibility that must be taken seriously – especially with our ever-changing climate.”
Another nearby watermill, Moulin de Cougnaguet, was also built by Cistercian monks in the same era and now houses an on-site museum and visitor centre, where the millstones continue to turn and produce flour for visitors.
Twenty minutes away from Latreille is the popular clifftop town of Rocamadour, a pilgrimage site that clings to the rocks, its ancient streets filled with monastic architecture.
There’s no shortage of history and heritage in this particular part of France.
“This whole area has a truly remarkable number of pre-historic sites, mediaeval towns, chateaux and gardens, all set within breathtaking scenery,” says Fi.
“We certainly feel privileged to be living in such an ancient building, with all its quirks. I wouldn’t change it for the world!”
Two swans exploring the watermillFi Stonor
Similar properties
If you would like a similar adventure, you could buy a secluded watermill in Moncontour near Saint-Brieuc (Côtes-d'Armor) for €630,000, a six-bedroom mill house in Mayenne for €430,000, or an outstanding 18th-century mill near Vannes (Morbihan) with 16 acres of grounds for €1,216,800.
