The Eric Idle Provence story began in 1972, when the Monty Python star bought a small shack in southern France and slowly turned it into a peaceful refuge from fame.
At the time, Idle was becoming increasingly well known through Monty Python. Yet Provence offered something London could not: privacy, quiet and space to write.
Over the next 55 years, the modest property became a 22-acre retreat that Idle jokingly calls a “shackeau.” More importantly, it became a place where he could escape the pressures of celebrity life.
Now, Idle is looking back on that unusual chapter of his life in his new book, Idle in Provence: A Brief History of Thyme.
Why Eric Idle chose Provence
Idle first visited Provence in the early 1970s. He quickly fell in love with the area and its slower pace of life.
“It chose me, in a way,” he told the BBC.
At first, however, the property was far from comfortable. The three-room shack had no proper road, running water or electricity.
Idle and others gradually improved the site. In fact, they spent about eight years without electricity.
Instead, oil lamps became part of everyday life. There were also no telephones, which meant that communication was limited.
For Idle, though, that lack of convenience became part of the attraction.
He had already spent years living and working in London. Therefore, Provence gave him a chance to step away from television, writing deadlines and the growing attention surrounding Monty Python.
A quiet place to write
Writing became an important part of Idle’s routine in Provence.
He built a small writing shack in the woods and would walk there early each morning with a flask of tea. He could then spend time working before returning to enjoy the rest of the day.
Sadly, the writing shack burned down in 1979.
Even so, the wider property remained Idle’s long-term escape. Over time, the retreat became closely connected with some of his most famous friends.
David Bowie, George Harrison and Ronnie Wood were among the musicians who visited.
Cotignac offered freedom from fame
Idle says the people of Cotignac helped make the area a comfortable place for celebrities.
Unlike major tourist destinations, locals generally did not make a spectacle of famous visitors. Instead, they carried on with their everyday lives.
That atmosphere allowed Idle to relax without constantly worrying about photographs or autograph requests.
As a result, he found that he could enjoy ordinary moments in the village without feeling like a celebrity.
Interestingly, locals did not immediately know who he was.
Idle said he remained a visitor for many years. However, that changed in 1983 when Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
The achievement appeared on the local newspaper’s front page. Consequently, people in the area finally understood what Idle did for a living.
French audiences embraced Monty Python
Idle also discovered that French audiences understood Monty Python better than he might have expected.
He recalled that French audiences had embraced Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1975. They also enjoyed Life of Brian, although Idle joked that some French viewers thought the film was not blasphemous enough.
Meanwhile, living in France forced Idle to improve his French.
He remembers one particularly embarrassing mistake involving champagne. Instead of asking for a “coupe de Champagne,” meaning a glass of champagne, he accidentally used a phrase referring to the “arse” of champagne.
The waiter struggled to hide his laughter.
Famous visitors turned the shack into a retreat
Ironically, the place Idle created to escape fame eventually attracted famous friends.
Ronnie Wood was among the first visitors. He arrived on a motorbike while preparing to join the Rolling Stones.
Idle also remembers taking David Bowie to a local coffee bar. He deliberately sat outside because the owner had photographs of Bowie inside and he did not want the visit to become a spectacle.
Nevertheless, the owner recognised Bowie when she brought their coffee.
George Harrison also visited in the late 1970s. Idle remembers a photograph of Harrison outside his writing shack before the pair headed out to watch motorcycle racing.
Nearby, the Miraval recording studios attracted other major musicians. Idle recalled visiting the studio in 1979 while Pink Floyd guitarist Roger Waters was recording Another Brick in the Wall.
Provence never erased Idle’s English identity
Despite spending decades in France, Idle does not believe living abroad changed the core of who he is.
He continues to divide his time between Los Angeles and Cotignac. However, Provence has remained a major part of his life for more than five decades.
The property began as a basic shack without modern conveniences. Since then, it has become a private refuge, writing retreat and unexpected meeting place for some of the biggest names in music and comedy.
For Idle, that may be the greatest irony of all. He went to Provence to escape fame, yet his quiet French home eventually became part of the story of his remarkable career.
