Kevin Saunders, who is British, and his business partner Bill Davies, who is American, moved to the Dordogne at the end of January from Atlanta, Georgia with their three Pembroke corgis. They purchased Chateau de Villars, close to Brantome in the Perigord Vert. Kevin will continue the business established by the previous British owners of providing full board holidays to coeliacs (the growing number of the population who are intolerant of gluten in food).

Bill started off his career as a nurse but has retired from his 20 year medical management business for his relocation. Kevin is a “recovering lawyer”, who, four years ago, ended his 30 year legal career which had started in London and continued in Atlanta where he had his own business law firm.

In 2006, following several visits to Europe, and because of Kevin’s elderly parents in the UK, they decided to look for a property to buy in France. Both had friends in France and Kevin is fluent in the language.

The 1850’s Chateau and its 3 hectares in the small village of Villars, captivated them immediately. The Dordogne, with its greenery, water and beautiful countryside felt like home. The existing business established at the Chateau stood out as the best base they had seen for expansion and new ideas. With its excellent transport connections to the UK, to Paris and to the rest of France, the Dordogne was the place to start a new life. The warmth of the British and French community and the help of the previous owners has made for a relatively smooth transition.

After a trial week with friends from England, the USA and France, the Chateau will open its season in early May. Occupancy rates for the coming season are already over 75% with “coeliac” guests arriving from Britain, Ireland, Belgium and the USA. The British supplier of “gluten free” prescription products, Juvela, based in Liverpool, sponsors the Chateau’s holidays with its excellent products. Meanwhile, “brainstorming” has led to the emergence of “Relax & Learn” holidays at the Chateau this year. These holidays are themed around “Bergerac Wineries”, “Watercolor Journaling & Yoga”, Clay & Drawing”, “Fitness in France” and “Creative Photography” and “Mushroom Feasting”. These themed holidays grew out of a love of the “Perigord Vert”, a desire by Bill and Kevin to share their home and the beauty of the environment with others, and synergies with the people they have met over just the few last months.

For more information on what’s going on in Villars, please visit the following websites:

www.specialdietholidays.com for the Chateau’s “gluten free” holidays for coeliacs

www.chateaudevillars.com for the Chateau’s “Relax & Learn” holidays, Gite and B&B

www.KJSimages.com for Kevin’s photography