Courtesy of Destination Luberon
During his presidency half a century ago, François Mitterrand had a discreet village hideaway built in Provence’s Luberon Valley, where he would spend holidays holed up with his secret second family.
In contrast to the 18th-century opulence of the Élysée Palace, the stone house was small and simple—more country cottage than luxury villa. It was at this cozy refuge that Mitterrand, his longtime mistress, Anne Pingeot, and later, their daughter Mazarine, would while away the scorching summer days, safe from the scrutiny of the press. So intent was the former president on keeping the little house a secret, that it was reportedly off-limits even to his bodyguards.
The clandestine presidential love nest was located in Gordes—a tiny perched village with stone houses the color of pale sand and a tangle of narrow, cobbled alleys leading up to a medieval chateau. The town was so off the radar that Mitterrand could freely stroll the streets without being found out. On the occasions villagers did recognize the head of state, (who sometimes strolled with his daughter in tow) they stayed mum.