Our Story
We're glad you've found us.
Domaine de Montfage is a 17th-century estate nestled among the rolling hills and historic bastide villages of Southwest France, just south of the Dordogne. Surrounded by ancient trees and open countryside, it is a place where life moves at a gentler pace and where nature quietly reminds us that we are merely visitors.
For many years, we both worked as lawyers in the Netherlands. As parents of two young children, our days became increasingly shaped by busy schedules, deadlines, and the constant pace of modern life. Family life often felt more like managing a business than truly living it. We realised that the precious years of childhood were slipping by faster than we wanted them to.
We knew we wanted something different.
When we discovered Montfage, we felt an immediate connection. The estate had been largely abandoned for many years, yet beneath the weathered stone and overgrown gardens was something extraordinary: a place with character, history, and a deeply felt sense of soul.
Moving to the French countryside has reminded us what a good life can look like. Here, we find time to be together with intention, to enjoy good food, to work with our hands, and to appreciate the simple moments that so often go unnoticed.
Restoring Montfage has become a meaningful part of that journey. We are carefully bringing this remarkable estate back to life while respecting its heritage and the landscape that surrounds it. Our vision is to create a place where others can experience the same sense of calm and connection that drew us here.
A place for relaxed family holidays filled with slow mornings, afternoons by the pool, and adventures through the beautiful villages and countryside nearby. A place for intimate gatherings, small events, and retreats where good food, meaningful conversations, and genuine connection take centre stage.
Montfage has carried its story for centuries. With every stone restored and every season that passes, a new chapter is being written for this unique estate. We feel privileged to be part of it, and we look forward to sharing it with you.
Whether you'd like to follow our journey, join us as a volunteer, or one day spend an unforgettable holiday here, we can't wait to welcome you to Domaine de Montfage.
With love,
Guillaume & Kim
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About Montfage
The place where our estate stands today already appeared on 17th-century maps under the name Lafage. The word fage comes from Occitan, the historic language of this region, and means beech tree — a fitting name for a landscape that has been shaped by these majestic trees for centuries.
From the 16th century until 1968, the estate belonged to the de Passelaygue family, a prominent local family who owned large areas of land throughout the region.
In the early 20th century, many Italian families settled in this part of Southwest France, earning the region the nickname French Tuscany. In 1936, the Rossi family arrived from Italy and settled at Lafage as tenant farmers and caretakers of the estate.
The land provided grain, grapes, and plums, while a portion of each harvest was paid to the estate owner as rent. Over the years, a close relationship developed between the Rossi family and the Marquis who owned the property. Their bond became so strong that when the Marquis passed away in 1968, he left the estate to the Rossi family.
As the family grew and later generations moved away, the estate gradually fell silent. Following the passing of the last members of the Rossi family in the 1990s, Lafage was no longer occupied. A devastating fire in 2014 accelerated its decline, and a complex inheritance process meant that the property remained unsold for many years.
When we discovered the estate, it had been waiting for a new chapter for decades. Yet its history is still very much alive. Original farming records, documents from the tenancy years, and traces of everyday life remain scattered throughout the property, preserving the memories of those who lived and worked here before us.
Because the name Lafage was already in use elsewhere, we needed a new name for the estate. The property lies within the commune of Montagnac-sur-Lède, and from these two names—Lafage and Montagnac—the name Montfage was born.
A new name with ancient roots.
A wooded hill shaped by centuries of history, where the stories of the past can still be felt in every stone, every tree, and every corner of the estate.
Les Nouvelles de Montfage
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