Cécile de France left Paris for this secluded house ‘surrounded by trees
Choosing to live far from the spotlight is a decision few stars fully commit to. Yet Cécile de France has done exactly that, leaving Paris behind to settle in Picardy, in a house wrapped in nature. It is a radical lifestyle choice, driven by a single priority: finding genuine balance.
A living space designed for silence and slowness
What drew the actress to this corner of Picardy was, first and foremost, what you cannot hear there. Her home sits surrounded by trees and rivers, in a still-unspoilt environment where, in her own words, it becomes possible to hear the silence. For an actress subject to the relentless pace of film sets and the constant demands of the industry, that quiet is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
Day to day, this setting translates into simple rituals. Walks in the forest, watching the vegetation change, an unhurried relationship with time. These everyday gestures form a bubble of tranquillity that allows her to recharge before heading back to set. In that sense, Picardy functions for her as a genuine decompression chamber.
This geographical choice is therefore far from incidental. It reflects a search for serenity that shaped every aspect of her hunt for a home. Each criterion, each detail of the surroundings, was weighed against that aspiration to slow down.
Raw, unfussy interiors, far from any show of grandeur
Inside, Cécile de France has made choices that extend this philosophy. No formulaic décor, no ostentatious luxury: the house leans into raw materials, flea-market furniture and a wood-burning stove that sets the tone. The actress told ELLE magazine that she wanted a place that felt like her, a shelter from the noise. That phrase captures the spirit of the house perfectly.
Every element of the interior tells the same story: a home conceived as a warm, unpretentious family refuge. The second-hand furniture brings an authentic patina, while the wood-burning stove creates a hearth around which family life can naturally unfold. Nothing here is trying to impress; everything is trying to welcome.
Wi-Fi banned, family at the centre
Among the most striking decisions the actress made for this home, one stands out: she refused to install Wi-Fi in every room. This deliberate choice is designed to cut through digital noise and preserve genuine moments of connection with the people she loves. In an age when screens infiltrate every corner of life, that stance is quietly radical.
In practice, this voluntary disconnection turns the house into a protected space. Children and adults alike live at the rhythm of the surrounding greenery and the nearby river, far from notifications and endless news feeds. That is precisely what Cécile de France was looking for: a place where time truly belongs to the people who live in it.
- A setting surrounded by trees and rivers, chosen for its tranquillity
- Forest walks and observing the natural world as a daily rhythm
- Raw materials and flea-market furniture for an unpretentious interior
- A wood-burning stove as the centrepiece of family life
- Wi-Fi absent from every room to encourage real, screen-free connection
Cécile de France and the art of living differently
What this way of life reveals is a rare consistency between stated values and concrete everyday choices. Cécile de France does not simply talk about disconnecting or living simply, she puts both into practice in every aspect of her life in Picardy. The house, the natural setting, the interior design and the household rules form a coherent whole.
For the children growing up in this environment, the nearby river and the forest take the place of screens. It is a long-term bet on a childhood rooted in the real world and in nature. For the actress herself, it provides the resource she needs to keep doing her work without losing herself in it.
