the ceiling that started it all
Bienvenue! Welcome to The France House, a newsletter about making a second home and a (more) creative life. I’m an American essayist who grew up overseas and am the author of two award-winning books; you can learn more about me here.
How it started: While locked down in our San Francisco Bay Area home during the 2020 Covid quarantine, my partner and I bought a historical house in the medieval town of Dinan, Brittany — without stepping foot in it. The France House traces my experiences living and writing in two homes, cultures, and countries.
Who it’s for: The France House explores France and travel, art and other creativities, history and how its cultural imprints live on today, what builds and sustains a good “quality of life,” and choosing the unexpected path. It’s for my fellow searchers, dreamers, travel-lovers, and creative spirits.
A Brief Tour of The France House
Start with the introduction and then check out the first five pieces:
Dream House: On dreaming with a destination in mind.
Second Home Search: On finding a new part of the world to call home.
Choosing Dinan: On discovering Dinan and the pleasures of a walled medieval French city.
The Castle Anecdote: On naming and valuing a good quality of life.
No Renovations: On the joys of not renovating a house in France.
To explore further, all pieces are grouped into one of three subjects :
All posts are free-of-charge—and if you subscribe below, alerts about new pieces are sent to your inbox. Your subscription is very much appreciated and allows The France House to grow. Merci!
Photos and Authorship
Unless credited as Creative Commons images or used, in the case of a review, under the Fair Use clause, all photos are copyrighted to Megan Harlan and The France House.
All writing is authored by Megan (without any input from AI) and is protected under copyright.
Contact
Say hello on Instagram @the_france_house and @megan.harlan. Or get in touch via The France House’s Facebook Page.
For questions about buying property in Brittany, reach out to Megan’s real estate agent, Tracy Harris, at tracy.jaq@orange.fr.
