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Our Story
In 2020, Pamela Ogilvie and Tom Leeson from Aberdeen, Scotland, found themselves captivated by the Charente’s rural tranquillity and warmth of welcome during a French holiday. Pamela had experienced the region during an earlier watercolour painting retreat in 2014 and quickly fell in love with the Charente’s gentle pace of life. Introducing Tom to a lifestyle that deeply resonated, the couple decided to take that huge step, founding Esprit Charentais in 2023.
The fully renovated gite rentals were transformed over a three-year period – much of the work undertaken by Pamela and Tom themselves. Nestled in the heart of the Poitou-Charentes region, this venture stands as a testament to the Scottish couple’s love affair with the region, sparked during their own French holiday, inviting all who experience Esprit Charentais to become part of this special French fairytale.
