He purchased a movie star’s estate in France and invested $300,000 to restore the pool to its former glory | Dinogo

On a rainy day in France, triathlete Jeremy found himself with some free time and decided to tour a few properties in the charming neighborhood where he’d been staying.

Originally from Wales, the father of two had called Paris home for several years. After a recent separation, he was drawn to the idea of relocating to the peaceful French countryside.

His search led him to an unforgettable discovery when he was shown a property in Courgent, a picturesque town just a 45-minute drive from Paris.

But it wasn’t the house that had him excited—it was the neglected yet breathtaking swimming pool that came with it, full of untapped potential.

A pool brimming with promise

Though the pool had fallen into disrepair, its former grandeur was evident, and with a significant amount of effort, it had the potential to be magnificent once more.

“I was completely blown away,” says Jeremy, who has requested his full name remain anonymous. “The opportunity to renovate the pool and create something extraordinary was everything I envisioned. I knew right away, ‘this is the one.’”

Jeremy, who has years of experience in real estate, later learned that the property had once been owned by French screen legend Danielle Darrieux, who starred in over 100 films during her remarkable eight-decade career, mostly in the 1950s.

After chatting with locals, he discovered that the pool, thought to have been built in 1938, was once a popular gathering place, with many recalling that they had learned to swim there.

Some even shared photographs of Darrieux, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 100, swimming in the pool during her time living at the property.

Darrieux, who starred alongside Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in the 1938 Hollywood film 'The Rage of Paris,' is believed to have called the house home for over a decade.

“That gave me even more drive to take on the project,” he says. “This place has a rich history. It has a story to tell.”

Notable former resident

After carefully considering everything, Jeremy decided to make an offer that was 'about 30 or 40% lower than the asking price,' fully expecting it to be rejected.

“I didn’t think the owner would accept,” he admits. “But to my surprise, he did.”

Although Jeremy had experience with several hotel renovations, this was his first time tackling a swimming pool. The project ended up costing around five times his initial budget.

“It hadn’t been touched in over 35 years, so it was in terrible shape,” he explains. “We had to rebuild everything from the ground up.”

When it became clear that restoring the pool wouldn’t provide a significant enough return on investment for the house, Jeremy started exploring other ways to recover some of the renovation costs.

Realizing there were no similar pools in the area, he decided to rent it out a few days a week while reserving it for his own use the rest of the time.

Driven to get the project underway as quickly as possible, Jeremy worked hard to persuade the owner to let him begin renovations on the pool before the sale was finalized.

He quickly began negotiating with various companies, including a specialist swimming pool contractor, to start the transformation and turn it into 'the most beautiful heated lagoon in France.'

Jeremy signed the contracts in September 2020, right in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. By the time he officially took ownership in February 2021, nearly four months of pool work had already been completed.

When it came to the design, Jeremy decided to go all out and make it as extravagant as possible.

A stunning transformation

“I wanted dramatic rocks, LED lighting, and everything in between,” he says.

The renovation required installing new infrastructure to support electricity, gas, and water—previously sourced directly from a nearby river—as well as laying new electrical lines, creating stone formations, and installing pipes and drainage systems beneath the pool.

“It truly feels like you’re in a natural lagoon, yet you’re just an hour away from France’s largest city,” he adds. “With waterfalls and rocks you can leap from at two meters high, it doesn’t even feel like a traditional swimming pool.”

During the renovation, Jeremy was amazed to discover an old stone-tiled path leading from the lagoon to the nearby river, with a fountain positioned at its center.

“That was a total surprise. I guess I can say I’m the only person in Paris with a private island,” he jokes, adding that he plans to restore the path in the coming year.

While the pool, measuring 24 meters long, 9 meters wide, and over 2 meters deep, is certainly the highlight, Jeremy is also excited about his new home, which, fortunately, required very little work before he could move in.

Life in the town

Since moving to Courgent, a village with a population of about 400, Jeremy says he has settled in smoothly and has received positive feedback from the locals about the pool.

In fact, some of the villagers who first swam in the pool when it belonged to Darrieux have stopped by to see the impressive transformation for themselves.

Darrieux had a strong connection to the town and reportedly returned to the area later in life, living just a few kilometers away from her former home.

Although Jeremy says he’s received a lot of support from the town hall since settling in Courgent, he’s been careful not to “step on anyone’s toes.”

“You have to be cautious,” he explains. “You don’t want to make too much noise or have too much construction happening. But it’s all worked out fairly well.”

Final touches

“One of the neighbors came over a bit concerned because she’d heard I was planning to host parties, and someone mentioned we might even put a DJ in the trees.”

“I told her, ‘not this week, but ask me again next week.’”

Eager to make the most of his 1.5 hectares of land, Jeremy decided to bring in and restore a 1974 American Airstream caravan, which now overlooks the lagoon and is also available for rent.

When he’s not enjoying the pool himself, hosting his daughters’ friends, or welcoming the local school for a visit, he rents the space for around 250 euros for two hours or up to 3,000 euros per day.

Despite receiving glowing reviews from both customers and curious onlookers who occasionally stop by to ask for a closer look, Jeremy is eager to add even more unique features.

He plans to install an electricity line to illuminate some of the trees, build a rose tunnel over the bridge, and add an outdoor kitchen.

“I won’t be fully satisfied until every last detail is finished,” Jeremy admits, explaining that it will likely take another year or two before the pool is entirely complete.

In the meantime, he’s making the most of having such a historic and beautiful pool—or lagoon—right at his fingertips.

“Even now, I’m still in awe when I swim at night,” he says. “When it’s completely dark, you can see the moon and stars, and it’s just you, nature, and the water.”

“I always say it’s like being in Costa Rica, but without the airfare.”

Follow @lesbainsroches for updates on the swimming pool