Starting Over: A Widow's Bold Move to Rural France
Join Us in France Travel Podcast
Annie Sargent
4.8 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 26 October 2025
⏱️ 56 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of the Join Us in France Travel Podcast, host Annie Sargent talks with Abigail Carter, a writer and YouTube creator who made a huge life change. Abigail lost her husband in the 9/11 attacks. She raised her two young children in Seattle. Then the pandemic hit and forced her to rethink everything. She realized she wanted a new chapter.
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Abigail began watching videos of people renovating châteaux in France. The idea stuck. She loves travel. She loves houses. She has renovation experience. So she came to France to look at properties. At first, it felt like a fun adventure. But then she walked into a large maison de maître near Agen. It had high ceilings, old windows, caves in a cliff, and a lot of charm. Abigail made an offer the very next day. It was accepted. She found herself the owner of a twelve-bedroom home in the French countryside.
Annie and Abigail talk about how to buy a property in France. They discuss inspections, banking, moving money, and dealing with renovations. They also talk about the language challenge. Abigail uses apps, Zoom lessons, and practice in daily life to improve her French.
Abigail now runs creative retreats at the château. People come to sketch, write, enjoy food and wine, and discover the countryside. She has already formed a growing community around this project.
Annie and Abigail share tips for anyone dreaming of a similar move. They also highlight great places to visit around Agen, including Nérac, Lectoure, Pujols, and Monflanquin.
This is a story about resilience, creativity, and starting over in France. It's an inspiring reminder that you can build a new life in a new place. Join Annie and Abigail for an uplifting conversation full of practical advice and beautiful French scenery.
Table of Contents for this Episode
More episodes about moving to France
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Join us in France, episode 569, 569. Bonjour, I'm Annie Sargent and join us in France, episode 569. 569. |
| 0:22.4 | Bonjour, I'm Annie Sargent, and join us in France is the podcast where we take a conversational journey through the beauty, culture, and flavors of France. |
| 0:31.8 | Today, I bring you a conversation with Abigail Carter, who left everything behind and bought a chateau in rural France. |
| 0:40.4 | She's a writer, widow, and creative spirit who turned a life-altering tragedy into an inspiring |
| 0:47.8 | new chapter. |
| 0:49.3 | After losing her husband in the 9-11 attacks, Abigail eventually found herself drawn to France and to Chateau de Bori, a historic property near Ajean. |
| 1:01.2 | An incredible story. |
| 1:03.9 | This podcast is fueled by Chocolatine, coffee, and the generosity of listeners like you. |
| 1:09.6 | You book itinerary consults, take my voice |
| 1:12.5 | map tours, join the boot camp, or hop in my electric car or even chip in on Patreon. And I am so |
| 1:19.8 | grateful. Want to keep me going and skip the ads? There's a link for that in the show notes and you'll |
| 1:26.1 | find everything at join us in France.com for a slash boutique. |
| 1:30.5 | If you'd like to find out more about the boot camp 2026 and actually join us in France, browse to join us in France.com for a slash boot camp 2020. |
| 1:42.0 | For the magazine part of the podcast, after my chat with Abigail, today I'll discuss the new |
| 1:46.9 | entry system being rolled out in France and some very good news about cigarette smoking in France. |
| 1:54.2 | If you'd like all the links and the full episode transcript, go to join us in France.com for |
| 2:00.5 | slash episodes. And if you'd like a handy summary |
| 2:03.8 | of the podcast conversation, also with links, subscribe to the newsletter. Join us in France.com |
| 2:10.9 | for slash newsletter because it's the best way to stay in the loop. |
| 2:28.3 | Bonjour Abigail Carter and welcome to join us in France. |
| 2:48.5 | Merci so you have had what a story. You have had such a life. You are the creator behind the Chateau Chronicles, which I watched a little bit of your YouTube videos a few days ago. And I was just really taken. It's really, really fantastic. |
| 2:55.6 | Thank you. We're going to have a conversation about your unexpected life and your journey into rural France because it's really not something everybody, you're quite a woman. |
... |
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