By akademiotoelektronik, 20/05/2022

Corrèze. François Hollande and Julie Gayet: their little corner of paradise is Tulle

It is not every day that one can have the opportunity to share a particular moment with a former President of the Republic. As part of our series "little corner of paradise", François Hollande and his companion Julie Gayet have agreed to play the game: direction Tulle en Corrèze.

Tulle, one July morning. The breakfast menu is a bit rough for strangers: "the market, 9am, with oysters". Oysters for Madame, shrimp for Sir. Around the table, François Hollande talks about politics. "the first time I came to the Tulle market was during the 1988 legislative campaign. Many Tullists told me that if I came, it was just because it was an election period. So I took an oath that I could never be reproached again."

"here, François is at home"

Julie Gayet has been sharing the life of the former President of the Republic for many years. A first public (and official) appearance during the tribute paid to Johnny Hallyday in 2017 and a discretion that has made the press greasy.

So when was Julie Gayet's first visit to Tulle? Mystery. But the actress describes it to us: "I will always remember the first time we arrived in Tulle. I saw François get out of the car and go directly to this buralist's newspaper. Elsewhere, it was so complicated, with people everywhere. Here, he crossed the street, he entered the buralist's … so I thought that in Tulle, it was his home."

Since then, the couple occupies a house on the heights of the city and following them down the streets, they are actually at home. "one day, a journalist asked me where I would like to go. I had the opportunity to go anywhere in the world. I told her that my little corner of paradise is Tulle." we did find the record of this interview. It was with Pascal Clark on Europe 1 in February 2021. (at 1: 14: 04)

"the report of France 3 is going to cost me dearly!"

Le petit coin de paradis de François Hollande et de Julie Gayet •©France Télévisions

"this is Madame's store."

François Hollande has made himself available for this report and the story will not tell if the sequence in this store is part of his habit. But the former President did not hesitate to cross the threshold of this sign to accompany Julie Gayet. "Aren't they beautiful?", then asks the actress about a pair of earrings. "I can't say the opposite," replies François Hollande, slipping in a smile: "the report of France 3 will cost me dearly!". A moment of intimacy, a touch of humour under the eyes of the camera and an unfaked complicity.

Honey and bees

And in this little corner of paradise, Julie Gayet takes us to the stand of a beekeeper. "it's a secret. This corzian beekeeper set up hives at the Elysée. He managed to produce Hawthorn honey, this only happens once in the life of a beekeeper …" She confides with pride.

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François Hollande, on the Tulle market, they are discussions, meetings and he never refuses a photo.

A few selfies later, for the mayor of the city, there is no mystery: "François travelled the Corrèze from one part to the other, without ever being able to settle there. Today, he lives there quietly and it changes his gaze on the territory. It is a good return on investment for the Corrézians who chose him for a long time and he gives it back to them well" analyses Bernard Combes. François Hollande was, among other things, Deputy for Corrèze, Mayor of Tulle and President of the General Council of Corrèze.

It was raining that morning in Tulle, like a wink of an eye to history.

But that morning, July 2021, in Tulle, under the umbrellas, a lot of good spirits. "Tulle, it's a place that I made known to Julie, not necessarily for the landscapes, but for the people. They are the ones who convince you of the beauty of a place."