Our Story

In 2002 we had a dream… 

After years of frustration trying to find a special place to holiday with children we decided to move to France after discovering Pagel quite by chance. Lara had been looking in Italy for nine months for a suitable location which was by the very nature of its natural layout child friendly and perfect for our dream but to no avail, however one day whilst sat in a black cab in London on the way to an appointment the cabbie asked “So what are you doing with your life love?”

Lara then went on to explain that we have a dream to create a special place for families to holiday that is safe, beautiful, located in a fantastic and interesting area, and that provides everything you need for families from practical essentials from potties to cots to changing mats and sterilisers to toy boxes and imagination play zones. The London cabbie didn’t mince his words and said well love you’re looking in the wrong place forget Italy that was done years ago, go to the Lot region in France. It is undiscovered and really quite beautiful. He then gave Lara a book on changing your life and details on his holiday home on the area.

Ten days later Lara, Bish, Benjamin six and Charlie two were in the Lot and the first house they saw was Pagel and they knew instantly that this was the place that could provide families with the perfect place to holiday, breathtaking views, magnificent stone buildings one with a tower (Rapunzel let down your hair) and local villages and towns providing nearby restaurants and days out - perfect totally perfect.

Three months later having moved to France lock stock and barrel and straight into a total renovation project, Pagel was born. Some of our guests from that first year are still returning. Two years after arriving the circle was completed in a surprising way when Lara and Bish attended a local Ex PaTS Noel Cowards play and Lara said to Bish I am sure I know that actor/man. In the interval Lara asked him “did you used to drive cabs?”

Oh my goodness he exclaimed your that bird aren’t you, the one who wanted to change her life and set up a place for families… so you did it! It turns out the Taxi driver had moved to the area too and quite by chance the circle was completed and he had not known what a life changing impact he had had that day in a London.