Living alone in an abandoned village: “It’s a matter of strength of character”
This is the life of Michel Courtie, a 56-year-old former cattle rancher who lives in an abandoned village between Spain and France.
High in the Pyrénées-Orientales, above the postcard-perfect town of Eus, sits one of France’s most unusual villages: Comes. For years people believed the village had been abandoned for decades, until it was discovered that one man had been living there all along.
That man is 56-year-old Michel Courtie, a former cattle farmer who chose to pursue his dream of a peaceful, solitary life. He lives far removed from the modern world and without running water or electricity.
Courtie first lived in a stone house that boasted a remarkable private library of more than 55,000 books, volumes he’d been collecting since the age of 14. But after a fire destroyed his home, he moved into a small wooden chalet that can’t even hold all his possessions. Still, he’s fortunate in one respect: the 250 hectares of land he inherited from his family, which once supported around 50 residents in the 1990s. And as for company? “I never feel lonely. It’s a matter of strength of character,” he said.
As reported by L’Indépendant, Courtie’s days revolve around reading - four to eight hours daily - alongside long walks in nature and time devoted to prayer. He once managed a herd of 645 cattle but in 2023 sold the last of them after a long drought made it untenable.
“If the water comes back, I’ll raise cattle again,” he said. “But for now, I’m taking a few years to focus on myself.”
Despite his lifestyle, Courtie resists the ‘recluse’ label. Twice a week he heads to Prades or Perpignan to shop or see friends and he occasionally crosses into Catalonia, Spain for its excellent food. His diet ranges from preserves, fruit and chocolate to roast chicken and sauerkraut.
Culture and politics also play a role in his life. He’s a member of a monarchist group, attends conferences, hosts large dinners, and visits historic sites. He even dreams of traveling to Egypt, Greece, Rome, Italy, and Morocco.
In the end, Courtie’s story is the portrait of a man who chose to change everything for one reason: “To be free.”
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