For many expats, the dream of moving to France begins with food, wine, or a love of language. For Morgan, it was a love of beauty, storytelling, and, quite literally, castles.
After a successful career in advertising, entertainment, and creative direction, Morgan left behind a fast-paced life in Los Angeles and Atlanta to embrace an entirely different rhythm: château life in the French countryside. Her move wasn’t about retiring, it was about reinventing, reigniting imagination, and choosing a lifestyle built around heritage, history, and everyday aesthetic joy.
A New Chapter Begins
Morgan's background includes decades of work in high-pressure creative industries. From choreography to commercial production, she built a career around directing, styling, and delivering bold visual stories. But years of city life eventually gave way to a deeper desire: to live with intention, surrounded by beauty and craft.
France, and specifically the Loire Valley, offered everything she was looking for. The architecture, the landscape, the slower pace, and the country’s preservation of history created the perfect canvas for her next chapter.
Searching for the Right Château
Rather than rushing the process, Morgan committed herself to a multi-year journey to find the right property. She travelled across France, staying in dozens of châteaux to understand the lifestyle firsthand and get clear on what she wanted.
Eventually, she found it: a historic château in the west of France, surrounded by lush land and full of untapped potential. With multiple outbuildings, original stonework, and classic French detailing, it was the kind of place that would make a historian swoon and a creative soul feel immediately at home.
Far from being move-in ready, the property needed significant restoration, but that was part of the appeal. The project would allow her to blend her creative talents with a love for architecture and design.
Making the Move
Relocating to France, of course, came with its share of red tape. From sorting out health coverage and visa requirements to adapting to French administrative processes, the move required patience, persistence, and plenty of paperwork.
Morgan navigated the challenge with determination, securing her visa, managing utilities, and eventually receiving her Carte Vitale. She also found herself needing to creatively solve problems, including how to transfer her U.S. driver’s license in a way that French prefectures would accept (tip: not every U.S. state is treated equally).
The move required not only logistics but mindset shifts, adjusting to rural life, embracing the quirks of French services, and letting go of the convenience of American-style efficiency.
Building a Life at La Chevron
Today, Morgan is steadily transforming her property into a haven of art, history, and imagination. Restoration work is planned in phases, and in the meantime, she has begun sharing her journey on social media through her platform, GoGo Château. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at château life, from cleaning out attics to visiting brocantes (French flea markets) to find period-appropriate decor.
Morgan is intentional about creating a space that is not just beautiful, but also welcoming. The vision isn’t one of isolation, it’s about building a space that others can enjoy too. Future plans include hosting events, art retreats, or even weddings in the restored château.
Why France?
Morgan’s reasons for choosing France are rooted in more than aesthetics. The country’s cultural value placed on craftsmanship, artistry, and historical preservation spoke to her on a deep level. Unlike in other countries, where older buildings are often bulldozed in favour of the new, France holds space for history.
Life in France offers not only a visual feast, but also a shift in values, from speed to quality, from productivity to presence. These values resonated with Morgan’s desire for a more grounded, creative way of life.
Challenges of the Move
Like many expats, Morgan encountered the classic pain points of French bureaucracy: unclear paperwork, contradictory answers, and delays. Whether dealing with tax codes, health insurance, or simply setting up a mobile plan, every step required extra time and diligence.
Rural life also brought a learning curve. Basic conveniences that are second nature in urban U.S. life, like quick Amazon delivery or 24/7 shops, don’t always apply. But those changes were embraced as part of the journey. The tradeoff? Fresh air, stunning views, and the space to create something meaningful.
A Story That Resonates
Morgan’s story resonates with creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone who has felt the urge to make a big change. It’s not about escaping, but about choosing something better aligned with personal values. It’s about crafting a lifestyle where beauty and purpose are central, not secondary.
Her journey reminds us that moving to France isn’t just about changing countries. It’s about changing the pace, the priorities, and the possibilities.
Advice for Future Expats
For those considering a move to France, whether to buy property or simply to start a new life abroad, Morgan’s journey offers a few takeaways:
- Do your research: Visit different regions, stay in local properties, and understand the cultural and financial implications of the move.
- Embrace bureaucracy: It won’t be easy, but patience pays off. Knowing what to expect, and when to ask for help, makes a big difference.
- Let go of convenience: Adjusting to French systems (and their timeline) is part of the experience.
- Lead with passion: Whether your dream is a château, a seaside cottage, or an apartment in Paris, start from your “why.”
👉 Watch the full video interview below
🤝 Follow Morgan
- Instagram: @gogo.chateau
- YouTube: Gogo Chateau