Macron to work and play at Riviera Camp David

IT IS a conundrum that has plagued many a French president: how to take a holiday without being accused of falling asleep at the wheel.

Now Emmanuel Macron believes he has cracked the compromise between presidential work and play by turning an old fortress on the Riviera into France’s Camp David.

The Fort de Brégançon is perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Mediterranean and Porquerolles islands, with its own helipad and private beach surrounded by vineyards.

It had been a military fortress for centuries until Charles de Gaulle turned it into an official residence in 1968. He stayed there just one sweltering night, and fled after reportedly being dive-bombed by mosquitoes in a bed far too small for his towering frame.

Many French leaders have stayed in the 17th century edifice since.

Georges Pompidou was a regular, as was Valérie Giscard d’estaing, who said he “tasted perfect happiness” there. But its fortunes waned under Mr Macron’s predecessor, François Hollande, who decided to ditch the fort and open it to the public as a national monument in 2014.

Shortly after taking power in 2012, Mr Hollande irked the French for relaxing in the sun at Brégançon for a fortnight as unemployment hit a record 10.2 per cent. That sent his popularity into a tailspin and, to make matters worse, his then companion Valérie Trierweiler caused a scandal by ordering 14 cushions for the fort at a cost to the public purse of €200 (£175) each.

In a reported act of revenge against Mr Macron for betraying him and running for president, Mr Hollande extended Brégançon’s lease as a public monument until late last year – thus preventing his successor from staying there. However, its fortunes are about to change once again after Mr Macron visited the fort last week with his wife, Brigitte, and their dog Nemo.

To avoid remaining off duty in the summer months, sources close to Mr Macron say he wants to take back control of the fort and turn it into a Usstyle Camp David retreat with an initial €70,000 overhaul.

“The president and his wife want to spend long weekends here and receive foreign heads of state,” said a source.