Brittany Higgins, David Sharaz living reclusive lives in village of Lunas, France

Brittany Higgins is living a reclusive life in France, say village locals, with a neighbour saying they once saw Higgins’ fiance in a “heated discussion” with a gardener. Watch video.

Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz are living like virtual recluses surrounded by stringent security at their sprawling French property, while urging local authorities to alert them to any strangers asking for them.The couple has barely left their house in the almost three months they have lived there, with one neighbour revealing the only time she’s come across Mr Sharaz was when she spotted him having a “heated discussion with the gardener”.

“I walk past the house every day and the lights always come on at night, even when there’s no one in, it’s spooky,” local Andree Pigeon, 73, speaking in French, said from the village of Lunas, home to just 400 locals.

The house that Brittany Higgins now calls home in the French village of Lunes. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

The sprawling property in Lunes, France. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

A village local says the house is always lit up at night. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

A security camera at the house. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

“You sometimes see them inside but no one has seen them around.

“I saw the man (Mr Sharaz) once outside his house having a heated discussion with the gardener about managing the overgrown land,” Ms Pigeon said.

Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz fled Australia in December 2023, moving into the sprawling five-bedroom property they purchased in 2022 for a rumoured $600,000.

David Sharaz was seen having a ‘heated’ discussion with a gardener at the property. Picture: Matthieu Rondel

Andree Pigeon says she doesn't understand why the lights at the couple’s house are always on. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

It was the same year Ms Higgins received a $2.4m payout from the Commonwealth over the former federal government’s handling of allegations she was raped by former Liberal party colleague Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House in 2019.

Mr Lehrmann has denied the allegations and the sexual assault charge was dropped in December 2022.

The house is surrounded by security. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

The pair bought the house after leaving Australia. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

Bakery owner Claudette Bourgain has seen David Sharaz just once. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron.

La Barrika Pizzeria is owned by local Stephanie Illarramende, who says she would like to meet the couple.

Of the few people they have encountered in the hamlet is local mayor Lia Baste to whom they briefly introduced themselves when they first arrived in December.

“They came to tell us they moved into the area but they keep themselves to themselves,” Mr Baste said at the time.

It is understood Mr Baste keeps in touch with the couple and ensures their privacy is protected.

Several sensor lights and CCTV cameras surround their property, with a town hall official claiming Mr Sharaz had asked for him and the mayor to alert police if strangers ask for them in the village.

“Anyone who asks for them or knocks on the door who they don’t know, they’ve asked us to call the police,” the local official said.

The quaint village hall in Lunas, Dordogne, France. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

The pair are believed to be enjoying their low-key lifestyle. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

The scenic French town viewed from a hill. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

It is understood Mr Sharaz has been telling people the couple is enjoying their “low key life … Just me and Brittany in France. We don’t want to be reminded of what happened in Australia”.

As the fallout from the matter continues to play out in Australian courts – with Mr Lehrmann suing Network 10 and former host Lisa Wilkinson for defamation – and former ACT director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold taking legal action to overturn damning findings made against him in relation to the prosecution of Mr Lehrmann – the couple’s new neighbours said they are keen to welcome them to village life.

“I’d like to see them, with pleasure,” La Barrika takeaway pizzeria owner Stephanie Illarramende, speaking in French, said.

“If they are snobs, or are snobbish, once they come here, they will feel comfortable, good, and relaxed,” she said.

“They are welcome here, but we have never seen them.”

Stephanie Illarramende, owner of La Barrika Pizzeria, would like to meet the pair. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

Angelina Pereira says the village is warm and welcoming. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

Local Angelina Pereira, 81, has been looking out for the pair at the hamlet’s Friday night village hall drinks and the weekly vegetable market sales in the town’s marquee.

“We’re an inclusive commune. We have Garlic Omelette Day on May 1 and dinner for the over 70s in the community hall every six months,” Ms Pereira said.

“Lunas is very welcoming and warm. I’m looking forward to finally meeting these Australians,” she said.

Cattle farmer Jeremy Tourrieur said he could often hear their dog – a cavoodle named Kingston whom they relocated with from Australia – barking from inside the property but has never caught sight of the pair.

“They’re probably less difficult than the generations who have lived in Lunas all their lives,” Mr Tourrieur, 37, said.

“There’s nothing here, if I could leave I would, but I don’t have the money.”

Farmer Jeremy Tourrieur says there is ‘nothing’ left in the quiet village. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

Local Benjamin lagarde says ‘the people who come here come for the peace and quiet’. Picture: Alexandre Dupeyron

Claudette Bourgain, who runs a bakery in Ginestet – a four minute drive from Lunas – said she has seen Mr Sharaz just once.

“He came to buy some pains aux chocolat and pains aux raisins but apart from that, never.

“He doesn’t speak French but he did smile and say ‘merci’,” Ms Bourgain said.

The couple has kept a low social media profile – except for posting several pictures in mid-January capturing their first month in their new home.

The pictures showed the couple walking their dog along the town’s cobblestoned streets and Mr Sharaz photographed at their kitchen table adorned with a Christmas feast and French champagne.

Fellow dog owners in the hamlet said they have yet to bump into the couple despite the area being home to many pet lovers.

“I walk my dog every day past their house, never once seen them,” local Romain Ricaulde said.

“We love our dogs in France and when we see other dog owners we stop and chat, but not with the Australians”.

Earlier this month, Ms Higgins was at the Australian Embassy in Paris attending a speech by an anti-violence grassroots movement from She is Not Your Rehab.

“So moved by today’s keynote address by Mataio and Sarah Brown from She Is Not Your Rehab at the Australian Embassy in Paris,” she posted on social media.

“They are an anti violence grassroots movement from NZ that started in a barbershop and has turned into a global movement — aimed at modelling emotional literacy in young men to address and dismantle cycles of intergenerational trauma, violence and abuse”.

And on Valentine’s Day last week, Ms Higgins posted a picture of the pair kissing with the caption “My Valentine. Now and Always”.