George and Amal Clooney have been forced to evacuate their £6 million estate in Provence, France, as devastating wildfires continue to ravage southern Europe. The 65-year-old Hollywood star and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal, 48, fled their sprawling home near the village of Brignoles with their nine-year-old twins as flames threatened the area.
Emotional Message to the Mayor
The couple shared an emotional letter with Brignoles mayor Didier Brémond, expressing concern for the community. 'Dear Didier, at this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment,' they wrote. 'As we evacuate Brignoles we want to emphasise two things. First, we hope you and the people of our city are safe, and second that Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we’ll be part of making it whole. We love Brignoles and our friends who live there.' A representative for the actor confirmed the evacuation and the letter to People magazine.
Widespread Evacuations and Fires
Around 3,000 people have been evacuated from the Brignoles area alone, while hundreds of thousands more residents and tourists have been forced to flee across France and Spain. Wildfires continue to rage in parts of France, Spain, and Greece amid scorching temperatures, prolonged drought, and fierce winds. Firefighters are battling multiple blazes, with Greece suffering tragic losses as crews confront extreme conditions.
The Clooneys' Provence Home
The Provence estate is not merely a holiday home for the Clooneys. They made France their primary residence in 2021 after purchasing Domaine du Canadel, an 18th-century wine estate reportedly worth €7 million. The property spans 425 acres and includes olive groves, a lake, formal lavender gardens, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a 25-acre vineyard. In 2024, the couple released their own white and rosé wines in collaboration with winemaker Laurence Berlemont.
Why They Chose France
George Clooney has spoken about his decision to leave Hollywood for the French countryside. In an interview with Esquire last year, he said, 'A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid, I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for them, they’re not on their iPads. They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life.' He also added, 'I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. France – they kind of don’t give a s*** about fame. I don’t want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids.'
Other Celebrities Affected
The Clooneys are not the only celebrities affected by the wildfires. Georgia Toffolo and her husband, James Watt, fled their French family holiday hours before 'apocalyptic' wildfires hit, forcing thousands to evacuate. Toffolo shared on Instagram that they slept at the airport overnight, saying, 'It’s so awful. So many firefighters have been injured; it’s just a really awful situation. It was just even when we were sat at lunch, it was growing in velocity.'
