From France to Libofsha, French photographer buys home in Albanian village

Mentioned especially for taking nude pictures of the US First Lady, Melanie Trump, he has decided to build a house in the Libofsha, Fier, Albania.

“It was a spiritual emotion that I felt as soon as I landed. This emotion was created as soon as I saw the people there, the farmers. Something was talking to me. We believe in paganism in our tradition. This place appealed me. Same as in Corsica, Balkan, an island or every other country for which I have fought, this was the one that made me understood that I loved it”, said Jarl Ale de Bassevile.

However, there is another reason why he keeps coming back to Albania.

“My family was not allow to set foot on Eastern Europe after the Second World War. We were declared non-grate. I fought for the destruction of the Berlin Wall. That was my chance to set foot on the Easter side. My mother was the last countess of Zagreb. She was the last princess of the Austro-Hungarian empire and for me it was very important to come back”, De Bassevile says.

When asked if his house would look like a castle, he said he hated castle. “I grew up in a castle and I don’t want to live there anymore. I want something minimalist and baroque. Illyrians are our ancestors and I think it is important to go back to our ancient tradition”, he said.

He and his partner Egla Harxhi will soon become parents and besides paganism, the call of the blood, there is also one practical reason that brings him to Albania.

“I would like to work with the Albanian government to bring foreign companies and work with the natural resources, so that Eastern Europe can grow faster”, Bassevile said.

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