The First Generation – Establishment, Agriculture, and Roots
Heinke & Karl Thies
In the aftermath of World War II, our family – coming from Germany and after several detours – settled on the small estate Le Colombié, known as “the Dove Loft.” At that time, the property belonged to a Belgian friend and honorary uncle of the family: Owi.
Arne Thies’s parents, Heinke and Karl Thies, both agricultural engineers, were pioneers long before there was a word for it. With patience, hard work, and great dedication, they gradually made the surrounding land arable. Vegetable cultivation and horse breeding became the foundation of life on the estate.
Later, Karl’s work took the family repeatedly to Africa for development aid assignments. Throughout, Le Colombié remained the constant center – a place of return, stability, and family cohesion.
The Second Generation – Return, Preservation, and Opening
Silke & Arne Thies
In 1990, Arne and Silke Thies took over the estate. After studying in Germany, they spent over twenty years working mainly in Africa and Southeast Asia as consultants for international development organizations.
With deep respect for the history of the estate, they began carefully restoring the buildings of Le Colombié and opened the farm to guests. This gradually led to the rental of the holiday homes we know today.
Many of them still carry the names of former residents and companions: the holiday home “OWI” commemorates Uncle William, and “Graf” honors the old Mr. Graf, who lived there for many years.
Thus, the history of Le Colombié remains tangible – in the houses, in the names, and in daily life.
The Spirit of Colombié – A Place for Coming Together
For generations, Le Colombié has represented a special kind of holiday: not faster, bigger, or louder – but more authentic. Less mass, more time. Time for conversations, encounters, attentiveness, and helpfulness. But it is not only the guests who make Colombié what it is.
Over the years, many interns have spent a year here between high school and university, bringing the estate to life. They found a protected space to contribute, take responsibility, and listen inwardly – making conscious choices about their further education and life paths.
Many of them return nearly every year with their own families, spending holidays here and experiencing the “Colombié spirit” again. Over time, this has created a special circle of people deeply connected to the place.
Even within the family, this sense of community is actively lived: Johanna, our niece, has been part of Colombié for several years – first as an intern, and now she seizes every opportunity to be here alongside her studies in agriculture. She actively supports life and work on-site and has long become an integral part of our open, familiar community.
Memories, Reports, and Testimonies
In the Quercy region, there is an impressive collection of individual travel reports and photographs from the early years of Le Colombié, compiled by our relatives Christoph and Rut Baudert. These accounts often bring readers closer to the uniqueness of our region and its people than many guidebooks can (pdf available for download).
A particularly personal testimony is the memoir “Washed Ashore by the Current of Time” by Dr. Heinke Thies. It covers the period from the years before World War II to the present. Affectionately called “Munna” by everyone, she lived in her own house on Le Colombié, where she passed away in 2022 at the age of 103, surrounded by her family. Until shortly before her death, she shared vivid stories from family life while discussing contemporary topics, enriched by her extraordinary life experience.
The paperback was published in 2006 (ISBN-13: 978-3939000853).
