Eric Cattoen
Like God in France - that's how Eric Cattoen lives in the Lechtal time-out village of Pfafflar. Of course, this is only meant in a figurative sense. But who can say that he enjoys the privilege of watching deer, bearded vultures and eagles from his bench next to the house with a clear eye? It has something heavenly when you wake up in the morning and the first view out the window, falls on the surrounding mountains of the Lechtal and Allgäu Alps.
Eric was born and raised in St. Omer - a small town in the north of France. While studying business administration, he was given the opportunity to spend an Erasmus study year in Innsbruck. "This year was a turning point in my life," he remembers it fondly. Because right after that, Eric decided to spend his life in the mountains.
At first, he still lived and worked in the French Alps, where he then also met his wife Eva, who comes from the Lech Valley. A few years later, the family moved back to Tyrol. More precisely, in the 108-people village of Pfafflar. Eric has been living here with his wife and their two sons Armel and Nolan since 2016. In the Bschlabs district, the family has created a very special home for itself. At an altitude of 1,450 m, in the "Egg", they have lovingly renovated and refurbished the family's 300-year-old mountain farmhouse. "It's a house within a house" - Eric always notes proudly when he talks about the renovation work. "We left the old parts of the building and foundation walls, but renewed everything inside. It was important for us to renovate as ecologically as possible, but to preserve the flair of this old and magnificent farmhouse." Since 2018, it is also possible to spend vacations at the Cattoens. A cozy and unique vacation apartment
(www.so-naturlech.com) offers vacations with a feel-good guarantee including a magnificent view of the mountains and nature.
Eric made a conscious decision to live in the Lech Valley and the 38-year-old Frenchman has never regretted it. If you ask him what he thinks makes life in the Lech Valley so special, he quickly replies that he appreciates the unspoiled nature, the people and the beauty of the mountains. Eric also took these aspects as an opportunity to found the engineering office lechtalps.com with his wife. Together, the two work under the motto "With the people for the Alps" on participatory processes in the environmental field and in regional development.
Eric and his family are no longer the "Zuagroasten" in Pfafflar. They help shape the community and the time-out village with verve and new ideas. Not least because of this, Eric has also been elected as the new local spokesman for the Pfafflar Tourism Association local office. "I, the Frenchman, am even local spokesman," he laughs and is also a little proud. He can be, because Eric is fully committed to the tourist interests of the side valley, helps where he can and thinks sustainable. "The Lech Valley is unique - nature, people, traditions and architecture. We must appreciate all this and take care of it, so collectively deal with it in a sustainable way and preserve it as a valuable habitat for all of us."
... in our opinion there is nothing more to add to this.
We look forward to further cooperation, because people like Eric leave their mark in the Lechtal with thoughtfulness and sustainability.
von Anja Ginther
May 03, 2023