There's a Hidden Corner of France Few People Know About...
Whether you dream of a city pied-a-terre...or a rambling farmhouse among the sunflowers...or a village house wrapped in wisteria-hung memories of long ago, France is more than affordable. In fact, there are many parts of the country where habitable homes in storybook settings cost under $150,000.
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Population: 64,768,389
Capital City: Paris
Climate: Generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean
Time Zone: GMT+1
Language: French
Country Code: 33
Coastline: 4,668 km
France Articles
Restore a French Historic Home (Grants Available)Posted on January 29, 2012 by Barbara Diggs
Six years ago, I received a birthday present worth over $70,000. No, I’m not friends with Oprah. We had recently fallen in love with—and bought—a crumbling, pigeon-infested, 150-year old maison bourgeoise in northern Burgundy, France, only two hours away from our apartment in Paris.
An Easy Way to Live and Work in ParisPosted on January 25, 2012 by Barbara Diggs
I work in Paris, France with plenty of free time to explore this phenomenal city with my children, because of my career. As a copywriter, I work a few hours a day, three or four days per week, and I can think of no better place to live.
You Could Be Living in Paradise Right Now… For a Lot Less than It Costs You to Stay HomePosted on January 23, 2012 by International Living
In a place where your dollar goes further… where today’s economic crisis is creating new opportunities… instead of taking them away.
Where costs of living, healthcare, and property are still affordable – like they once were in the US. And you can still live luxuriously… even hire a maid… on nothing more than your social security check.
Discover our top retirement destinations for 2012 at International Living’s Seventh Annual Ultimate Event.
Retire to ParisPosted on January 4, 2012 by Pamela Griner Leavy
Day-glow sunrises and sunsets over the River Seine, fresh breakfast croissants on your private balcony overlooking Notre Dame Cathedral, public transportation practically at your doorstep… Try retirement in Paris, France; it’s as romantic and magical as you imagine, and it’s easier than you think.
- How to Escape The Undertow
Posted on December 20, 2011 by anon
Old beliefs die hard—but we’re doing our best here at International Living to speed them on their way. From Penang, Malaysia to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico… Dublin, Ireland to the Pacific coast of Nicaragua… from Bilbao, Spain to Bangkok, Thailand, … this month’s issue is packed with boots-on-the-ground revelations about destinations you may think you know…
- News and Notes from Around the World
Posted on December 20, 2011 by anon
On the Cover This Month… Jungle-clad mountains sweep down to the ocean, pristine beaches …
- Restore Your French Dream House and Save Thousands
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Barbara Diggs
Six years ago, I received a birthday present worth over $70,000. No, I’m not friends …
- Most Exciting Haven: Entertainment and Amenities
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Brazil, Scored 99/100 It’s no surprise that Brazil secured first place in the Entertainment …
- Healthcare in our Havens
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Panama, Scored 91/100 Panama offers high quality health care and modern hospitals in the …
- The Best Climate
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Robert Carry
Italy, Scored 98/100 Scoring a country on its climate is difficult, because everyone has …
Life and Travels in FrancePosted on December 1, 2011 by Pamela Griner Leavy
Getaway breaks to the French Alps town of Annecy are the stuff of dreams—majestic mountains, fresh air, flowery lanes, a crystal-blue lake, and a canal-filled medieval old town rivaling romantic Venice. Jim and I have retired to Paris, France, so places like this are on our doorstep.
- Tossing out the Stereotypes: With Boots-on-the-Ground Revelations from Penang to Bilbao
Posted on November 24, 2011 by Jennifer Stevens
Old beliefs die hard—but we’re doing our best here at International Living to speed them on their way. From Penang, Malaysia to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico… Dublin, Ireland to the Pacific coast of Nicaragua… from Bilbao, Spain to Bangkok, Thailand, … this month’s issue is packed with boots-on-the-ground revelations about destinations you may think you know…
Retire to Paris—Big-City Life in Sophisticated EuropePosted on November 24, 2011 by Pamela Griner Leavy
Day-glow sunrises and sunsets over the River Seine, fresh breakfast croissants on your private balcony overlooking Notre Dame Cathedral, public transportation practically at your doorstep. Try retirement in Paris, France; it’s as romantic and magical as you imagine, and it’s easier than you think.
An American Success Story in FrancePosted on November 10, 2011 by Vanessa Couchman
Sally Stone was searching for superb scenery and a relaxed pace of life when she bought a small stone cottage in Brittany, on the Atlantic coast of France. At the time, Sally was working as a director in a marketing company; the Breton cottage just a part-time retreat. But a year later, in 2002, she lost her job to cost cutting and needed to find something else.
Are You Nuts About France, Too?Posted on October 31, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
If you have to ask: What’s so special about walnuts?, then you’ve never visited the Dordogne. Noix (walnuts) grow in abundance in this tranquil area of south-west France. It has a special walnut route, and the nuts are brand-protected by an AOC appellation just like French wines. Near the chateau-topped village of Castelnaud, there’s even a museum devoted to walnut culture.
Living the Dream: Doing Business in ParadisePosted on October 27, 2011 by International Living
Quentin and Wyona McKay wanted to move to paradise. They wanted to exchange their hectic life for a simpler, more fulfilling one…to own their own business in an exotic tropical location and work for themselves doing something they enjoy…
What Does Your Dream Retirement Look Like?Posted on October 11, 2011 by International Living
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Your own cottage on a quiet beach… a grand apartment in a city vibrant with concerts and cafes… a mountain villa where the air is crisp… a vineyard amid gently rolling hills… maybe a full-time maid… plenty of time and funds to travel…This fall, we’ll show you where you can make that dream your reality… for as little as $649 a month.
Create Your Own Niche Tours to France (or Anywhere in the World)Posted on October 5, 2011 by Cynthia Morris
You can quickly and easily turn travel dreams into paid-for trips. That’s what I do. You can easily get paid to enjoy your favorite destinations, too. And as often as you’d like. In fact, the more you travel…the more money you can make.
Can You Make Money With This Type of Writing?Posted on September 22, 2011 by John Forde
My family and I now live (for at least a big part of the year) in Paris. I’m still a copywriter—but now work freelance. My “commute” is a walk from bed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, a teeth-brushing pit-stop, then to my laptop in my favorite chair in the living room.
A Property Empire in Paris for $45,000Posted on August 31, 2011 by Adrian Leeds
I was lucky, not smart, when I bought my first Paris apartment, but it was still the smartest thing I ever did. I simply didn’t want to move from my 17th-century pied-à-terre in Le Marais district when the owners wanted to sell.
Live Well in Europe: Where to Find the Good Life for Less in France, Spain, and ItalyPosted on August 29, 2011 by International Living
Europe has so much to offer a potential expat…great food, a diverse choice of cultures, stunning countryside where life is quiet and relaxed and the buzz of everyday life seems a million miles away, awe-inspiring mountains for skiing and soft, sandy beaches for wiling away summer days…
But isn’t Europe expensive? That’s the observation we hear most about Europe and the answer is that Europe can be expensive…unless you know the right places to look!
In this report we’ll tell you about our favorite places in “Romantic Europe” and hope to make you dream of new places in the “Old World.”
IL’s Best: 10 Cities Where You Can Eat WellPosted on August 22, 2011 by International Living
From steaks in Buenos Aires to tapas in Madrid, some cities are worth visiting for the food alone. Below, our writers give their tips and recommendations for eating well in 10 of the world’s culinary capitals. First up is Bangkok. Bangkok’s lower Sukhumvit Road area is an oft-missed foodie’s paradise.
Our Annual Retirement Index: All the Scores and How It’s ScoredPosted on August 22, 2011 by International Living
Putting together the Annual Global Retirement Index, which ranks the best countries in the world to retire, is a major undertaking. Here’s how we did it.
A Romantic Corner of France from $92,000Posted on August 22, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
Wednesday is market day in Piégut-Pluviers, a town in the north of Aquitaine’s Dordogne département. A French country market is a gastronomic Garden of Eden, so leaving these stalls of foie gras, saucissons and cheeses feels like being cast into the wilderness.
- Cost of Living in France
Posted on July 12, 2011 by Laura Doyle
How much you spend on living costs in France each month will depend on …
7 Work-from-Anywhere TipsPosted on June 20, 2011 by Adrian Leeds
For almost 17 years Paris has been my home, and for all that time I’ve worked from my portable U.S. office… living the dream I had for so many years to be rooted in the City of Light.
Eating in Lyon: Food for the Soul in France’s Second CityPosted on June 20, 2011 by Eoin Bassett
Paris is the destination of choice for most visitors to France looking for culture, good food and that special joie de vie (“joy of life”). But while there are good reasons it’s the most- visited city in the world, don’t be blinded by the City of Light.
Fractional Ownership the French WayPosted on May 24, 2011 by Gregory Mose
La Bruyere is one of those dreamy, remote French farmhouses that make you ache for your own place in the sun. You get exposed stone, terra cotta roof tiles, and an idyllic rural location with the restaurants and shopping of Bergerac just a stone’s throw away. This sort of house makes you want to ask the owners, “How on earth did you find this place?”
Finding Real Estate in Paris: What You Need to KnowPosted on May 4, 2011 by Adrian Leeds
One thing to keep in mind when searching for properties, which we find true primarily in such a competitive market as Paris: properties advertised on websites, in magazines and even agency windows have either been sold and have not been yet removed from the advertising or have been on the market a long time…for good reason.
Renting Your Paris Apartment for ProfitPosted on May 4, 2011 by Adrian Leeds
Paris rentals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. An apartment rented unfurnished is a very different animal from one that is rented for vacation use completely equipped for as little as a few days or by the week.
Put the Riviera in the RearviewPosted on April 18, 2011 by Jessica McGovern
Tired of the over-the-top folly of Monaco, the star-spotting excesses of Cannes, and the fashionable frenzy of Saint-Tropez? The south of France has long been synonymous with glitz and glamour, but it’s only a tiny sliver of a wonderful region.
The Healthiest Country in the WorldPosted on February 16, 2011 by Eoin Bassett
The healthiest country in the world is France. That might surprise you about a country that places such an emphasis on delicious food, savory meat dishes, creamy sauces, delicate cakes, sweets and pastries, fine wines and barrel-aged brandy.
Health Care in France – The Healthiest Country in the WorldPosted on February 15, 2011 by International Living
Despite their meat- and cream-rich diet augmented by alcohol and cigarettes, in France life expectancy now averages 84 years for women and 77 for men. In the past 10 years the number of people living over the age of 100 has doubled. According to IL’s Quality of Life Index 21011 (and a World Health Organization study), France provides the best overall health care system in the world. This report shows you how to take full advantage of that system, including details on health insurance (and tips to keep your rates low), doctors, dentists, hospitals, and medicines.
Hidden Gems: Travel Like a Local to Inspire Your Inner PathfinderPosted on February 14, 2011 by International Living
The thrill of travel isn’t hitting every spot in your guidebook. It’s discovering the “hidden gems” off the tourist trail that have never been documented.
Here you’ll find some wonderful recommendations for places to eat…spots to visit…and ways to enjoy destinations all over the world. They’re all finds our writers have discovered on the ground. We share them with pleasure…from our insiders’ notebook to yours…
The Affordable French Island Hiding Off the RivieraPosted on February 2, 2011 by Eoin Bassett
“The luminous hour before sunset is special. Every bay is a brilliant turquoise. Villages take on a honeyed glow; vineyards are dusted with gold; mountain crags flare orange. Out to the west, rocky islets change from dusky pink to a deep blood-red,” writes Steenie Harvey in the February issue of International Living magazine.
The Affordable French Island Hiding Off the RivieraPosted on February 1, 2011 by Eoin Bassett
“You may think Panama City is just another megalopolis of steel and concrete. But don’t be so quick to judge. Yes, it’s bustling. And yes, it’s booming, but take a street-level survey, and you’ll find distinct neighborhoods, each with their own character and charm,” writes IL Panama Editor, Jessica Ramesch, in this month’s issue of International Living magazine.
Corsica: An Island for Dream HuntersPosted on January 31, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
Was that a howl? I look out the window and shiver. Corsica is steeped in superstition. And tonight’s moon is almost full, a hunting moon…
Cover Story: Corsica–The Affordable French Island You’ve Never Heard OfPosted on January 26, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
The luminous hour before sunset is special. Every bay is a brilliant turquoise. Villages take on a honeyed glow; vineyards are dusted with gold; mountain crags flare orange. Out to the west, rocky islets change from dusky pink to a deep blood-red.
Corsica’s Seaside Towns and Island VillagesPosted on January 20, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
Teetering above the north-west coast, the villages of the Balagne region in Corsica, France, have a grandstand view of white yachts, silver sands and luminous blue sea. I spent one day of my October trip driving between these settlements.
Corsica: The Best of France and Italy in One Enchanting IslandPosted on January 19, 2011 by Steenie Harvey
Fresh air, fish stew, red wine. I’ll sleep. Tonight’s lullaby is the murmur of waves and the tinkle of masts in Macinaggio’s harbor. Earlier I’d walked the village’s Sentier Douane, a seashore footpath once used by customs officers hunting for smugglers. Views are spectacular: the turquoise Mediterranean, a crumbling Genoese watchtower, the tiny trio of Finocchiarola islets.
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You Could Be Living in Paradise Right Now… For a Lot Less than It Costs You to Stay Home
Event Date: Feb 21, 2012
In a place where your dollar goes further... where today's economic crisis is creating new opportunities... instead of taking them away.
Where costs of living, healthcare, and property are still affordable – like they once were in the US. And you can still live luxuriously... even hire a maid... on nothing more than your social security check.
Discover our top retirement destinations for 2012 at International Living’s Seventh Annual Ultimate Event.
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IL’s Seventh Annual Ultimate Event
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