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.
Interested in learning more about France? Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you a FREE REPORT- A Taste of France: All the Ingredients for the Good Life.
This special guide covers covers real estate, retirement and more in France and is yours free when you sign up for our free daily IL postcards below.
Enter your email address below
View France in a larger map Fast Facts on France
View France in a larger map
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
Read more about France in the articles below
France Articles
Escape the Rat Race and Enjoy a New Life in FrancePosted on May 10, 2012 by Barbara Diggs
When I first moved from New York to Paris, France people told me all the time how lucky I was. I understand why everyone thought that. I worked as a lawyer for a prestigious firm and lived in a beautiful apartment a stone’s throw from the Louvre. I traveled all over Europe for business: I would be in five-star hotels in Milan one night and Frankfurt the next.
Getting Paid to Vacation in France—the Easy WayPosted on May 6, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
“What do I wear in bed?” mused Marilyn Monroe. “Why, Chanel No. 5, of course!” Perched in the hills above the Côte d’Azur in France, Grasse has been the world’s perfume capital since the 17th century. The countryside around this Provencal town is where the jasmine and roses that go into the country’s famed luxury fragrances are grown and harvested.
After a Decade—My Favorite Restaurants in ParisPosted on April 25, 2012 by Barbara Diggs
For most people, the idea of dinner in Paris likely conjures one of two images: an elegant restaurant where white-jacketed waiters glide about with silver- domed dishes, or a cozy bistro where a platter of steak frites is plunked down before you and the house red is as good as any you’ve tasted.
“How Extraordinary My Ordinary Is”Posted on April 25, 2012 by Barbara Diggs
Bonsoir, bonsoir!” Sylvie sang out, kissing me on both cheeks before turning to my husband and doing the same.
She ushered us into her small, modern Parisian apartment, eyeing the bottle of champagne that we’d brought as a thank-you gift. “I’m glad you were able to come tonight.”
What Does Your Dream Retirement Look Like?Posted on April 25, 2012 by International Living
201 1 Live and Invest Overseas Conference Package
Las Vegas, NV – October 2011In the Live and Invest Overseas Conference Package, we’ll show you how you can make that dream your reality… for as little as $697 a month. Maybe you long for 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… or even your own vineyard amid gently rolling hills. Whatever you fantasize about… come with that idea in mind. We’ll show you the places in the world today where you can live your dream, for a small fraction of what you’d pay for a comparable life at home.
A Life Less Ordinary as a Travel WriterPosted on April 13, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Today, my office is a hotel balcony on the Cote d’Azur in southern France. There’s a view of a palm-lined promenade and the glittery Mediterranean—it’s as forget-me-not blue as the sky. Back home in Ireland, my neighbors are enduring unexpected April snow showers.
Cash in Your Vacation SnapsPosted on March 28, 2012 by Ginger Sanders
Paris is a fantastic city to take pictures—full of shaded back alleys…romantic architecture…just-washed evening gowns fluttering from balconies—it’s photo heaven.
“Why I Moved from California for a Better Quality of Life in Paris”Posted on March 22, 2012 by Barbara Diggs
When Elizabeth Milovidov stood on the cobbles before the thousand-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral and wandered Paris’s narrow stone streets, soaking up the history and elegant architecture, she knew that her heart was lost. “I thought: I want to be a part of all this,” she says. “I knew I had to live here.”
Why Livable Europe Should Be On Your List…Posted on February 21, 2012 by Jennifer Stevens
What Life Overseas Really Looks Like…
Skeptics inquire: Are the opportunities overseas really as great as we at IL portray them to be? The short answer is “yes.” But don’t take my word for it… Listen, instead, to the many firsthand stories we’ve collected in this month’s issue—on-the-ground reports from folks who decided to answer the question for themselves…at the beach…in the hills…in cities…or on islands…
Adventures and Life in Old World EuropePosted on February 21, 2012 by International Living
When Elizabeth Milovidov stood on the cobbles before the thousand-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral and wandered Paris’s narrow stone streets, soaking up the history and elegant architecture, she knew that her heart was lost.
This month: Steenie Harvey, IL Europe CorrespondentPosted on February 21, 2012 by Steenie Harvey
Five years into my expat life, I look forward to downsizing. In fact, I recently bought a small, manageable, lock-and-leave property in Guanajuato, in the Colonial Highlands.
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.
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…
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.
Upcoming Event
-
If Money Were No Object, What Would Your Dream Retirement Look Like?Event Date: Sep 28, 2012
Fast-Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference
September 28-30, 2012 - Las Vegas,NV
Whatever you fantasize about…come with that idea in mind. We’ll show you the places in the world today where you can live your dream, for a small fraction of what you’d pay at home.
Find out more and register here.
