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There’s something about France that few people know…
France, with its reputation for glamour and the finer things in life, leads many people to cross the country off their retirement destination list, assuming that they could never afford to live there. But that’s a mistake.
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 far more affordable than you might think. In fact, there are many parts of the country where habitable homes in storybook settings cost less than $210,000.
There’s a region in the sunny south, for example, that offers a wonderful warm climate year-round…delightful medieval villages brimming with sun-baked old stone houses….white-sand beaches and winding mountain trails…large cities and tiny hamlets…and that’s virtually a stone’s throw from the Spanish border. The region is called Languedoc-Rousillon, and—for now—prices are still reasonable…
If you prefer a cooler climate and a more pastoral setting, look to charming Normandy. Just two hours from Paris, this region is filled with half-timbered houses, often set on acres of emerald fields that seem straight out of a fairytale. There’s also a fascinating history, flavourful rustic cuisine (think apples, poultry and creamy, fresh dairy), romantic windswept beaches and exquisite coastal towns… It’s the perfect place for a holiday retreat or a tranquil year-round home.
For mountain-lovers, the Rhône-Alpes region of France may be like a dream come true. Here you’ll find clear blue lakes and country landscapes that offer riveting views of the sharp peaks of the Alps, and a number of towns, from Grenoble to Lyon, that are as lovely as they are lively and affordable.
And all this is just for starters. There are scores of other reasonably priced “hidden corners” of France that most foreigners know nothing about.
I sit in the sunshine sipping my espresso coffee and spreading a little more strawberry jam on my buttery croissant. A little earlier I had made the short journey to the boulangerie to get a baguette and croissants for our Australian visitors. As they tucked in to their traditional French breakfast, they asked what my wife Lorraine and I do to fill in time on our retirement adventure....
People often ask me if there is a single place I can suggest as a retirement destination in France. I love so many places that it is almost impossible to answer but there is one city which seems to tick every box. You may never have heard of it and it is probably off the radar for people starting their search for the ideal retirement lifestyle. The city is Pau (pronounced “poe”) way down in the south west of the country...
When it comes to choosing your ideal spot overseas, of course you want great scenery, plenty of places to go and see, a good social life and great restaurants, but you can find these almost anywhere. For me, there were five more practical must-haves I was looking for in my dream retirement location...
There is one big problem you have to face when retiring to France. Despite your best efforts you will never be able to overcome it…but you will have a smile on your face as you die trying! The problem: Getting to taste every wine produced in France. According to Wikipedia, France produces 7 to 8 billion bottles of wine each year...
Bordeaux is a favourite for expats and tourists alike and soon there will be a new reason for choosing this ancient city as a retirement destination. In the next couple of years, a new TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse or very fast train) service will be introduced direct to London. This will result in a five-hour journey at speeds of up to 300 kilometres an hour, making it competitive with air travel and without the hassles...
A soft breeze is blowing around us as we sail down the Canal Lateral a La Loire. There is no other boat in sight; it’s just our group of four—myself, my husband Duncan and a couple of friends—enjoying the peace and quiet of this extraordinary boating holiday. The thought of our warm, crusty baguettes for lunch, with locally grown, juicy tomatoes...
There are many reasons you should consider a move to France: The beaches of Normandy, the stunning Paris cityscape, the resorts of the Atlantic and Mediterranean… but France is more than just a pretty place to live—although it’s most certainly that…
Retiring to France will be one of the most wonderful and, at times, challenging experiences of your life. It is such a big country with a vast variety of climates, cultures and cuisine. Magical names like Bordeaux, Avignon, Dijon conjure up images of narrow streets, medieval buildings, roadside cafes and a truly Gallic lifestyle. While Read more...
Paris is the city of romance and art, of the Eiffel Tower and the Musee du Louvre. Paris can also be an amazing place of fun and adventure, especially during European summertime. And activities in this great city don’t have to be budget-busting.
Slowly sipping a delightful glass of local wine at my favourite Riviera beach cafe, engaged in some serious people-watching, my waiter abruptly races by, arms outstretched, to rescue a startled woman, perched atop her chair trying desperately to escape a renegade wave. Mission accomplished and with everyone safe, a chorus of “bravos” briefly erupts from us cafe-diehards, braving Nice’s October weather...