We Looked Across Europe—Then Fell for Brittany, France

Dinan, Brittany, France.
Del and Shelley found their perfect retirement home in historic Dinan, Brittany.|©iStock/Freeartist

The sea-swept corner of northwestern France known as Brittany, or Bretagne, called out to Del Harvey. To him, he says, “France just made sense.”

France was one of several possible suitors when it came to choosing his forever home abroad with wife, Shelley. Del credits the quality of life and cost of living, for helping tip the scales—with culture and cuisine coming in a close second.

“France, as you know, makes a pretty good base to travel throughout the EU and explore. We love discovering new places, hiking, and going to museums, parks, the ballet, and opera.”

Del, an American retiree and San Francisco native, recently moved to France’s northwest coast after decades in the film industry.

Del worked in Los Angeles on indie films, the Directors Guild of America, Disney Studios, and Lucasfilm. He later transitioned to a professorship at Columbia College Chicago, where he taught film and screenwriting for over 20 years. Shelley worked as a litigation lawyer at top five firms in both New York and Chicago. The couple retired in 2024.

A Wish List Becomes Real Life

Narrow street with old traditional houses in histoical part of Dinan, Brittany, France.
Narrow street with old traditional houses in histoical part of Dinan, Brittany, France.|©iStock/bbsferrari

Ireland, Cornwall, and Devon were also strong contenders, but they felt the cost-of-living and healthcare prices were prohibitive.

“I’ve always loved France, the UK, Ireland, and the EU in general,” says Del, “Shelley has always loved France.”

Climate was also a deciding factor.

“The first years of my life, and a lot of the past 20 years, were spent in the Midwest where summers are unbearably hot and humid,” says Del, “so the south of France was out.”

Heading north, Del and Shelley concentrated their search on Reims, Tours, Orleans, Angers, Nantes, La Rochelle, and Rennes, looking for a town that was “big enough to have everything we needed—a hospital, stores, access to planes, trains, or ferries—but not too big.”

They liked La Rochelle, but found it a bit isolated in terms of access, so they continued on.

Along the coast in Normandy, Del and Shelley became smitten with the seaside village of Ouistreham. They both loved the idea of living near the beach, but soon discovered the town was a magnet for weekenders from Caen, Rouen, and Paris—with real estate prices to match.

The search continued.

Discovering Dinan

A short time later, the pair finally hit upon a spot that checked all the right boxes. A cobblestoned, half-timbered gem surrounded by Medieval ramparts, where chalky outlines contrast with the lazy blues of La Rance River, which flows directly through the historic center. In an “if you know, you know” moment, a simple image search will speak volumes about this kissing cousin to world-famous Saint Malo. A town which boasts no less than 71 protected, historic monuments, including a 16th-century clock tower with the original cloche (bell) bestowed by Anne, Duchess of Brittany.

In January 2025, Del and Shelley fell in love with this cozy French hamlet and purchased a home in Dinan, Brittany.

Located in the historic center (population 15,000), they secured the property for €350,000 ($409,500) from a list price of €375,000 ($438,750). Having previously owned an apartment in the Marais in Paris, Del felt familiar with the real estate process, which he described as “straightforward” and clear.

It all sounded pretty idyllic, but I couldn’t help but ask about the weather, with Brittany known to be the rainiest region of France.

Del was unfazed and described the weather as similar to San Francisco. “You just layer up for the day, and you can go anywhere,” he says.

The location also felt right. “We’re just a 40 minute drive from some of France’s most incredible beaches,” says Del, “And we can hop on a train and be in Paris in two hours.”

Having two international airports within close proximity in Paris also ensured that the couple could fulfill their goal of traveling around Europe. Nearby Rennes airport (50-minute drive), has flights to Italy, Spain, and the UK, among other destinations.

Living in the old part of town, the couple has met a lot of their neighbors right outside their doorstep, along with French and foreign tourists.

“There are locals, and most of them are friendly and know us by name when they say ‘hello’ and talk with us,” he says, “In our small village, I haven’t encountered a lot of antipathy towards outsiders.”

Del says, “We’ve found an amazing group of expats in Brittany, as well as many friendly French people. The thing to remember is that you’re in a different country. Many French people are just as frightened of trying to speak English as you are of speaking French. If you try to speak their language, quite a lot of people appreciate it and try to help you.”

While Del admits, proudly, that Shelley is progressing nicely in the language, he doesn’t deny the challenges of learning French, which we both agreed takes quite a while.

“I still have 9,050 hours or so of learning to do,” he says.

Both Del and Shelley have obtained their French driver’s licenses, received their healthcare cards and French social security numbers, and are in the process of renewing their long-stay visas.

It’s a pretty good start to living la belle vie in France.

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