France boasts over 200,000 square miles of dramatic landscape, so it’s understandable that choosing a place to call home might not be an easy decision to make, with some areas more popular than others amongst expats how do you choose the right region for you?
From the Alps to the Pyrenees to the luxurious French Riviera you are spoilt for choice and you’re not alone, expats making France their home isn’t anything new. My-French-House.com work with clients from across the UK searching for their dream home in the sun. Each region has something different to discover depending on if you prefer the countryside or the coast before you make your move we have put together a selection of the most favourable areas where you can explore the ‘real’ France.
Top of the list is the Midi-Pyrenees region, featuring the popular departments of Tarn, Lot, Quercy and Gers. Its location offers access to the rest of the South of France, the Pyrenees mountains with Spain beyond, and driving distance to the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.
Made up of small towns, villages and rolling countryside, the region boasts an impressive historical heritage and a charm that seems to captivate its visitors so that they never want to leave. Within the Midi-Pyrenees are many scattered hidden treasures, the capital Toulouse is lesser known than Nice, Bordeaux or Lyon meaning that its streets are lively but aren’t filled with tourists leaving room for the locals to enjoy their best-kept secret. Take a look at their suberb range of properties for sale in SW France.
Of course, you knew that Provence would make our list although the region is notorious for a luxurious lifestyle there are several smaller towns that have all of the panache of the Cote d’Azur without the price tags, especially in the Var. Still in close proximity to the Alps discover properties in Nice, Antibes, Le Lavandou, Frejus and Flayosc, towns and villages where the ‘Provencal’ life is enjoyed on the cobbled streets surrounded by the beautiful colours of Provence. You are invited to try out the local produce from the markets through to the restaurants who are proud of their iconic flavours, making Provence one of the most irresistible regions in France.
In 3rd place comes the Aquitaine region which enjoys over 150 miles of golden sandy beaches, 145,000 hectares of vineyards and 400,000 years of history. Beyond these facts lies a region favoured by expats who enjoy a relaxed life in a haven of tranquillity, particularly departments of the Dordogne and the Lot-et-Garonne. Famed for its fine wine, sun drenched beaches and endless countryside, Aquitaine benefits from the warmth of the Gulf Stream and a large selection of contemporary and country homes.
Further popular areas include sunny Languedoc, Charente and the Loire Valley. These regions account for a third of private rental investment in France, making your new home a good business decision as well as enhancing your lifestyle! Discover France through the eyes of My-French-House, or to discuss these regions in more detail email French property expert Patrick JOSEPH and his team today. You can contact him via email which is patrick@my-french-house.com
