I absolutely agree about French officials. Our experience has been that they are invariably helpful as long as you ask nicely at the beginning. Our local tax office in La Reole organised DDs for our taxes so that they would be in place at the right time, even though we were away at the time, and emailed me with the details and confirmed payments had started. When I built a new workshop we had to arrange a small extra payment and when I queried the amount the lady in the tax office, Langon this time, explained everything very clearly and told me that if I appealed I would have to pay at the new rate which would be much higher (about x3!). Same at the Mairie in the village - all you need to do is ask. The embarrassingly arrogant Brits who tell the officials that "they don't do it like this in UK" do seem to have a bit more trouble however! Its much the same in Cyprus and, I suspect, everywhere. After all as long as we remember we are guests in someone else's country we are unlikely to meet with rejection or discrimination.
I find many of the posts on SFN pretty objectionable and wonder why the posters don't "go home" if they find France so objectionable. Maybe its all about sowing and reaping.
Hi, ex RN myself (24 years) and live in an often overlooked part of France, the Allier. Lovely place and geographically right in the centre of France. Property prices here are very good and where we live (again in the centre of the Allier) all of France is easily reachable and the roads are just fantastic. We can also be in Italy, Germany or Spain in only a few hours. We are pretty remote but at the same time just 20 mins from the town of Moulins and 1 hour from Claremont Ferrand, Vichy and Montlucon and so spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out, shopping and more importantly large Hospitals and Specialists.
There are quite a few British living in the Allier but they seem to spend their time just getting on with life as opposed to forming into groups.
In 11 years we have never seen any racism, against British or any other nationality come to that. There seems to be a wide verity of nationalities in this Department and in our commune the Maire has informed us that there are people from 17 different nationalities living here.
Quite importantly we have also found all of the Government Officials here that we have had to deal with extremely helpful and friendly.
As you can probably tell, we really like it here.
Rgds, Mike L
Hi Mike, I've lived in the Tarn for 14 years now, had 3 bikes, a 1925 Norton 16H, a 1961 BSA Gold Flash and a 1977 BMW 750, all sadly gone now as I had to have both knees replaced. This is a great area for biking, lots of clubs, great scenery, nice twisty roads. I used to belong to Blagnac Moto Retro, all the riders were experienced, so no hassle when riding in groups (scenes from "The Wild On
sorry, my reply won't continue Good Luck!
We retired to the Gers, department 32. Wanted to have better weather than the north and we are classed as Mediterranean, but the countryside is green and gold as well in summer. We live near Condom where there is an active motorcycle club and there are plenty of properties for sale. The area is rural, quiet, calm, little traffic or crime and has clean air. We have seen all of France over a period of many years and decided this was the place for us. Had no problems with the natives whom we have found helpful, polite and friendly. Worth checking it out.
Just to the north of Argentat.
Chris, must admit I agree with you. We live in the deep South just outside Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne up on a ridge called Puy d'Arnac, and its beautiful and ditto re. the 'natives'! Where are you?
Hi Mike, I've lived in the Tarn for 14 years now, had 3 bikes, a 1925 Norton 16H, a 1961 BSA Gold Flash and a 1977 BMW 750, all sadly gone now as I had to have both knees replaced. This is a great area for biking, lots of cl
Ruddy Hells Grannies !
Come to the Haute Vienne, it's brill ! Not too hot or cold, great services, within a days drive to the car ferries and full of nice people like me ! What more could anyone wish for ?
Hi Mike,
We have a home in the Minervois area of the Languedoc, mid way between the magical City of Carcassonne and the equally beautiful Narbonne.
There are a number of expats and other English speakers, but not too many.
A friend of mine is an estate agent for Leggett Immobilier and is a fellow bike nut. I have a passing interest in bikes, well, I'm obliged to seeing as my main home is on the Isle of Man!!
Good luck in your house hunt and if you want any other help, just let me know.
Cheers,
Phil.
PS We have the Canal du Midi and Lac Jouarres just a mile or so away!!
The Limousin is the place to be, more specifically, The Correze.
Wonderful, green and hilly scenery. Quiet, friendly natives, no weather extremes, loads of wildlife, and generally lovely!
Hi Mike, I was in the Army for years then the Civil Service whilst my wife was a teacher in N Yorks and on retirement we decided we wanted an adventure to keep us active. We had had many holidays in France and narrowed down our criteria to much the same as you : no ex-patshires (like Dordogne - although it is beautiful there); rural life (don't like cities or the behaviour they generate); affordable (not Haut Savoie or Provence); warm (not North of Clermont Ferand). This narrowed our choice of department considerably so we travelled around having a week in one dept and a week in another until we decided on the Auvergne. I'm not saying this is the ideal but simply suggesting a way of narrowing down things. You may want to be near an international airport or a thriving m/cycle club (there are several Brit run m/cycle clubs in France - a google search might find them). Then when you've narrowed it down look at houses on the internet and see what areas are affordable for you. We decided we wanted a project and bought a ruined old farmhouse which we and local artisans renovated whilst we rented nearby. 7 years on we're very happy, have learnt French along the way, 90% of our friends are french, I'm President of the local golf club. However after a wandering life in the Forces I'm beginning to think of a new adventure and going to Spain for an even warmer life for my health. Good luck.
Couple of things to consider. If you enjoy biking then I assume you would like to enjoy Europe as much as just France?
If so That would indicate moving to a more border region - Basque for Spain and Portugal, Alpes Maritime for Italy, Strasbourg for Northern Europe (even Russia?) . I used to go to Estonia and the Baltic States when living in the Jura for example which was Germany, Poland and so on, but by car. That region is also useful for Switzerland and through routes to Italy, Southern Germany, Austria, Hungary etc.
If the weather is more important, possibly the Languedoc with reasonable access to Italy and Spain could be an idea.If you like the sea then that gets even better an option. The wines pretty good as well.
It depends on whether you are interested in the culture and history of a region or more scenery oriented - and I'm not suggesting they need to be exclusive of each other, just which takes precedence.
Then of course property prices would be an influence. Broadly speaking the Centre is cheapest and spreading out to get more expensive - but stll reasonable by British standards. Then the weather Centre down (again broadly) is warmer - with the exception of the Auvergne, Massif Centrale, Cantal etc. Alpes Maritime are also more for the skiing brigade I feel, as are the Pyrenée departments. The South of France is over-rated, overpriced and the weather's not that brilliant either. As would be expected coastal Med towns are more pricey, but you can get lucky.
Re expats. I firmly believe you get back what you deliver, and I have found a lot of 'snob-Poms' all over France, who irritate me, so I am sure they do the same thing to the French! On the other hand there are always plenty of the other kind, usually at least.
Zero in on a few important things and I am sure there will be someone on this site who can fill in any gaps!
Good luck!
Hi Mike
We spent a lot of time over several years looking at places to live starting in Brittany and ending up in Cahors. We have also visited Alsace, Champagne & Burgundy several times on wine buying trips. When I was younger we used to spend holidays in the South around Orange, Avignon & Toulon. In the end we have ended up in a village between Pellegrue & Monsegur on the Eastern edge of Gironde. It’s about as far from St Malo as I want to drive in a day (6 hours usually does it) and the country and the people are very welcoming. We like the mix of fruit trees, pasture, vines and woodland and it is pleasantly hilly with wonderful views. The climate is good, not as wet as North of the Dordogne and not too hot in the summer. Occasional light snow in winter, can be cold (-14C for 10 days in Febb 2012). Food and wine are good and not expensive, only an hour or so to Medoc if you still want something posh. Property prices very good (if you are buying!) at the moment. A good time to move. Don’t know about bikers or Russians.
. There are a few English in other villages close by (most are in Duras & Eymet) but only 4 full time that we know of in our village plus about 4 others who visit in the summer.
Bon courage
Mike
Bonjour Mike and Alena, I live in a small hamlet on the very southern border of the Charente, Dept 16 with the Dordogne, dept 24.
In our hamlet there are some, English, American, Polish, German, Belgium, Greek, Spanish, Dutch & Danish, people permanently living here.
Everyone gets on with everyone and the French here are very supportive and friendly having this eclectic mix of people in it's midst. My very good friend and neighbour is a retired, British naval officer. Indeed, there are several non-French people on our local commune committee which is testament to the spirit of the locals.
Restaurants and bars are all nearby and in the BIGGER picture, links back to blighty and the rest of Europe are all within easy reach, whether it's rail, air or road to the ferry ports.
In truth, you could parachute into any part of France and be sure of finding something that suits, it's a BIG country and I think a lot of us spent far to much time trying to find that little piece of the country which suited them best.
If you would like to know more, get in touch.
Jk
Hi Mike & Alena
We lived in the Vendee for 4 years and loved it, but decided it was too flat and too quiet. The winters were bitter, which was a surprise. The retired brits seemed to be in little cliques. We made French friends there, who we still see. We were pretty integrated because our kids were at school there, though we did have English friends too.
We stepped right back and thought about where we wanted to be. After many hours of research and travelling around. We came to the Languedoc (Aude) because 1. The summer is longer and warmer, 2. There is a more cosmopolitan atmosphere, there are more nationalities living in and travelling to this area (Spanish, Russian, Dutch, Irish etc...) 3. We liked the idea of spain being close by 4. Skiing in the winter 5. House prices in this area are lower than other southern areas. We live in town which is not for everyone, but as we have kids it is better for us. We have friends here who are French, Spanish, English & Russian.
But if you don't like the cold, don't go too close to the mountains!
Hope it helps.
Helen
Oh go on then The names alison/ grr grr,ay I tell you why you might ask Tom?
Hi Brian, we had a two night stopover in the Dordogne area last year on the way back north from Spain. Did a fantastic day out visiting Sarlat and Domme and several other lovely places. Not too keen on big bike meets, been there done that, too much time spent drinking coffee and talking rather than riding and they can be a bit hairy especially if you are surrounded by riders who are not used to riding in groups. We prefer to go out with a destination in mind to explore the countryside and visit somewhere with history and character. In the UK we are both members of English Heritage.
Well, hereabouts there are motorbike meets occasionally. We hear bikes for hours those evenings, literally, when they finish. I have never been to the place when the several hundred (thousands?) converge. I rarely drive anywhere hereabouts without being passed by big bikes. I gather from a neighbour they are not all French. If that's your kind of thing. By the way, welcome and Здравствуйте.