Have you ever driven past a picturesque abandoned property, perhaps an old farmhouse or cottage, and imagined how you could breathe new life into it? We spoke to someone doing just that. Karen, originally from the UK, has bought a spacious rural property in the stunning Charente, and is renovating it into a family home. We caught up with her to find out how it’s going.
So you’re heading off on that property viewing trip. At last! But when a long-cherished dream gets real, you might suddenly feel far from your comfort zone, and very foreign. Learning a little bit of French puts you in control. But which is the best way to learn? Christopher Nye investigates your options for learning French for property buyers.
Almost 60% of us Brits moving to France want to live in the countryside – but, if you’re getting close to nature in France, what sort of animals are you likely to encounter? To celebrate International Wildlife Day, we’re taking a look at some of the new neighbours you might find hanging out in the countryside, from lynxes and fire salamanders to the humble red squirrel!
While many of us are waiting for the springtime to head off for a viewing trip to France, some of those who have already made the break are going to miss the winter months. British resident in France Penny Osborne is one. Penny explains why she loves living in France off-season, among her welcoming, warm-hearted French community.
Theresa May has put off the vote on Brexit until March 12th, and so the uncertainty continues. Will there be a transition period, or will people moving here afterwards need to follow the visa route? And what about us already here – what is Brexit’s effect on expats in France? How can you prepare and get more certainty around your status?
The hardest man on TV right now, Ant Middleton of SAS: Who Dares Wins spent most of his childhood in rural Normandy, where he developed a taste for adventure. France’s vast natural landscapes are perfect for outdoorsy types, even those who fancy testing their own survival skills…
