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As a resident, or traveler to France, you can rest assured that you are coming to a safe place. There is no right to bear arms in France, and acquiring a gun as an individual is a long and complicated process, with few ever seeing a firearm. While you can feel safe from violent crime, the country is, of course, not crime free. There is little need to be concerned...
Even though I’ve been living in Toulon, on France’s southern coast, for 12 years—and love everything about it here—there are times when I crave an English-speaking expat hit. With this in mind, I reached out to a friend, Susana, with the idea of visiting her in the village of Cotignac, where expats are as plentiful as the rosé vineyards that surround this corner...
The trickiest thing when deciding where to live in France is to figure out where has the qualities you’re looking for. Some people are looking for wild, rocky shores, steeped in old customs and traditions…others cannot resist the allure of beautiful hill towns and lavender fields. The good news is France has it all.
In the town of Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Keith and Val discovered rich cuisine, sun-splashed farmers’ markets, and a certain quality of light illuminating the fabled Alpilles (“little Alps”) mountain range at sunset.
The list of enticing places to move in France seems never-ending. How to make sense of it all? Which area will you be best suited to, and when and where can you start looking for real estate? Here are a few tips to help you get started on making the move to la belle France.
"Some months, the mussels are as fat as steaks,” chuckled Willy, my gracious waiter in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, southern France. With a wiry crop of salt-and-pepper hair and jaunty set of wire-rimmed glasses, he had the energy of someone half his age… and a passion for French cuisine that was infectious.
If you really want to understand a French city, visit its markets. That’s particularly true of Toulon, the understated gem of southern France. Residents of this colorful naval town are simply happy to be alive, and they’re going to let you know it. Loud, outspoken, and with a passion for their beloved region of Provence...
Sometimes, with a bit of luck and some careful planning, it’s possible to have the best of both worlds—or at least get pretty darned close. Such was the case for Michael and Melanie Barbret, who retired to the wine region of Alsace in 2017. Among the attractive features of this cozy region in northeastern France...
Southern France is known for its glitzy resort towns, sparkling seas, and penchant for the finer things in life. The seaside town of Bandol, found along the Côte d'Azur near the city of Toulon, combines all of these elements and throws in a little something extra...
It was my first summer living in the South of France. My French was coming along, and, somewhere between bonjour and je ne sais quoi, I decided it was time to take the plunge. My husband, Nicolas, and I would attend our first summer festival...