Best Place to Live in France

[@gsbeak]

A few years ago, I decided to leave the crazy life in the Paris area with long work days and an awful commute (leaving home at 8 am and back at home often at 8 pm). I love mountains too. I checked Annecy but it was too much expensive and too touristy for me. I chose a medium town (40 000 inhabitants) in the Southern Alps. I have 300 sunny days per year. I see 9000 ft mountains from my kitchen window. With the price I sold my Paris suburb 1 bedroom flat, I bought a 3 bedrooms flat and with cash to spare. I have ski resorts 10 miles from home. I can go for a mountain bike ride on single tracks directly from home. Absolutely no regrets as my quality of life improved so much.

[@BaguetteBound]

That's amazing!! ❤

[@matthewlesage8191]

What town?

[@gsbeak]

@@matthewlesage8191, Gap in the Hautes Alpes département. Problem for foreigners : The nearest international airports are Marseille or Lyon.

[@Ellinillard]

Great place to live : gateway to la Provence starting in Sisteron, and close to Serre Poncon, and ski resorts. For foreigners, from Marseille, a simple 1h50’ drive with a fast tollway all the way between Marignane and Gap.

[@traveltirement]

In summer, we took a lift to the top of Les Orres. Terrific to hike along the ridgeline! Such a beautiful area 🤩

[@Steph-iw3hr]

Choice is very specific and personal For me it will be most likely in Britanny Sea , forests , seafood , rocky or sandy coast . Nice place to live

[@francoishantz4088]

Every place has its charm. The South-West is generally pleasant even if you also meet grumpy French. To be in line with your criteria (and my personal opinion) you could have found your happiness in the Pyrénées Atlantiques. You can see the mountains and in one hour you are in the mountains or on the beach. Two cultures coexist here (Basque and Béarnaise) and you can also go quickly to Spain to discover another art of living. Toulouse and Bordeaux are not far.Thank you for choosing France. It is a source of pride to see so many foreigners love France when the French do not realize how lucky they are.

[@candaceclark4427]

We moved to France 2 years ago from the US and rented a home in the campagne between 2 medium sized medieval towns in the Dordogne. Spectacular countryside with green hills and valleys and architecture for any history lover to adore. We are 45 minutes from the prefecture of Perigueux, 1 hour from Limoges and 2 hours from Bordeaux. It is as you describe- all the seasons sans the mountains but the foothills are only a few hours away. We feel so fortunate to be here. And yes, you definitely need a car. Bon courage on your adventure!

[@philippem5695]

Normandie et Bretagne sont fantastiques. Et avec le réchauffement climatique, ce sont des Place to be

[@jordanl.b.360]

Chuuut, faut garder le secret entre nous 😂

[@harrycauvert9934]

C'est vrai qu'on arrive encore à y respirer en période de canicule, et ça attire beaucoup de monde, pour rien au monde je n'échangerais ma maison sur la côte normande contre une maison sur la côte d'Azur

[@s3lfFish]

Chut, faut rien dire, il pleut beaucoup, voila, venez pas ;)

[@Vieux_rat75]

@@s3lfFish Beaucoup de pluie > herbe bien verte > lait crémeux > fromage ! 🧀🐀

[@ludovic7439]

Ben dit rien...On veux garder la tranquilité des mouettes et des menhirs...La Bretagne n'est pas un Disneyland à betonner par les touristes à fric....😊

[@duncansmith7562]

Département 66! Mediterranean beaches, Pyrenees, 4 seasons, abundance of sunny, dry weather, Barcelona Airport just 2 hours away, Catalan culture, affordable cost of living with very high quality of life. It's a great alternative if SW France doesn't work out for you!

[@branlotin]

Yes but.... awfully windy 4 days out of 5! But appart from that, I concur.

[@nyegreg]

We are moving to France in the Spring. Took years to focus on one location. Over time we narrowed our choice to Toulouse, but then real estate in Toulouse exploded in price! So we began again. Villamur Sur Tarn is probably just south-southwest of you, northeast of Toulouse. Wonderful picturesque small town with all services including Hospital. Love it. Finally settled though on Perpignan. It is one hour from the Pyrenees and 30 minutes from Spain. Incredible city and very affordable.

[@BaguetteBound]

Ooohhh, we haven't been to Perpignan yet, but I've heard it's lovely. And we'll have to check out Villamur Sur Tarn having a hospital is HUGE! Congrats on settling on a place and best wishes on the move!! 🙂

[@duncansmith7562]

That was our choice too! Unbeatable!

[@LetsChillPage]

I agree, it's also there I live (I'm Parisian by birth and lived the biggest part of my life in Paris, but retired in Perpignan for my last work's years before “la retraite”). In your list, you forgot to add the Mediterranean, which is twenty minutes away by car.

[@quercusilex2559]

I'm between Perpignan and the border with Spain. It doesn't almost rain here and rather affordable.

[@nyegreg]

@@quercusilex2559 would you mind saying which village you settled on? There are so many nice ones. We are trying to explore as many as we can.

[@isabellelemaire6794]

Bonjour. je suis ravie que vous aimiez la France. C'est vrai que c'est un beau pays très diversifié. Si vous aimez la montagne ou les reliefs, je pense que vous aimeriez le Pays Basque ou l'Auvergne : c'est magnifique.

[@DanielNestlerode]

My family and landed in L'Aisne about six years ago. Easy access to Reims, Amiens, Arras, Lille, Calais, Brussels, Bruges, and Paris. 1 hour 30 mins to Charles Degaulle airport. Very affordable housing... 4 seasons, beautiful villages, etc. Probably not quite as warm here in the summer as your location.

[@Pazu84Vaucluse]

Southwest France is also the foie gras heartland, which is one of my top favorite delicacy

[@thierryf67]

In Europe, that's a different approach to flight. All airport don't have to be connected to the whole world, we use more interconnexions, even with trains.

[@wiredrabbit5732]

Glad your settling in. I live in a chateau town called Fontainebleau. Yeah, IDF so not cheap, but everything else and we came for work, stayed for lifestyle and really thrived. I couldn't live in a village, but i need the forest, but miss the sea and mountains, although its easy enough to vacation on the med. We have loire valley not far and Chablis is an hour+ away. The forest is 100 m. But so many friends live in Dordogne called Dordogneshire because its so popular with British Expats.

[@Lalalanddaily]

I lived in Toulouse for a year and I absolutely loved it! The city is beautiful and the people are so friendly. The nature and architecture is amazing. I highly recommend Toulouse for both families and young single or married people.

[@branlotin]

Toulouse is France's equivalent to Florence in Italy, albeit not quite as magnificent. A city at the crossroads between middle age and renaissance, with wonderful architecture. Only problem is it gets awfully hot in summer, and with it being economically dynamic with Airbus, housing prices are expensive though nothing quite like Paris.

[@spooftime9712]

I live right on the outskirts of Strasbourg, amazing place to live, and during christmas with all the christkindelsmarik in different villages, it's amazing. We are next to the Vosges and the black forest in germany, very easy to travel to belgium, switzerland and germany (like the furthest is around a two hour drive and Kehl in germany is a 15 minute drive). Strasbourg is also a huge europeen hub with the europeen parliament, council of europe, international institute of human rights and a few others. I have lived in six fours les plages on the cote d'azur and marseille when I was younger, but I prefer Alsace tbh. Really neat videos btw it's really fun seeing americans moving here (and in europe, in general)

[@BaguetteBound]

We went to Strasbourg last year in Dec and it was fantastic! What a great olace to settle in. Colmar nearby is also one of our favorite places. Thanks for commenting!

[@didzz4275]

@@BaguetteBound I'm living in Colmar and I don't see myself moving anywhere else. It's a beautiful place to live, very close to the mountains (Vosges), safe, TGV station, Basel international airport 45 minutes away, etc...Really like tour channel btw. Greetings !

[@jean-lucfrotey7604]

Surtout ne dite a personne tout les merveilleux avantages d'habiter en alsace ou en lorraine , laissé aller vos compatriotes s'installer dans le sud ou le sud ouest et même Paris ! lol il n'y a pas de place pour tout le monde dans notre grande belle et riche région . lol restons discrets .

[@mikegill4038]

I've been watching your videos for weeks now and I love them all ! From what I understand and the few clues you gave us , it seems as if you live in "lot et Garonne " ! I have been living as an Amercain in Bordeaux for over 50 years ! Here are 2 towns that you should absolutly see ; Sarlat "in Dordogne " and Saint Emilion " in Gironde" ! While you are in Sarlat ; order a magret de canard with pomme de terre Sarladaise ! You will find that specialty in every restaurant ! Both towns are 2 hours away though ! Mike

[@JohnPilling25]

I'm a Brit who lives in the USA but spend 3 months a year in France - yes in the southwest of France near Perpignan - houses here are cheap 200k, climate is great but winter can be cold. The Pyrenees Orientale is my favourite - Barcelona is only 1hr 15minutes on the TGV.

[@vincentdargere]

We love the mountains too, but we couldn't move there for some reason. We've been living in Brittany for eleven years now after fleeing Paris and its awful environment. I strongly recommend you to visit Brittany if you don't know it, because it is really a gorgeous region too, very affordable, and don't forget the coastline!

[@sylvainb2366]

Le pays de mon ancêtre (sud-ouest) that I'd really like to visit before it's too late. Je suis Québécois.

[@vzmax]

Ah, le Québec ! Je regrette tant de ne pas m'y être installé il y a une vingtaine d'années...

[@terrya448]

My wife and I cycled southern France. I would pick a village 1 hour north of Montpellier. Love the city.

[@danielalexandre4008]

One hour north will take you to the Cévennes. Amazing and welcoming place, due to the Huguenots

[@antoinebeaulieu2017]

An autolike on this one : I'm from Bayonne and we sometimes say that the South of France is the best part of the country, though there is the "good South" (west, obviously) and th "bad South" :p

[@el86lo36fky]

On vit très bien dans beaucoup de régions, mais j'irai surtout chercher des petites villes ou (les villages autour) à fort qualité de vie et à moins de 30 min d'une grande ville. Ce ne sont pas des villes chef lieu de département mais des plus des villes secondaires de 10 000 - 20 000 habitants. Par exemple Beaune. Cadre magnifique, la ville est propre, très peu de criminalité, on y circule bien, y'a un dynamisme économique avec le vin, tout les services et si jamais y'a Dijon à 30 min par autoroute pour le CHU régional et les pôles santé régionaux, les universités et la Gare TGV. Et en comparaison d'autres villes avec pourtant ces mêmes avantages, les prix de l'immobilier ne sont pas hors sol.

[@wouterschijf47]

South-west France, where in the Charente, Dordogne etc.I lived 10 years in the charente and now I lived in Guadeloupe, I am Dutch.

[@aaronziegler9453]

I really like this video, great job! I'm considering the outskirts of Toulouse based on the criteria of this video.

[@kristenkim3681]

I only live in France for half of the year, 90 days at a time, the rest of the time in California, where I am still working part time and am retired in France. I chose Lille because I’m an hour from Paris and I spend every weekend in Paris with a friend. Lille is more expensive than south west France and weather is similar to Paris’, but I love that I’m an hour from Paris, and I’m 15 minutes from my apartment to either train station in Lille.

[@BaguetteBound]

That sounds lovely!

[@phil32757]

You guys haven’t been to Alsace? Visit Colmar and the villages on the route du vin that will change your mind. And if you are lucky to get a job in nearby Switzerland you are going to live large with a salary paid in Swiss francs

[@fp2374]

"best" is a big individual choice indeed, difficult to rank. I have been living in France for 22 years traveling leisure and business all over. Lived in Versailles, worked in Paris then move to the Morbihan breton of Brittany near the coast, heavens!! Keep searching France will amaze you.

[@HomesteadInFrance]

We had different countries on our list when we decided to emigrate. But eventually it became France! Some of our criteria: able to speak the language in a year or two (we know basic French from school), to have business opportunities as we also have our own company and to have options to become more self sufficient over time, so looking a bit rural with some land. And top criteria was to buy our dream homestead without mortgage. We are now in transition and can't wait to be settled!

[@BaguetteBound]

That's fantastic! Bon courage!!

[@beauthestdane]

We have a very similar checklist, also coming from Colorado, but, 80s is just a bit too warm in the summer, we have settled on the northwest for cooler summers, but warmer winters. Very affordable, perfect climate for us, access to rail is not difficult, there are several local airports, and plenty of access to ferries, and it's very green.

[@benjaminlamey3591]

if you like both mountain and green, I recommend Alsace. great wine, close to germany, nice weather in summer, pretty cold in winter, but if you are on the slopes of the Vosges still sunny (the plain is quite grey wheather. it may be a bit more expensive than southwest france but by far not as expensive a many areas.

[@nico_dudu913]

You also do not judge and really explain well. Well done

[@berlingowiesloch6546]

Love Michigan. Had a beautiful time in Birmingham, MI with our family

[@pnwesty7174]

New sub. 😊 We are a bit older (50) and looking to retire early to France in the next 4-5 years just starting real research on locations. Where you are coming from (or used to) makes a huge difference (I think) in what you're looking for. We're outside of Portland, and while we don't really have the seasons - it's rainy a lot - that rain brings lush green, and while we love a warm beach, being near a rocky coast is super appealing. So for now, we're thinking Brittany. That said, we're planning on taking trips to several regions to get the feel for it - this fall is Burgundy/Alsace, and next year will be the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Med. So at least for now, it's be satisfied with taking French classes, and looking forward to exploring a new part of France and all that includes. Salut!

[@marysemazeres1430]

Hello, about climat in south west, in 47 where you and I are living, this year is much rainier as usely, we still have rain nearly every day since end of october, it's really unusual, winters are really sunny usaly, with more frost. Did you notice we haven't much wind, you in Lauzun, maybe a little more than here the other side of villeneuve sur lot, and at the opposite dans la vallée du Rhone, Marseille Aix en provence, and even Montpelier etc, they have much more wind, often quite strong le Mistral than here in south west.

[@hannahpricekarlsson]

Many of the same reasons I've been looking in that same area, though I might lean towards being closer to the mountains. I live in western Montana now, and miss my views of the Rockies whenever I've lived elsewhere.

[@JeanlucPerez-u3g]

Salut ! You should do le tour de la Bretagne par la côte ! Absolument magnifique ! Cheers!

[@yull6331]

Based on what you've pointed out as important criterias for you, I would definitly recommand checking out Auvergne, more specifically around Clermont-Ferrand. The volcano chains are stunning and offer endless hikes in the nature, and they induce a very specific climate where you definitly get to experience the 4 seasons in all their glory. It's hot in summer, there is snow in the winter and so on. It's also a very rich region agriculturaly speaking, and the cost of living is definitly reasonable. The only downside is accessibility, as TGV doesn't go to Clermont, so it's 3h to Paris in train. Definitly recommand it if you want to take a vaction there though, the Chaîne des Puys is one of the most beautiful sight in France in my opinion.

[@BaguetteBound]

Last year we visited the cathedral in Clermont made of that volcanic rock you mentioned. It was stunning! Thank you for the comments!

[@gaelh.6235]

Hello, I'm a frenchman from Dordogne-Shire as well. i think this video is really nice and your observations about Pharmacie, Post Offices and Tabacs are right but ... they are all linked to an Administration. (Pharmacie linked to Health care, Poste Office is a State shop, Tabac's tenant have a contract with Tax Administration which allows them to sell Passport Fee for instance). Unfortunatly, President said, on TV, we live in a time of abundance and the networks of these shops will be badly reduced by applying the "New Public Managment" in all these Administrations, including School Administration which is heaviest budget !!

[@2lt1968]

I'm enjoying your videos as I'd like to move to France. FWIW, it's very hard to hear Jason at times.

[@BaguetteBound]

Thanks for that feedback. We've definitely noticed that too and are working on figuring out better tech set up. 13 videos in we don't have sorted yet, but we will. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@caromurray6152]

Just discovered your vlog & really enjoyed it. I spent some time in France earlier this year including Toulouse & Bordeaux. Had a great time, managed to get by in French ( well some of the time) & as I have family there would like to be closer to them than I am at the moment in Australia.

[@BaguetteBound]

That's fantastic! Hope you find your way back soon! Thanks for watching. :)

[@scarletdvore1459]

Nice… headed to Paris in August.

[@biankakoettlitz6979]

What I discovered is that you can change your preverences and move to another area. You have great skiing areas in France and sunny. And great Winter athletes as well😃

[@jean-charlesledan6055]

Je vous conseil de découvrir la région Bretagne et aussi ses festivals de cultures traditionnelles. Il y a 2000 km de côtes très variées et magiquement sauvages probablement l'une des régions les plus belles.

[@rowandowland1391]

Thanks for these insights which will assist our research. We're looking forward to exploring the SW of France.. We love the French Basque area so will explore further afield.

[@Ellinillard]

Similar to Ste Foy la Grande, which seems to be your neck of the woods, is Loire Valley region, 150 km radius around Tours : mild climate, lots of culture around, low prices, same pace of life, 1h tgv time to Paris. Probably a bit less sunny but not by much. That’s where we have a house in the countryside.

[@TheCedrikp]

Living nowadays in Toulouse, having my british family in law really close where you live, i know well the region. You're very close from Dordogne or even where i have my secondary house the department the "Lot". You should go around having a look ;).

[@Kentousuper]

You have to Go hicking in gavarnie’s circus valley it’s amazing and not so far from where you are !

[@BaguetteBound]

Thank you, it looks incredible. We were close to it on a vacation last year and didnt even realize it. Appreciate the suggestion.

[@leeonhell9184]

This year was exceptionally rainy in France ! And summer is unusually cold. A normal year is much more sunny and less rainy.

[@BaguetteBound]

Yes, it has been a crazy stretch of weather. The cool summer mornings have been wonderful, but I think it has been a challenging last few months for most of the famers throughout the country. Hopefully autumn is a little more predictable.

[@nathaliec.2396]

Hello bagette family, I like you, I wish you lots of happiness. My question is: do you have a vegetable garden if not are you planning to make one?

[@ChristianLaurinE]

I think you have to distinguish between the rural of the sudouest and the coast. I am seven km from the coast and it is not cheap. IMO the moment you are anywhere near the coast housing prices skyrocket.

[@pimpampoum2877]

Un conseil de visite vous qui aimez le beurre, la Bretagne, le Mont St Michel , les petits villages de pécheurs.

[@margaretames6522]

Colorado weather changes so often that you can get snow in April! Spring lasts for a couple of days then it gets hot then brown by August. Drove me crazy.

[@Etiennerabati]

Im from Vendée. May be we ll meet there 😊

[@lorraine6947]

I’m still planning my move to France. But the Nice airport also has flights to US.

[@yvesbresson7837]

French love tour enthousiam

[@paulschrader7420]

Congratulations on your process and eventual decision. We purchased in France 7 years ago now and had our own decision-making list as well. in our case, location (services, transport, etc) and weather were primary drivers --and couldn't be happier. We looked at a lot of genuinely lovely places all throughout the greater Provence and through the process really shifted a mindset from "a forever home" to a home for the here and now -- as one can (for the most part...) sell and buy/rent something new. Things can change and thankfully choices indeed abound. Good luck!

[@BaguetteBound]

Thank you!!

[@MarianneInmarsilia]

The Vaucluse in Provence is very very green

[@KatherineTThan]

I really love the pictures and descriptions of the south west of France that you talk about in this video. What area is this wonderful place .

[@SenorJuan2023]

I jumped into a swimming pool in Panama City, Fl, once around Thanksgiving. I consider it a miracle that the UNHEATED pool didn't give me a heart attack!

[@vlamsamsam]

Hey guys, love your videos and love to see how much you enjoy France. My girlfriend and me are looking to buy something in central France in the Auvergne area but I’m not sure yet because of the weather. We love the landscape, peace, forests, food and people but we still need to figure out how the seasons are. Hope to see some more videos of you guys soon. 👋🏻

[@allandnothing5338]

Auvergne has a continental climate: cold winters and hot summers (might be a few degrees cooler if you go for a bit of altitude, but that means colder winter). My parents had a house there a few years back. Unless the housing market is a crazy boom for secondary houses, you can find big old renovated properties with lot of land (by French standards) for cheap. And if you want quiet, that's the place to be.

[@susansolta]

Thanks for all this useful information 🎉❤

[@FrançoiseBourgoin-z5z]

Nice for us

[@brezhoneg9159]

A village or small town very close to Belgium, Germany, Switzerland or Italy. Strasbourg is great. Lille is good because it is next to the United Kingdom. Arcachon is good for you because near Bordeaux, located near the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park. Go down near Spain and see Biarritz.

[@vzmax]

Lille is good ? Lille est ravagée par l'islamisation et l'africanisation... A fuir !

[@donovanhays]

We also live in Colorado. We are considering moving to another country. France of course is up on the list, hence me watching your videos haha! Housing is still crazy in the state, all over the US really. Small cabin house in a rural area? 600k+. A move in ready normal 3/2 in a normal denver suburb? 650k+ if you're lucky. A decent house with a garage, finished basement, and tiny backyard closer to the city? 800k+. It's insanity. Not the only reason we are considering moving, but it's high on the list.

[@BaguetteBound]

CRAZY. Even if it's an incredible place to live, it's just too much. Good luck!

[@jmbig]

Si vous aimez les montagnes et que vous voulez rester dans le sud ouest ... Il faut aller dans le Béarn ... Aux alentours de Pau ... ou le pays basque ... Dans l'arrière pays ... Ou entre les deux ... Dans le gers ... Aux alentours de mont de marsan ... Ou du côté de montauban ... 😄

[@nadynekasta]

I love this subject and am so glad you covered it. Thank you! My husband and I are considering Brittany and Normandy for lots of reasons, not least of which is the proximity to Paris, CDG and TGVs. The weather and house prices in your neck of the woods are very appealing, but I worry about feeling far from everything, and having less accessibility to international flights. I'm looking forward to our scouting trip to really scope out all of the areas. I'm curious to know what the biggest town/city nearest you is (one that has a hospital, large strain station, various stores to shop at), and how far it is. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

[@BaguetteBound]

Bordeaux is definitely the closest city to us with a large train station and major hospital. We're about 90 minutes southeast by car or 1 hour by train. But Bordeaux has gotten really expensive the past couple years. You might look at Lille if you haven't already. The weather is similar to Brittany and Nomandy in that it's rainy, but there are TGV trains to London, Amsterdam and Paris... Maybe Belgium too? I understand the real-estate prices there are very affordable compared to some other large French cities. Enjoy your scouting trip and thanks for watching!!

[@michellecbauer]

Thanks guys! Another super helpful video. Love this project and appreciate the great content!

[@MmmGallicus]

Hello. Frenchman here. What you are saying applies to every province in metropolitan France except Paris. Cost of living is exactly the same everywhere, except for housing. And salaries and economic opportunities are much better in Paris, which gives a much higher purchasing power. You may also rent instead of buying, and there is subsidized renting everywhere. One last thing: the South is much hotter in the summer, you may prefer the Atlantic coast for a more temperate climate.

[@MrTannoux]

Hi, I really like yours vidéos... Hope you still enjoy leaving in France... Have you been to Bretagne ? So many nice places to visit... St Malo, Rennes, Vannes... Etc.... Have fun

[@SurpriseMeJT]

Heh, I'm from Houston too and moved to the Paris area 7 years go. You don't have to be nice about Houston. I was ready to leave that place so bad and actually thought about Colorado until I met my future wife who is French. My college French classes did not go to waste afterall. Also not regretting moving to Colorado either due to cost as you mention. You can find 2-3 bedroom houses in rural France for around 150k or even less, but as you know - these places are becoming medical deserts and there really isn't much to do or see around them. 2-3 hours between things sounds like nothing coming from Texas, but the cost of gas and tolls in France will definitely add up. As much as I like the mountains and outdoors, I like the city and exposure to all that Paris has to offer without needing a car, which is why we prefer living in the Paris region (Ile-de-France). It's expensive and requires two incomes, but it's worth it for us for now. Best of luck in your search!

[@VANTRUONG-vt7zq]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

[@leeonhell9184]

Bretagne ! It s still quite affordable , you have beautiful country , coast is awesome. And its the region of crepes and Kouign Aman!

[@shannonfristoe4074]

Go to carnac south Brittany most beautiful coast in france

[@heliedecastanet1882]

I was listening to what you miss from Colorado… Well, I don't know if you have decided to stay where you are near Bordeaux (maybe you are in Dordogne ?) or give you the opportunity to change, but, as a Frenchman, I was wondering : why don't you have a look on Pau ? Pau is the capital of Béarn, the birthplace of king Henri IV, and located just at the foot of the Pyrénées mountains. Have you heard of it ? Very beautiful city. Not too far from Toulouse or to the amazing Pays basque (on the Atlantic coast). And the landscapes are just wonderful.

[@BaguetteBound]

Thank you for this suggestion! We haven't been to Pau yet, but we drove not far from there coming home from a road trip once, and just the bit we could see looked beautiful. We definitely have to get there to check it out. Thank you for the recommendation!

[@heliedecastanet1882]

@@BaguetteBound You're welcome !

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

@@BaguetteBound Hello! I would recommend the south of the Landes (département 40) or the Pyrénées Atlantiques, about 100 km from the Ocean beaches, it is quite nice and still affordable, it is as rural as the Dordogne but you are between Toulouse and the Bayonne-Anglet-Biarriz cities, and you are closer to the mountains. Airports (small) in Tarbes and Biarriz, international ones in Toulouse and Bilbao

[@BaguetteBound]

@@jean-pascalesparceil9008 that sounds lovely, we haven't been there yet! Merci!

[@RogerA.RIPERT]

I really enjoyed this video. I just have one point on which I would like to comment, namely about what you say about flights and having to go to Paris in order to take a flight to the US. Thought I've been living in France for quite a number of years now, I used to live in the San Francisco Bay area, and I remember that before moving to France I traveled a number of times between the US and France and that when I used to take a flight to France from San Francisco International, I did not care much for having to go through CDG (in Paris) in order to get to parts of France other than Paris. At that time, the solution that I had found and that worked out well for me, was to go through the city of Lyon. The airport there is "Lyon Satolas”. Another solution is to go through Marseille. The airport there is "Marseille Marignane”. It goes without saying, now that you live in France, that what I just said works in the other direction (France to US). For example, From Lyon-Satolas you can take a flight to San Francisco or Los Angeles. Where it's different from Paris-CDG is that when you fly from Paris, you have direct flights to SF or LA or even Vancouver Canada, while when you fly from Lyon-Satolas, your flight to SF or LA will stop in NY or Chicago or Dallas. So, the trip takes longer when you fly out from Lyon than it does when you fly from Paris, but it is still possible.

[@annawoods5184]

Love u show❤

[@palm1231]

you should have a look at Corsica, which is completely different see Purcaraccia, among other places

[@honduraswalks]

Great opinion!! Big claims!!

[@Pazu84Vaucluse]

For international long courrier direct flights, CDG airport is where it will be. But don’t forget that the tgv takes you right there as well. So maybe look for places in France not too far away from a tgv station. Eastern France is better connected than the western part of France. But there are sTill many tgv stations to choose from. France is a very centralised country where everything is subjugated to Paris. We don’t have autonomous regions like in Spain for example. Provence is a beautiful region, but pretty crowded and it gets very hot in the the summer.

[@twofarg0ne763]

The best place is where YOU are most comfortable.

[@basementstudio7574]

From your description it sounds like you're somewhere in the Pau/Lourdes region which is one of my choices also. Also considering Bayonne. On the east side we're going to check out Montpellier, Carcassonne, Narbonne, Bezeirs and Perpignan. Oh, also interested in Toulouse. Can't wait to make the trip but we're going to wait till after the 2023 summer olympics

[@BaguetteBound]

When I went to visa classes, my interpreter said she and her French husband hope to move from Bordeaux to Bayonne in the next few years. She said its beautiful and in her experience she found the people there very kind. That sounds like a fantastic trip! Good luck! And super smart to wait until after the olympics...we have family that wants to visit this summer and the plane tickets during that time in and out of Paris are at least double usual prices. Have a great trip and thanks for watching!

[@basementstudio7574]

@@BaguetteBound Thanks for the info. Good to know.

[@nicolavetter9071]

My husband Peter (US citizen + former professional musician) and I (German + US citizen) are getting our Denver house ready for sale (prior to the crazy elections) and then diving into the search in France - either Strasbourg region or Dordogne. Do you know of any places where music is big (and Flamenco for me)? BTW, thanks for sharing all your tips - sooo helpful - especially in your resource list that I just downloaded.

[@SaturN653]

@@nicolavetter9071 Musical City + Flamenco = Toulouse. One of the best orchestra in France with huge international success and a vibrant cultural life + the most spaniard city in France due to geography and history.

[@pauletteyoung112]

Two hours away from major airport or specialty hospital is too remote for me.

[@francisleveque2939]

Les marchés en France sont la meilleure façon de comprendre les français ! Faîtes les plusieurs fois et vous constaterez la vérité de ce que j’avance!😂❤

[@artnodulot1525]

hello. for the rain, even if the south west is rainy you should know that this year is exceptional in France, it has not rained this much since 1958. climate change: warmer therefore more humid

[@iandeynzer2883]

I myself prefer the south east regions of Gard, Herault & Aude encompassing the cities of Narbonne, Bezier, Montpellier, Nimes, etc. There is lots of affordable property just outside these cities within 15-30 minutes of the Mediterranean. The weather is great, the cost of living is lower and they are within easy reach of Northern Spain/Barcelona, Provence, Dordogne, Toulouse, Bourdeaux and the Atlantic Coast. Venture a little further to the Camino Trail, Cote d'Azur and Italy/Liguria.

[@italianbirdvideos6190]

Yeah, love your channel but let's not use superlatives like "Best. It departs from your normally balanced approach. We sold our home in California and purchased a fantastic home in Normandy on over an acre for $135K, two miles from town with all the amenities. We're an hour from Rennes International Airport, 35 minutes from the ocean and Mont Saint Michel. Four seasons without the water restrictions that the southwest of France is usually under. We're surrounded by all of the people, places, and things that make France wonderful for all of us. We did our due diligence on where we thought was "best" for us and landed here. Any of the "proof" you've suggested with Costs, Weather, Location and Nature can be applied to many areas of France. Glad you found a place to land that worked for your needs.

[@davidhaley8542]

You have my sympathy for enduring Houston. I coped most of my life with Dallas. I often said that we had two seasons in Dallas: hot and not. I now live in Auvergne. Auvergne is part of "la diagonale du vide" -- the diagonal of emptiness. Thus, our population is sparse. Where I live, I see mountains out of all my windows and still have the advantage of more than enough level ground for a large vegetable garden. The large river is 200 meters down the hill, and we can enjoy walking along one of its briskly-flowing tributaries just tens of meters from our property line. Here we do have snow in the winter, but that only occurs a few times per winter. Like you, I enjoy having four distinct seasons and a summer that one can enjoy outdoors, unlike the energy-sapping swelter of the unbearable, everlasting Texas summers. Another difference from Texas is that our region stays green all year long -- even in winter. I, like you, love living in France!

[@BaguetteBound]

Howdy to a fellow Texan! 😉 Your place in France sounds lovely. 😊

[@tixien]

@@BaguetteBoundHi😊 It really is. Auvergne/Massif Central is a beautiful area famous for its many extinct volcanos which are an endless source of curiosity for geologists. The food is great (beef from Aubrac is renowned all over the country, charcuterie is to die for…). Massif Central (here “massif” means chain of mountains) is also one of the main reasons why you often need to go through Paris when travelling by train: building train lines through Massif Cental (for instance from Bordeaux to Lyon) would prove very complicated from an engineering point of view thus very expensive. I kindly suggest you have a look at Aurillac (département du Cantal) and consider a trip: super lovely town, nice food (again😂), actually quite dynamic for its size and pretty cheap. A 3-4 days weekend is just perfect. Now, if you really want to find out about the most beautiful area in the universe (and beyond😊), you just need to come to me: the Bassin d’Arcachon will welcome you with open arms… Endless beaches on the ocean, amazing boat trips around the Bassin, awesome oysters, incredible 19th century villas in Arcachon where the European elite was used to stay through the winter (from English kings and princes to French emperor and empress Napoleon III and Eugénie to famous writers like Lovecraft or musicians like Debussy) and one of the most breathtaking views you can find from the top of the Dune du Pyla: the ocean on one side, the Bassin on another, and the endless green forest of Les Landes… I’ve travelled a bit, I’ve got some benchmarks, believe me, it’s really insane. I understand you live somewhere in the Lot département: Arcachon is something like 2h away from where you live… Let me know when you leave home, I’ll put a bottle of Entre-deux-mers to cool down, it’ll reach the perfect temperature when you arrive😊 Cheers😉

[@vzmax]

De quelle "large river" d'Auvergne parlez-vous ?

[@davidhaley8542]

@@vzmax C'est La Dore. Ce n'est pas très grand par rapport aux autres, mais c'est bien plus grand comme les autres dans la région.

[@vzmax]

@@davidhaley8542 Merci ! J'adore les rivières en général et aussi l'Auvergne mais je ne voyais pas de quelle "grande" rivière vous pouviez parler en Auvergne. Et, d'ailleurs, je ne connaissais pas cette rivière-là.

[@s3lfFish]

As a French, I'd say, wherever your heart wants is the good place (as long as you are not too far from hospitals, lots of associations that gives you activites, scenery and culture) I'd say yeah , around Bordeaux, Nantes, La Rochelle, Bayonne, Toulouse, Montepellier , Marseille, Grenoble, Lyon, Annecy, Strasbourg, Saint-Brieuc . I didn't pick Paris, cuz I lived there, its a nice but expensive city, and I don't see any countryside of Paris that's great. Except maybe in Normandy. Personal pick. Britanny. Then by departements :Hérault, Loire atlantique, Charentes Maritimes, Landes, Haute Garonne, Pyérénnes atlantiques et orientales, Haute Savoie, Savoie, Bas Rhin, Manche, Jura, Dordogne, Creuze, Corèze , Morbihan, Finistere, côtes d'amor, ..so many beautiful places...

[@francocanuck]

Britany ?

[@thierryf67]

yes, the south-west of France is greener, by the influence of ocean. the Mediterranean area is much more dry.

[@drticktock4011]

How did you factor in your kids schooling?...ie finding a great school.

[@MrsQDAnderson]

Je suis nouveau sur votre chaîne. Je pensais le jeune homme était votre jeune frère et non votre mari.

[@lornaoyarce1355]

Oh my goodness, you live in a beautiful area! Can you tell us how big your town is? I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and it feels too crowded, but I am worried about going to too small of a town. How long did you search before you found your right spot? And when you were researching it, were you feet on the ground in southern France, or was it more armchair research from Colorado? And, do you have a car in France?

[@ShannaTrenholm]

1700sf, however; is not small. :)

[@davidniquot6423]

I lived in many places in France, north, east .. west .. south .. and South West where i live now (Dordogne), it's certainly one of the best place if you like nature and chateaux. You got mountains not that far (Pyrénées) and ocean too (Atlantique) and it's pretty "green" .. lot of trees, rivers... So yea you did not made a bad choice here, and Bordeaux is a nice city, even if it tend to become very crowded and lost some of it appeal (i lived 20 years in Bordeaux/Arcachon) it's still a human size city, building are not very tall .. (it tend to change).

[@dlbarch]

No idea where you’re recommending…SW France is a huge, diverse area.

[@ddavidson5]

My sister-in-law and her husband moved to a rural village property in SW France several years ago, they are between Perigueux and Limoges. While the price was right for the property they bought, I have to say it isn't the easiest place in the world to get to especially from North America. Typically this requires a flight to a European hub (Paris, Frankfurt etc.), then a flight to Bordeaux, then a 2 hour local train to a station near(ish) to where they live--it's a journey to get there. Personally I think I'd prefer something somewhat closer to a city with a larger airport, like say Bordeaux, rather than be more remote but different people want different things.

[@BaguetteBound]

That definitely feels like the trade off for this area of France - affordable and beautiful, but as you said "a journey" to get here, especially depending on your town's train station situation. Thanks for watching.

[@michellemason222]

Are the summers humid in the south west ??

[@tadduniannick2042]

The provence area

[@bernardsicard1991]

Hello, new neighbors, please. If you want to make a surprising discovery in this beautiful region of the south-west, do not hesitate to push in the most beautiful department of France, namely mine in the Aude. You will discover an attraction that belongs only to us, namely the famous "Canal du Midi" which connects the Garonne to the Mediterranean and exclusively reserved for tourism. You can even rent a "pénichette" that will guarantee you a trip of 5 to 6 days completely relaxing. But beware of sunburn, our weather is not at all the same as in Bordeaux! It’s not even Texas or Arizona! I love your good mood!

[@joefalkner2368]

How would you get to a train station without a car?

[@christinabayma119]

You stated you’re in the southwest but where exactly?