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Post by jardiniere on Jul 16, 2021 20:38:37 GMT 1
Compromis not signed yet so don't want to tempt fate but I need to start looking for a new home. Ideally at the edge of a small town/large village with all amenities (doctor, vet, pharmacie, supermarket etc.) or in a village/hamlet very close to such a place. Not too far from larger town with hospital. But I don't know where, other than preferably cooler but definitely not hotter, than here in Deux Sèvres average 26 degrees july/august but often much hotter.
I thought first of the coastal Somme/Pas de Calais where first holidays in France were spent but seems too expensive so thinking about further inland which I don't know so well.
Then I saw the perfect house in a village close to La Chatre in the Inde. Never been to La Chatre but it sounds a lovely small town. House sold but that sparked off the possibility of that area.
Some areas seem to have very few small houses for sale but there's lots in Brittany. I like the sound of Finistere with the Gulf stream.
Any knowledge of the above areas or ideas of other places fitting the bill, please share.
A priority for me is good places to walk with my dog, especially woods,and I like being near lakes and rivers.
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Post by stevefrance64 on Jul 16, 2021 22:59:11 GMT 1
I have lived in the Corrèze and that was OK. The Pays Basque was also very welcoming Tried the Aude that was terrible no Doctors Now in the Bearn the best after25 years in France and last home all we ever wanted PS stay away from rivers
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2021 6:55:34 GMT 1
I am also now considering another move Steve. I am probably looking in an area from Limoux in the Aude to the Béarn, what’s the climate like where you are ? My son will be moving to the area around St Palais and I do know that area quite well. I like Tarbes but have no idea what it’s like to live around there.
I’m currently in Albi which is lovely as well as being excellent for all services but it does get warm in summer though the winters are quite mild.
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Post by catrose on Jul 17, 2021 7:52:30 GMT 1
What about an extended holiday? And spending a few months visiting different places to see what you make of them? Stopping for a week or so here and there? If you can wait until September then gîte rentals can be very cheap.
We are sort of trying to do that (over a longer period). We know we will have to move from our house one day so each year we spend a few weeks staying somewhere different. Not yet found the right area for us tho’.
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acr
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In Manche(50).
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Post by acr on Jul 17, 2021 15:34:22 GMT 1
I really like Normandy - the more southern bits - but unless you live next to a very major town, you'll not be anywhere near hospitals. Central Brittany is wooded and not too expensive but again I think that hospitals might be a problem. If you have a reasonably close Pole Santé that should cater for most needs and I have a feeling that hospitals are being "rationalised" so a mutuelle that covers transport might be handy in any case.
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Post by annabellespapa on Jul 17, 2021 15:49:31 GMT 1
We lived in north Brittany 22 near Dinan, the summers are lovely but the winters can be long and wet, not too cold, we now only holiday here and avoid the depths of winter. If I were to look elsewhere it world be Morbihan area of Brittany, Mysty was looking at some very cheap doer uppers a few weeks back in that area, if you look at a map and visualise a line from St Brieuc on the coast in Cotes D'Armor (22) to Quimper on the coast in Morbihan (56), the more in land you are the cheaper it is (obviously), south of Quimper the prices rise but the weather improves if you like it hot. As suggested rent somewhere on a long let and travel about and have an adventure  Ask Sue56, I presume she lives in Morbihan. |
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suein56
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Southern Morbihan 56
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Post by suein56 on Jul 17, 2021 16:08:15 GMT 1
We lived in north Brittany 22 near Dinan, the summers are lovely but the winters can be long and wet, not too cold, we now only holiday here and avoid the depths of winter. If I were to look elsewhere it world be Morbihan area of Brittany, Mysty was looking at some very cheap doer uppers a few weeks back in that area, if you look at a map and visualise a line from St Brieuc on the coast in Cotes D'Armor (22) to Quimper on the coast in Morbihan (56), the more in land you are the cheaper it is (obviously), south of Quimper the prices rise but the weather improves if you like it hot. As suggested rent somewhere on a long let and travel about and have an adventure Ask Sue56, I presume she lives in Morbihan. OH and I love Morbihan .. I wouldn't say it was hot though, except at the moment but then all our corner of Brittany is very warm just now. Winters can be chilly inland. I really agree about renting .. OH and I rented for years (long story) and had all kinds of fun on travels in Morbihan 'area looking'. Coastal areas are expensive but inland is much cheaper. Some areas are in decline as jobs are now largely in technology and tourism in and around Vannes. Though Brittany is a huge vegetable growing area so we get fantastically fresh stuff at excellent prices. Bio is huge here too, as are small local producers of all kinds of foodstuffs. |
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Post by jardiniere on Jul 17, 2021 16:30:08 GMT 1
Thanks. Some good ideas to follow up. I don't think I'd mind cold winters as long as I had a warm house. I love winter walks. But constant grey skies might get me down. The wooded area of central Brittany appeals as I will really miss walking in the woods every day. Food for thought. Please keep 'em coming!  Oh, but sadly no to renting and having an adventure. I wish! I'm no longer adventure material! |
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Post by leclairon on Jul 17, 2021 18:34:20 GMT 1
There are a few of us all looking at the same future plan so I will follow this thread with interest! We have also tried to do a few weeks each year in a different area but haven't yet found the ideal area for us in our dotage. I have been to the Bearn but don't know it well but had been thinking we might venture into that area for a looksee when we can.
We had a stay near the Confolens area. That area, so we were advised, is well positioned for hospitals at Limoges or Poitiers, as well as in Confolens itself. We also went around more of the Haute Vienne. We do like where we are in Normandy but, as you say, some distance from hospitals. It hasn't been a problem so far but we would like to be closer.
We know we will have to downsize eventually and my French prof said you have to it when you are physically and mentally able. It's hard to make that decision when you are still coping with and enjoying the terrain, and we do love the space around us. I keep hoping something will pop up to give us a sign! After watching "Nightmare Neighbours" on the TV (in UK), we dread having noisy or difficult neighbours. I think noise is what would bother me more than anything.
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Post by stevefrance64 on Jul 17, 2021 23:04:37 GMT 1
I spent 10 years living in the Pays Basque close to Mauléon-Licharre a lovely town with 3 super markets and Satutday market the people were very friendly and we had a good doctor and vet . I was in hospital twice the first an operation on my nose which cured a problem the NHS had failed on 3 occasions and later 21 days of intensive care at ST Palais for another new problem which saved my life. I had a very old farm house, with barns large orchard and 1000square metres of grass to cut and we thought to down size. Spain is only 45 minutes away and as a smoker great value
We tried a village property nearby Quillan in the Aude again near Spain its hot bloody windy, an upside-down mountain nearby weirdos begging cigarettes or lifts and nothing grows. Our first doctor Boudin (back pudding ) retired within 4 months we found a doctor 45 minutes away in the mountains through a stony pass at Axat and he spent most of his time as the French ruby league doctor on tour. If you wanted anything important it was a trip to Carcassonne or Perpignan miles away
We quit and now live in a bungalow in the middle of nowhere 10 minutes from Salies De Bearn and 30 minutes from our old home 0ur village is just 130 persons who are great fun and welcoming Orthez just up the road or a little further Pau Winters mild Summers hot this area is referred to as the Piss pot of France because it rains a lot so stay away from rivers
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Post by tim17 on Jul 18, 2021 6:29:28 GMT 1
We've reached a point in our lives with retirement looming where big decisions are needed.
The house is way too big now that the kids are gone so if we stay in France we'll have to downsize but having not seen our aged parents in the UK for two years the pull to move back is getting stronger. We learnt a couple of days ago that youngest daughter is moving to Paris very soon as her boyfriend has got a promotion so she'll go with him which will just leave the youngest son living locally and we barely see him so we can pretty much choose where we want to be, I'd be up for trying a new area but the OH wants to be stay in the same dept to keep the social circle etc we've built up.
I guess our ideal is splitting our time with Spring/Summer here and the rest of the year in the UK but financially that is the most expensive option.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2021 6:47:44 GMT 1
There are a few of us all looking at the same future plan so I will follow this thread with interest! We have also tried to do a few weeks each year in a different area but haven't yet found the ideal area for us in our dotage. I have been to the Bearn but don't know it well but had been thinking we might venture into that area for a looksee when we can.
We had a stay near the Confolens area. That area, so we were advised, is well positioned for hospitals at Limoges or Poitiers, as well as in Confolens itself. We also went around more of the Haute Vienne. We do like where we are in Normandy but, as you say, some distance from hospitals. It hasn't been a problem so far but we would like to be closer.
We know we will have to downsize eventually and my French prof said you have to it when you are physically and mentally able. It's hard to make that decision when you are still coping with and enjoying the terrain, and we do love the space around us. I keep hoping something will pop up to give us a sign! After watching "Nightmare Neighbours" on the TV (in UK), we dread having noisy or difficult neighbours. I think noise is what would bother me more than anything.
Yes, nice area. I lived there for about 25 years spending most of it in and around St Junien. St Junien is a brilliant place to live, everything is on the doorstep. |
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Post by goingnow on Jul 19, 2021 15:53:51 GMT 1
Our place is near Avranches in the south of the Manche. It has a superb Saturday market. But then the small towns around also have good markets and facilities. Brecey has a wonderful range of facilities, it's half an hour to the coast or to Avranches hospital. I can recommend this hospital or the one at Granville. Caen is not far away and has the largest Art Gallery outside of Paris with wonderful exhibitions. Property prices in the area between Avranches and Brecey are very reasonable with many under 100k. I love the area the people are friendly and courteous. There are many large wooded areas plus wonderful beaches. I wish I was there now !
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Aardvark
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Living in soggy 22 and still wondering what's going on.
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Post by Aardvark on Jul 19, 2021 18:37:02 GMT 1
Thanks. Some good ideas to follow up. I don't think I'd mind cold winters as long as I had a warm house. I love winter walks. But constant grey skies might get me down. The wooded area of central Brittany appeals as I will really miss walking in the woods every day. Food for thought. Please keep 'em coming! Oh, but sadly no to renting and having an adventure. I wish! I'm no longer adventure material! If constant grey skies get you down I'd give Brittany a miss. This spring in our area we didn't see any sun for weeks. Not particularly wet or cold, just miserable. Also, warm houses won't feature in the supply of cheaper properties here. They will be fixeruppers that will be like trying to heat a tomb with a short candle. The Morbihan is the better weather but being coastal it will be more expensive. I'm told in summer it suffers a great deal from holiday traffic as well. |
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Post by jardiniere on Jul 19, 2021 18:50:15 GMT 1
Thanks for all replies. I'm taking it all in but have been spending a bit too much time on leboncoin and google maps! The one thing about moving within the area I live at present is it's so easy to go and view. So once I decide on area, I'll have a short holiday to have a look round.I think I'll definitely be moving north to cooler climes - but don't think anywhere's cool at the moment. I find the heat harder to bear each year. It makes me feel a bit woozy. So Mayenne, Normandy, maybe. I do love stone houses. I think the Somme/Pas de Calais within half hour of the coast is going to be out of my price range. I realise now my purchasers will be getting a lot of house for their money. I think my small house might end up a tiny house! but that's ok as long as the location is right and I have a fair-sized garden.
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