Town or Country?
"We are in our late 40s and are planning move to Poitou-Charentes in the next couple of years. We have long held a dream of living in the countryside of France but wonder how practical that might be."
This is a question that everyone planning to make a permanent move should consider carefully before choosing a property. Age, lifestyle, family and health situations all come into play. In your 40s, in good health and without young children at home, the world (or rather, France) is your oyster.
First things first: are you happy to have neighbours? If not, then a country property it is. For all the benefits of a village or town house (and there are many) privacy and solitude are not amongst them. If you want a large garden with space for an animal or two and a decent vegetable plot to provide the 'Good Life' experience, then it's the country road for you.
If, however, you feel your French would benefit from daily conversations with the neighbours/shopkeepers and you don't want to hop in the car every time a baguette beckons, you might be better suited to village life. And if health is an issue being near a hospital, a doctor or a pharmacy will all give peace of mind.
Those with school-age children who dream of the rural idyll needn't feel restricted. A local school bus service will put on a stop near your home to collect and return the children either end of the day. However, local friendships are easier to forge in a village where kids can meet up under their own steam.
A good halfway house is a hamlet setting where you have neighbours, the chance of a good-sized plot and country walks right on the doorstep.
Be sure you see your chosen area out of season. Fields of sunflowers, vines dripping with grapes and sun sparkling on rivers and lakes are seductive in summer. Compare and contrast with bare fields, the spines of naked vines and grey damp days. If you love a place in winter, you will be in heaven come the better weather. And it's not just the aesthetics: in winter bars and restaurants close in popular tourist areas and supper at a friend's house is a more usual evening out than dinner at a smart brasserie.
First move for me would be an out-of-season holiday with a few days in a village B&B followed by a long weekend in a country house to get a real feel for both situations.
NEXT WEEK: Properties that earn their keep!
Author: Julie Savill. First published in Living France magazine
