A new life in the French countryside

Space, clean air, open roads - is the idea of a rural lifestyle speaking to you? You’re not alone. For those raising a family in an apartment or those who simply want to live a more self-sufficient life, the benefits of living in the country rather than in the city centre are increasingly appealing.

So what are the top 3 things people are looking for right now?

1. A garden

Properties with gardens offer the opportunity to grow vegetables or keep a few chickens. The physical and psychological benefits are immense. A garden is nature’s gym - simply digging a flower bed can burn up to 500 calories an hour! And being outside in the daylight increases serotonin - the good mood hormone.

2 A home office

As more and more of us have proved we can work efficiently from home, a home office is increasingly important. If you take a city property budget into the countryside a bigger property is achievable, offering the space to dedicate a room as a library, office or creative studio.

3 Proximity to commerces

Country life might not have all you need right on the doorstep so properties with commerces nearby are hugely popular. Consider looking at houses on the edge of a village or small town, or within a 10 minute drive of a shopping centre.

Start your property search at beauxvillages.com