Sextant ‘Tour De France’ in the Provinces!
Are you ready? Get on your bike and follow me! Here is our Sextant ‘Tour de France’ where we will discover French and British people’s favourite places and some of our nicest traditional properties in these lovely regions all over France.
To begin our “Tour de France”, let’s start in the North West.
The regions in the NorthWest of France are known for their cultural richness, from Normandy to south Brittany, there are many places to be explored. You don’t need to be a scientist to realise they’re not the warmest areas in France; however, with more than 3300 kilometres (2000 miles) of coastline, it forms more than half of all French coastline.There are unique views and panoramas galore to be discovered.
If you like the idea of living in the provinces but don’t want to be too far from big towns or cities, then the North-West may be the perfect area for you. Very nice towns in Normandy such as Deauville, considered as being one of the most prestigious towns in France, or Bayeux, known for its historical past with William the Conqueror, are the perfect matches for a family who wishes to settle in a place offering the best of both urban and rural living.
If you continue along the west coast you will discover the region of Brittany, known for its Celtic culture whose historical capital city used to be Nantes, still the biggest city in the North-West area today.
Please discover a charming property in Normandy.
This charming property is 10 minutes from the center of Deauville. This stunning house is very bright and enjoys a south-facing garden. The ground floor offers a lounge with a large fireplace, a fully fitted and equipped kitchen and a bedroom enjoying an en suite bathroom. Just steps from the main house is a charming thatched cottage for guests which includes a bedroom with an en suite bathroom and a garage. The property is set in an acre of gorgeous, well-maintained land, with a south-facing patio to entertain guests or to enjoy your own relaxation; a barn for horses is also built on the land. The garden is full of trees including palm trees, camellias, olive trees, eucalyptus trees and Austrian pines.The trees have been fitted out with lights, creating a charming atmosphere at night.
Half way between Brittany and the Mediterranean Sea is our second destination, the Dordogne.
The Dordogne is considered as one of the nicest rural areas in France, its hills and historical castles are the jewel in the crown of the Aquitaine region. Also known as a cultural hotspot for wine, the local economy is especially reliant on wine tourism, the Monbazillac variety is a famous wine produced in the Dordogne.
The largest town in the Dordogne is Bergerac, set on the banks of a river. Every year this charming town welcomes hundreds of countryside-lovers; this place is a true paradise for anyone who loves hiking in hills and who would like living in a big property with lots of lands.
Here is an example of an authentic renovated house:
This stone house presents traditional character features.Nine centuries ago, on the banks of the river Vezere, a crafts person had to build a house on three floors without knowing it would still be there on the riverbank today. Being one of the most photographed houses in the area, this full renovated stone house offers wonderful views of La Vezere River with its antique wash houses. This property offers a mix between modern-day home comforts and history with the centuries of Henry III (King of England and Duke of Aquitaine) and Louis I (known as Saint Louis).
The property is located in Montignac, at 13km from Thenon, a charming village situated on a rounded hill in the Perigord Noir of the Dordogne; a privileged position that makes the most of its natural environment.
Our “Tour de France” ends up in the Mediterranean regions.
Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence-Alpes-Côtes-d’Azur are the two regions on the Mediterranean Sea. This area is one of the favourite places for French and foreign people; if you like living close to the sea but also not far from the mountains (with the Pyrenees and the Alps) and enjoying nice, warm weather, these regions are probably where you would love purchasing a property.
Both of these regions are very famous for their cultural richness and the beauty of their landscapes all along the coastline and the mountains. If you are a wine-lover and like traditional food, you will have the pleasure to discover very nice French wines from the South of France which would ideally complete nice dishes as those of the well-known Cuisine Provencale!
These areas are perfect for those who like living in big cities by the sea such as Montpellier, Marseille or Nice. Equally, they are also ideal for people who like living in very nice towns since they are renowned for being very charming and traditional such as Perpignan, Cannes, Antibes or Aix-en-Provence.
Here is an example of a very nice property in the Mediterranean region which offers an incredible panoramic views of the island of Corsica.
This Beautiful stone house is set on a 7,800sqmgarden and offers breath-taking views over 50kms of coastline.The main house offers ample living space, including an open-plan living room, a fully fitted kitchen, a master bedroom, a bathroom opening onto the terrace and a large mezzanine. The property also offers a spacious terrace with a summer kitchen and a large bread oven. There is a large garage (72sqm) with a shower room and a WC which could be converted into a studio apartment or a guest gite. There is also a guest chalet (duplex) with a conservatory and a private terrace. The property is situated in Tourettes-sur-Loup and is only 20mins from Nice and the airport.
Sextant Properties can help you in your personal projects
If you wish to purchase a property in the French provinces, now is the perfect time to invest; as demand is growing very fast, prices are likely to increase in the future months.
Obtaining a French mortgage can be a very useful tool when purchasing a property; Sextant Network can assist you in finding the best mortgage for your property.