Most of us love to drink French wines, but how much do we actually know about them? Here is an overview of some of the classic French wine-producing areas and their wines. With an estimated production of between seven and eight billion bottles a year, France is one of the world’s largest wine producers. The […]

The French tax system is complicated and consistently being reformed, with several important changes being introduced in 2019. This guide aims to cover the main areas that will be applicable to expats, but as taxes change frequently and often significantly, please consult with a financial specialist before making any decisions. You are liable to pay […]

For anyone who loves the idea of living on the Mediterranean, but is put off by the elevated prices of the French Riviera, the city of Perpignan, close to the Spanish border, with its neighbouring seaside resorts along the Cote Vermeille, might be an excellent alternative, offering a lovely climate, beautiful beaches, and a fascinating […]

Located on France’s eastern border, the Rhône-Alpes is named after the Rhône river and the Alps mountain range, and is made up of the following departments, clockwise from the north-west: Loire, Rhône, Ain, Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Isère, Drôme and Ardèche. This region is probably best known for its ski resorts, however, particularly in Savoie and Haute-Savoie, […]

These four rural departments make up the northern part of the Midi-Pyrénées region, in south-western France. Together they boast diverse and unspoilt scenery, vibrant medieval towns, fascinating caves and grottos, and some of France’s most beautiful and most visited villages and cities. Tarn Named after the river, Tarn enjoys varied and unspoilt scenery, and several […]

If you are buying a second home in France, the chances are you intend to travel a lot between England and France during the course of a year, and you’ll be wanting to take your car. So which ferry operators run crossings between the two countries, what onboard services do they offer, what are their […]

If you are planning to move to France but fear being isolated and not speaking enough French to make new friends, you’ll probably want to choose an area that is already popular among other English and English-speaking expats. Statistics released earlier this year by INSEE, France’s national statistics agency, showed that there are some 160,000 […]

Provence is a region in southeastern France bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea, known for its diverse landscapes, from the Southern Alps and the Camargue plains to rolling vineyards, olive groves, pine forests and lavender fields. To the south is the Côte d’Azur (or French Riviera), where the elegant city of Nice and glamorous resort […]

This year, the Tour de France starts on Saturday July 7th and finishes in Paris a gruelling 21 stages later on July 29th. This year’s tour includes six mountain stages, in the Alps and the Pyrenees, a brief visit to Spain, around 20 km on cobbled roads, and both an individual and a team time […]

Are you dreaming of buying a home in France but wondering about how to go about it? This guide will see you through the whole process, from choosing your new home to owning it. Immobiliers It is well worth using an Immobilier, or estate agent, who speaks English and has experience dealing with foreign buyers […]