THE KNOWLEDGE
Joining a local art group is one way to meet new people and learn a new skill
FIND OUT MORE Read our guides to French property on
frenchentree.com
a wealth of knowledge and will be able to tell you if there’s a chess club or line dancing evenings in neighbouring villages. Check out the local town’s website too, as more activities and information will be listed here. Keep an eye out in local supermarkets; the notice boards often act as a ‘what’s on’, and you may also see signs on the roadside saying things like ‘Zumba – mardi 19h’. Many towns also organise a
forum des associations. These are generally held annually, often at the start of September to coincide with the return to school, la rentrée. Our local forum features over 100 local clubs catering for all interests.
CLUB RULES Some are strict about only accepting new members at the start of the academic year. Others are far more flexible, which is important if you arrive in an area in the middle of the year. Those catering for children, especially sports clubs, tend to be the strictest but even so, it is well worth asking – even if you have missed the official start date. If you are joining any type of sports club, you will almost
sport in question. I once had to make an 11th-hour dash to the doctor to get my son a new certificate stating that he was able to take part in a swimming competition; his original certificate only stated that he was able to attend the swimming club.
Call in at your local mairie to find out what’s happening in your area
certainly need a medical certificate – certificat médical. These are obtained from your family doctor and will say that you or your children are fit to take part in the sport in question. These certificates are not confined to ‘extreme’ sports, even walking clubs often require them and you will certainly need one if you sign up for something like a fun run, for example. It’s a good idea to get these in place at the start of the year so that if you suddenly decide to do a charity 5k six months later, you don’t need to go back to the doctor again. If you plan to take part in any
competitions, make sure that your certificat médical states that you are able to do this as well as merely take part in the
GOOD TO GO These certificates are free but you will need to pay the cost of the GP visit, although of course 70% of this will be refunded by the SÉCU (state health insurance) and the remaining 30% will be either paid by you or refunded by your top-up or mutuelle insurance if you have this. Some sports will also require
you to have a licence – usually issued by an official umbrella body and obtained via the club. Costs vary depending on the sport, but they often provide some level of insurance cover. This might be for personal liability or insurance in the event of an accident or injury, or both. Check the small print and see if you need additional cover – especially if it’s a dangerous sport. Everyone needs some downtime, and doing
something that you enjoy is a proven way to relieve stress and stay healthy. Joining a local club or
association is a brilliant way to meet new people and integrate into the community. Plus, learning new skills and keeping the brain active is a proven way to prevent cognitive decline, so make sure that 2024 sees you pursuing your existing passions – and maybe developing some new ones too! ■
Top tip If your French is really
basic and the idea of joining a club is terrifying, why not start with something easy
like attending a games night? Playing board games is a great way to improve your
language skills and it’s always easier to start speaking in a relaxed setting like this.
NEXT MONTH
Guide to: Doing your tax returns in France
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: January/February 2024 87
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
