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during his summer holidays, immersed in the peasant culture of rural Provence, exploring the limestone hills of the French countryside. So vivid were the descriptions that I was transported straight to the garrigue of Provence and the wonderful landscape steeped in tradition. This book led me to Pagnol’s
other books, most notably Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources and then to the fi lms which are still great favourites, however much of a cliché. And who hasn’t sat at their
desk in some grey city or town imagining long French lunches under blue skies, the sound of cicadas in the background. French cuisine is, for most people, one of the major draws of coming to France, even if it’s just the idea of local markets, leisurely meals, and a café culture. The concept of the French
A book about rural Provence
inspired Nadia to move to France
Café culture and a
slower way of life has a great appeal
lifestyle – la belle vie – exists vividly in the imagination for many of us and the more we dream of it, the more we yearn to experience a bit of it
for ourselves, if only for a few weeks a year. I have even had clients who
have bought a house in France on the strength of seeing the Tour de France on TV, never having been to the region. Others are desperate for space around them and the thought of being able to go skiing or to cycle the cols as and when it takes them, the mountains just a short hop away.
DREAMING BIG Sometimes it feels as if every lifestyle dream can come true here in France. There are beautiful beaches, sophisticated cities, rural regions where life has barely changed for generations and the connection with the land as strong as ever. There are mountains, vineyards, vast lakes, endless walking and cycling; in fact, every sport imaginable (only the French could have invented hot air ballooning!). If you want beautiful architecture, it is here along with culture, great art, world class ballet and cinema,
delicious food and wine, and peace and quiet in unspoiled countryside. With everything within its borders, it is hardly surprising that France is the most visited country in the world and that so many people want to come on holiday or make their home here. Despite the huge variety
of reasons clients have for wanting to own a French property, there is one thing that unites us all and that is the romance of France and the French lifestyle, which I think underpins all those dreams. And the best thing of all is that France seems to be the place to make those dreams come true, whatever your reasons for coming in the fi rst place and whatever it was that inspired those dreams.■
Nadia Jordan runs thefrenchpropertyfi
nders.com, a network of property fi nders covering the most sought- aſt er regions of France, and foothillsoff
rance.com, a property search agency in southwest France
“With everything within its borders, it’s no surprise that France is the most visited country”
Gastronomy is a big motivation for coming to France, from fi ne dining to local markets
French landscapes are so varied, from rolling vineyards...
...to dramatic mountain scenery FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2024 65
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© NADIA JORDAN
© NADIA JORDAN
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