France (home, high school, to live in)

[Voltaire]

Hey everyone,

In 5 years I am planning on retiring from my job (based in New York, but spend a lot of time in the UK too) and settling down to a more peaceful life. Lately, while trying to decide on the perfect location to call home in the year 2013 or 2014, whenever, I have decided on France. I could go into a big long explanation of my reasons for this, but I won't, because who really cares?

Anyway, if anyone on here is French, or has lived in France, could you please give me hints on what cities to see (I need to spend the next half decade exploring the country) and the major positive and negative aspects of life there. I don't have any real specific questions yet, but when I do I'll ask them. I'm just looking for general observations and opinions.

Thanks.

Just so you know, I speak French, have studied French history, and have been to France before.

[xxs78]

The south of France:Cannes,Nice,Aix en Provence but i'ts very expensive,but the area of Montpellier is nice too and less expensive

[caseras]

Originally Posted by Voltaire

Hey everyone,

In 5 years I am planning on retiring from my job (based in New York, but spend a lot of time in the UK too) and settling down to a more peaceful life. Lately, while trying to decide on the perfect location to call home in the year 2013 or 2014, whenever, I have decided on France. I could go into a big long explanation of my reasons for this, but I won't, because who really cares?

Anyway, if anyone on here is French, or has lived in France, could you please give me hints on what cities to see (I need to spend the next half decade exploring the country) and the major positive and negative aspects of life there. I don't have any real specific questions yet, but when I do I'll ask them. I'm just looking for general observations and opinions.

Thanks.

Just so you know, I speak French, have studied French history, and have been to France before.

First, you could visit Paris and the south east of France. Just take two weeks to do it and then move. The best parts in France to live are on the west side. Cities like Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux are very great, good food, good people, a large choice of things to do (especially in Nantes and Bordeaux). The culture in France is very present you could find it special and even sometimes boring, but it's everywhere.

If I were you I'd go to Bordeaux. large enough (about 1 million), very beautiful (UNESCO), beaches (among the most beautiful in France, far far better than the ones in the south east : Nices, Cannes, etc), wines, very good local food reciepes, closed to Spain...

The Dordogne (a paradise for the nature) is very near, I'm sure you'll enjoy this kind of place.

[naturelover17]

Hey Voltaire! When I was a senior in high school I studied in France and had an absolutely wonderful experience. I lived in Saumur, which is a town of around 30,000 in the heart of the Loire Valley. It's pretty close to Angers and Tours, and is only about 1.5 hours from Paris by TGV. If you like wine, fairy-tale castles and quaint towns, Saumur might be the place for you. There's also a renowned cavalry school within the city, and the Loire River runs right through Saumur. It's truly a beautiful place. It has a great downtown and bigger stores are right outside the city limits. If you want any more information or any pictures just message me and I'd be happy to help you out.

[pigeonhole]

France ?
Weather is crap, people are crap, it's expensive, they believe they are the navel of the world, if u think you'll get less stress in Paris than in NYC, "keep on dreamin'"...I guess "the grass is always greener, etc"

[sailordave]

You should first study the French language and watch French television networks until you can become fluent in that language and even then there's no certainty that they won't be rude and snobbish towards you. My dad speaks fluent French and he receive the full force of their attitude because of his accent which told them he wasn't from France. I've been to France twice and you couldn't pay me enough money to live there. France is a beautiful country,...except for the people.

[RMELIFER]

I think the north and west coasts of France would be too boring for me (but I've never been on the West coast). Strasbourg might be interesting to live in for quick trips over to the festivals in Baden Baden and Stuttgart Germany. If I couldn't live in Paris, I would love to live on the French Riviera. There's definitely lots of 24hr activities everywhere from St. Tropez through Nice. If you don't mind all the topless sunbathers, you can't beat the summer beaches. And there's still free places to watch the Formula One racing over in Monte Carlo. Montpellier and Marseilles are interesting coastal cities also, but they just aren't as fun. Montpellier might be okay if you're able to make frequent trips down through the east Spanish coast (Barcelona, Valencia areas).

[pigeonhole]

I'm in the center of Paris right now, and have been hearing for a few hours agressive, noisy demonstrators blowing trumpets, howling "money! more money!"at the top of their lungs, you add the noise of Police sirens and "whack!whack"! from teens doing rollerball, all this agitation under cold, grey weather and sprinkling rain, if I had a flamethrower I think I would exterminate them all!

[Julian/SWE]

Well, I should probably warn you that france has the worst drivers in the world.
Though, they have very nice mountains...

Good luck!

[Arny]

Hi Voltaire
Maybe I'm too young and have no clue about what I'm talking about, but I tend to think that it is pretty risky to RETIRE in a foreign country you are not VERY familiar with, ie. where you haven't actually LIVED for a few years before. You might feel home-sick pretty quickly and eventually regret it.
All I can say is that many french people plan on retiring anywhere along the southern coast between Spain & Italy, mainly because of the nice weather.
If I were you, I would go down there on a few day/week roadtrip (for example between Perpignan & Menton) to try to find myself a quiet and friendly medium-sized city where it would make sense for me to retire. I would stay away from the bigger ones as they can be dirty & overcrowded.
Anyway, you're thinking about France right now but you'll probably change your mind a thousand times before 2013/2014 :-)