Two days ago, I once again found myself in the rather unfortunate position of having to board the Eurostar in Paris’ Gare du Nord, which whisked me back to London and reality far too quickly. Unfortunate, I might add, because I had absolutely no desire to leave France and not because there is anything untoward about the Eurostar, which is my preferred mode of transport for any distances my trusty bike can’t handle! Indeed, I have been known to wax lyrical to the point of trainspotter nerdiness about just how much I love the Eurostar, especially since it moved to its spectacular ‘norf’ London seat.
Anyway, I digress.
My recent trip, which, incidentally, was to the Loire Valley, has helped me to understand just how difficult it is for all you househunters out there. I say ‘you’ because, although I would truly love to join your ranks, unless the lottery gods shine down on me this weekend or my humble scribe’s pay packet is significantly boosted out of the blue (ahem! hint, hint), I fear I will not be joining your club for some time.
However, even if I were able to afford my very own place in France, I can’t imagine how I would narrow down the search. Each and every time I go to my beloved Hexagone, I fall in love with a different region. Last year I was lovesick for Bordeaux, then Dijon stole my heart and now I’m head over heals with Orléans.
I must confess to knowing absolutely nothing about Orléans before my recent visit. So I was delighted to discover just how beautiful and vivacious it is. The architecture veers from medieval half-timbered houses to ornate neo-classical apartment buildings. There are shops galore; master craftsmen touching noses with top international brands, specialty delicatessens and tiny interior design boutiques selling gorgeous French trinkets. At night, tables full of jovial groups populate a series of charming squares and by day you can cycle along the river banks or wander through the fleamarket on Boulevard Alexandre Martin. I’m sold. See our facebook page for pictures of my favourite houses in the Centre region. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2071327&id=91376916913#/pages/French-Property-News/91376916913
It’s a common problem, so common, in fact, that here at FPN towers, we often get calls from distressed readers who are so overwhelmed by France’s magnificent bounty that they simply can’t decide where to begin their search for that dream home. Luckily for you, our August issue will help you narrow it down. There’s more on my trip to the Loire and tips from estate agent Penny Zoldan on how to narrow down your search.
Meanwhile, make sure you don’t miss our first subscriber club e-newsletter, containing fantastic special offers and discounts. If you are a current subscriber, update your email address at www.subscription.co.uk/help/archant or subscribe to the magazine today to ensure you don’t miss out at www.subscription.co.uk/fpn/W409