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Antibes’ Old Town and central city are compact and easily walkable. It feels like a small town, with its ramparts perched on the sea; but has the conveniences and amenities of a much larger city. There are great beaches at your feet, and it’s easy to take day trips by train to anywhere along the coast. Because of Port Vauban, there are many English living or visiting the area, and English is spoken at least a little in most places.

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The town developed and prospered as a health resort around its thermal spa waters and grand buildings such as the ‘Grand Hotel’ as well as the picturesque lake, gardens, riverside walks, cascades, and forest as well as many other attractions including good sports facilities. It is perhaps the fine examples of the “belle-epoque” (approx. 1884-1914) architecture that Bagnoles de l’Orne is best known for.

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Beaune, in the heart, of Burgundy  is best known for its wine and food.  It has more seasons than other towns further south  — less extreme heat in the summers , but winters, while not severe,  are actual winter.  It is a handsome city and while popular as a tourist destination, not overrun. Not overrun with English speakers either, though it has a healthy Anglophone population and group.

• “One of the 10 most beautiful medieval villages in France, “

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Great wine, grand architecture, big pedestrian zone, great walks along the Garonne, great transportation, near the sea, and elegant

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Quiet Normandy village with some local stores.  Beautiful architecture and cathedral

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• A larger river(Lot) town in the area of Dordogne and the Lot. If you like this region but want a bigger town, Cahors is a handsome, affordable small city/ big town. not mobbed by tourists nor unfriendly to newcomers, “We live halfway between Cahors and Albi. Property here is not expensive, the climate is approx. one third warm but cloudy Atlantic weather, one third Mediterranean, with sunny days and warm nights, and one third Continental (sunny days, cool nights). The countryside undulates, so views change all the time, but not so much as to make cycling impossible; roads are super quiet food and wine are delicious, lunches out cheap, French people are kind and often generous. We don’t hear a great deal of English spoken, though there are expats around if you seek them out, and many are Dutch, also Danish, Swedish… Flights to the UK abound from Toulouse, also Rodez and Brive.?”
• Cahors now remains as the only French region that produces Malbec-based wines.
• The Valentré Bridge is listed as historical monuments in the 1840 list and since 1998 a UNESCO World Heritage site, as the paths of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle in France.
• There is a market on a Wednesday and Saturday morning in the old town

   

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• Really lovely town with a substantial English-speaking town and a well-established social scene.
• About the St. Etienne collegiate church “Like a lighthouse in the middle of the vineyards, the collegiate church is visible from afar. Its enormous proportions intrigue the traveler… fine example of southern Gothic architecture
• From “The Good Life France” website: ” One of the best places to enjoy its full glory is in the medieval village of Capestang in the wine growing region of Saint-Chinian. Here you can stand on an ancient bridge arched over the canal, admiring a selection of sun drenched riverboats and lazy coypu and contemplating just what a marvel this Canal is.”
• From the website “That’ s Hamori”You drive up towards the town square, through little light colored row houses, along twisting and turning narrow streets towards the church steeple peeking above the rooftops. Once there, the church reveals ruin remains, with a story to discover, and stands on guard with strength in the square. Cafés with outdoor seating, people with baguettes under their arms scurry away; giving a sense of life here.”

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• “not a large city by any means, we found the center to be charming and tranquil. Cassoulet restaurants cover the city, and the riverfront sets as a centerpiece with all sort of boats floating on their journey across this great canal.”(https://girlinflorence.com/)
• “it is a medium city and quite a few English expats and a good standard of living. Maybe you should visit if you’re looking for a place to settle in France that’s not too expensive.”(https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/castelnaudary-cassoulet-and-canal-du-midi/)
• “Its a region thats not too populated so kind of traditional in its values and cultures. For me, theres a feeling of isolation in the Aude, and in this isolation, there’s not the blemish of globalisation, hence old school. France before the sell out. Perhaps thanks to the wind or that there’s no big city in the area.” Stephen McCartney,
• “”Lovely town with everything you need.It’s more than just the cassoulet festival every year” Ian Black
• I know Castelnaudary very well. In my view, this city has its positives and negatives. On the positive side, it’s populated by modest and generally pleasant people, offering a human-scale environment with accessible locations on foot and by bicycle. The surroundings, including a lovely lake, scenic views of the Pyrénées and Montagne Noire, and an active community, contribute to its charm. A sunny climate, proximity to places like Toulouse and the Mediterranean, and ample parking are also pluses.Hugo Szpak

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“Houses on the Agout:  Formerly workshops for tanners, parchment makers or weavers, these colorful pastel-hued houses are half-timbered and date from the 13th century.” Quote unattributed, please contact if these are your words; we’d like to give you credit/

“The main square in Castres is lovely and a great place to enjoy a drink in the sun – there are also some lovely little boutiques……Quote unattributed, please contact if these are your words; we’d like to give you credit/

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Chalon seems to find an excellent middle ground between some of the polarities that one is faced with in other towns.  It’s climate is fully four seasonal, but freezes are rare and snow even rare, while summer nights do cool things down.  It’s a good sized town without the extremes of either village or city life.  It’s public transport in the form of trains is good, if not spectacular and its international population is neither skimpy nor overwhelming.

One highlight worth special mentioned:  an international street artists festival, called Chalon dans la Rue (“Chalon in the street”) Over four days, artists from across Europe and beyond come to the streets of Chalon to perform, mostly for free, in music, theatre, acrobatics, comedy, etc.  (Wikipedia)

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• Near to Switzerland and the Alps.   A culture that mixes the Alpine and Swiss with the French
• “A good idea to get to know people would be to sign up to The Association de Quartier du Centre Ville which is a Community Centre with all sorts of activities where you will meet people of all ages and backgrounds and where you could learn French if you don’t already speak it – you could even do a language exchange. Chambéry is a University town and there are lots of cinemas, bookshops, shops, and theatres. Also swimming pools, sports centres.” Miracle Maid