All the towns

Special Pluses

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.

Special Pluses

• University town
• Easy train ride to Bordeaux with its transportation and city amenities

Special Pluses

• Particularly good, big market of the region
• Comments on various internet forums making the point that  “Riberac is only second to Eymet” in terms of how dense a population of expat Brits might represent a minus or a plus depending on your goals
• Susan J.: “Riberac does not shut shops in winter as really there are no truely just for tourist shops!”

Special Pluses

Fecamp is known for

• Being the birth place of the liqeur Benedictine
• A historical fishing town
• Sandy beached
• Clifftop walks
• Half-timbered houses

Special Pluses

• Ideal access to shopping options in or near town without losing charm at the center
• Nice mixture of nationalities, income, and lifestyle of inhabitants
• One of the few towns in France well enough served by bus to live without a car
• The fabulous weather: very few stormy days, mild winters and little or none of the winds that plague Provence
• Feels like Provence (but easier to get to, not as overrun).  Many different squares in the medieval center with cafes.

Special Pluses

• “..cosy looking boutiques selling everything from artisan tea, to handmade hats, to high-end fashion. Surprisingly devoid of the standard souvenir shops you’ll find in any town close to the tourist route” (Le Long Weekend) 
• Just-far-enough from the nearest sizeable city (La Rochelle, Bordeaux),
• Green space: 20ha of protected prairie right in the heart of the town,  public gardens, a beautifully maintained gem in the town centre.
• “One of the best markets in France” (The Good Life France)
• Train station and convenient distances (day trip length) to nice other cities.
• Local hospital

Special Pluses

“Five great things about Perpignan”

1. Transport – You can hop on a bus and travel to anywhere in the whole department for just 1 euro!
2. Rugby – With two famous teams (USAP and the Catalan Dragons) you can’t help but be caught up in the excitement on match day.
3. The Canigou – The majestic mountain that dominates the skyline.
4. Le ‘Casty’ – One of my favourite restaurants (just opposite Le Castillet).
5. The weather – 300 days of sunshine per year!” (France Today) 

” I also can’t forget to mention the warm hospitality of the residents here; people here seem to be kinder to strangers than in the bustling Parisian capital or maybe it’s just the musical Southern accent!….From the city center you can take the bus, rent, a car, and/or cycle to the beaches less than 15 kilometers away. Eager to escape on a hike after visiting the city? You can take a bus for 1€ and be transported into the heart of the Pyrénées catalanes” (Baguettes & Bicycles)

“Perpignan boasts about being only 20 minutes from the Mediterranean coast, and particularly from the colourful, Catalan town of Collioure, where anchovies are caught, processed, and sold. Easily reached by car, but you can also take the one-euro bus, which will drop you off around the corner from the 14th century Château Royal overlooking one of Collioure’s beaches.” Etravel Mag

Special Pluses

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