All the towns

Special Pluses

• Abbaye de Fontenay: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a breathtaking example of Cistercian architecture, boasting its well-preserved Romanesque church, cloisters, and gardens.
• Friday weekly market in the covered hall and in the streets

Special Pluses

• A fairy tale castle
• Favorite foods:  cider, crêpes, mushrooms, seafood, and pastries are very popular.
• The Celtic culture, which remains very strong and pairs beautifully with the local music.

Special Pluses

• Great public transportation
• “Rennes has long been counted as “the smallest of the big cities” in France, but that it was now had momentum, not least thanks to upcoming 90-minute rail links to Paris, new Metro works, and a €2 billion injection to public investment. “My message is this: Rennes will amaze you,” the mayor said. ” “
• Factors that Rennes ranks high in:  public transportation, cultural events, green space, affordability and night life
• “PROS: I do not like the heat and it is cooler here. Just 90 mins to Paris. GREAT health care. Terrific transportation via bus and metro and we are able to live easily without a car. It’s lively here, a university town and something’s always happening, but it’s not too big. Very walkable. Close to the amazing Bretagne coast. I find the people in Brittany to be warm and welcoming. A lot of activity along the river. Good shopping. Very good restaurants and bars. An exquisite old town with half-timbered houses. Galettes! Decent beer. ” Therese C. in Americans Retiring in France

Special Pluses

• All about the sea…and boats.  Concarneau’s harbor is a bustling hub of activity, lined with colorful fishing boats and charming cafes. The harbor is particularly beautiful at sunset when the boats are illuminated by the setting sun.   Also, the seafood rocks.
• Concarneau’s old town is surrounded by a fortified wall, built in the 14th century. The wall is still largely intact and offers stunning views of the harbor and the city.
• Festival Interceltique de Lorient: A large international festival celebrating Celtic culture, featuring music, dance, sports, and cultural exhibits.
• In August the town holds the annual Fête des Filets Bleus (Festival of the blue nets). The festival, named after the traditional blue nets of Concarneau’s fishing fleet, is a celebration of Breton and pan-Celtic culture. Such festivals can occur throughout Brittany but the Filets Bleus is one of the oldest and largest,

Special Pluses

• ” …it’s a town that rewards strolling—the village center is off-limits to cars, so it’s easy to wander the cobblestone streets, popping in and out of the many charming shops…It has all the things that you look for in a Provençal town—shady squares, winding cobblestoned streets, fascinating historical sites, and great restaurants. Situated by vineyards and olive groves and right next to a small mountain range that is perfect for hiking and biking. It’s a paradise for outdoors lovers” “(Perfectly Provence)
• “I think the locals appreciate that it’s a real French town. Of course, it’s busy with tourists in the high season, but it is far from a tourist town. Surrounded by agricultural lands, you will occasionally see someone riding a horse or driving a tractor through town. St Rémy does a brilliant job of maintaining its traditions, like the sheep that parade through town once a year or the abrivados where French cowboys show their stuff. And while there is plenty to do in town, if you would like the beauty and solitude of a substantial nature preserve, there’s one right next door—we go there often for hiking and biking.”(Perfectly Provence)

Special Pluses

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

Special Pluses

• Beautiful lake just at the edge of townwith exstensive biking and walking paths including the “Circuit des Hortensias”
• A lovely cathedral
• A widely praised weekly market

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.