All the towns

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

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

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

• 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

• Extraodinarily beautiful views and architecture
• A reasonable mix of newcomers and locals
• On a  train line (of sorts) which is unusual for Dordogne

Special Pluses

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

Special Pluses

“The Charente-Maritime is apparently the second sunniest place in France which was a big lure….Quiet roads, a wealth of wildlife, vineyards all around us. Fields of poppies in spring and sunflowers in summer. The air is clean and the weather is sunny and bright most of the year round. There are numerous hiking tracks and the Charente River is great for days out. There are loads of water activities or we can enjoy a gentle cruise on a water boat.” The Good Life France

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

• Weather, weather, weather.  (There’s a reason the richest people in the world want to live here.)
• Rich culture:  all the museums and arts you could want, with the special Nicoise flavor of the food and life
• Italian influence gives Nice it’s own dialect and style (It changed hands between Italy and France over history).
• The Mediterranean  (mostly rocky/pebbly beaches here, so not for the sandy loving types)