Retirement Suggestions South of France
Oct 29th, 2012, 09:22 AM
#1
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Retirement Suggestions South of France
We are flying to Toulouse for Thanksgiving week with the goal of finding a city/town that might work as our first place to live after retirement. We're from NY City, so looking for a walkable city with public transportation, large enough for there to be a variety of entertainment options (live music, art, public parks, etc.).
We would also like to spend some time sampling the local wines, so suggestions for vineyards that are open to visitors would also be appreciated.
If you could include the best way for us to get there from Toulouse (car, train, plane) it would be most helpful.
Thank you for your advice!
We would also like to spend some time sampling the local wines, so suggestions for vineyards that are open to visitors would also be appreciated.
If you could include the best way for us to get there from Toulouse (car, train, plane) it would be most helpful.
Thank you for your advice!
Oct 29th, 2012, 09:41 AM
#2
susan,
a place we liked a lot [though to be fair we only spent a day there] was Perpignan - a really nice "vibe", big enough to have a lot going on, small enough [the centre anyway] to be walkable. we drove there on the way back to Toulouse, but it appears that you can get there by train in about 3 hours, travelling via Narbonne, which is another place you might look at. [the niece of a good friend of ours lives there, and she very much likes going there to visit].
good luck in your researches - a nice problem to have!
a place we liked a lot [though to be fair we only spent a day there] was Perpignan - a really nice "vibe", big enough to have a lot going on, small enough [the centre anyway] to be walkable. we drove there on the way back to Toulouse, but it appears that you can get there by train in about 3 hours, travelling via Narbonne, which is another place you might look at. [the niece of a good friend of ours lives there, and she very much likes going there to visit].
good luck in your researches - a nice problem to have!
Oct 29th, 2012, 10:17 AM
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Also it might help if you rephrased your question in the title (in a new post) so that people had some idea of the subject. 'Suggestions' is pretty general.
Do you intend to live here in France full time after retirement? Have you researched what is necessary regarding visa, health care, etc.
The south-west is a wonderful part of France, and we love it here, but you do need to know about the legal issues of living here - and it helps us in responding to know that you are aware of this.
Do you intend to live here in France full time after retirement? Have you researched what is necessary regarding visa, health care, etc.
The south-west is a wonderful part of France, and we love it here, but you do need to know about the legal issues of living here - and it helps us in responding to know that you are aware of this.
Oct 29th, 2012, 11:00 AM
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What Carlux said.
What steps have you taken to assure that you can actually stay there longer than the allowable 90 days as an American?
Do you speak French?
How many times have you been to France? Do you know a lot about the SW of France already? I ask because when I bought my house there 20 years ago I'd already made 25+ trips, and I still didn't really know what I was getting into. (It was a great decision, though!)
Do you have appropriate health insurance coverage?
All of these things are far more important at the moment than picking out a city. Unless you are a huge risk taker, you'll need to spend a LOT of time in the area before buying.
But to answer your question, cities I'd be interested in include Albi, Castres, Perpignan, Auch, and Toulouse itself. There aren't actually THAT many "cities" to choose from, depending on what radius from Toulouse you're looking at.
As for wines, familiarize yourself with Gaillacs. Vineyards aren't likely to be open to visitors at Thanksgiving time, and it's not an area that boasts a lot of fancy wine châteaux, but of course you can sample wines all over.
What steps have you taken to assure that you can actually stay there longer than the allowable 90 days as an American?
Do you speak French?
How many times have you been to France? Do you know a lot about the SW of France already? I ask because when I bought my house there 20 years ago I'd already made 25+ trips, and I still didn't really know what I was getting into. (It was a great decision, though!)
Do you have appropriate health insurance coverage?
All of these things are far more important at the moment than picking out a city. Unless you are a huge risk taker, you'll need to spend a LOT of time in the area before buying.
But to answer your question, cities I'd be interested in include Albi, Castres, Perpignan, Auch, and Toulouse itself. There aren't actually THAT many "cities" to choose from, depending on what radius from Toulouse you're looking at.
As for wines, familiarize yourself with Gaillacs. Vineyards aren't likely to be open to visitors at Thanksgiving time, and it's not an area that boasts a lot of fancy wine châteaux, but of course you can sample wines all over.
Oct 29th, 2012, 11:21 AM
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I would happily live in Montpellier. I was a student there for a year 30+ years ago, and on recent trips it only seems to have improved. A university city with a lot going on and a lovely city centre.
But then, there are lots and lots of cities where I would live happily, if money were no object. Most of them I have yet to visit.
But then, there are lots and lots of cities where I would live happily, if money were no object. Most of them I have yet to visit.
Oct 29th, 2012, 11:25 AM
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Thanks for all the quick replies!
To answer some of the questions and provide a little more information:
- I don't know how to change the title of the posting. I suppose I could repost with a new title, but if you know how to change the title, please let me know.
- We are not interested in buying, only renting. This would be one of several countries/areas we hope to live in during our retirement years.
- This is only our first trip to this region of France; are not planning on moving tomorrow, but want to know if it is an area we should consider. We know we have a lot of research to do, but while we're there, we might as well see what's what.
Thank you once again for all your help!
To answer some of the questions and provide a little more information:
- I don't know how to change the title of the posting. I suppose I could repost with a new title, but if you know how to change the title, please let me know.
- We are not interested in buying, only renting. This would be one of several countries/areas we hope to live in during our retirement years.
- This is only our first trip to this region of France; are not planning on moving tomorrow, but want to know if it is an area we should consider. We know we have a lot of research to do, but while we're there, we might as well see what's what.
Thank you once again for all your help!
Oct 29th, 2012, 12:01 PM
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Toulouse is one of my "top 3" cities in France - I would stay there. Very "alive" city. Montpellier is one of my favorites also. Auch was OK - but I much prefer Toulouse and Montpellier over it. I also prefer Toulouse & Montpellier over Perpignan.
Lots of flights in & out of Toulouse, and it is a good train hub also. Within 3 hrs hrs by car you can get to the Dordogne, Pyrenees, Narbonne/Med, Lot, Pays Basque, and many other wonderful sites in southwest France.
Stu Dudley
Lots of flights in & out of Toulouse, and it is a good train hub also. Within 3 hrs hrs by car you can get to the Dordogne, Pyrenees, Narbonne/Med, Lot, Pays Basque, and many other wonderful sites in southwest France.
Stu Dudley
Oct 29th, 2012, 12:12 PM
#9
I don't know how to change the title of the posting. I suppose I could repost with a new title, but if you know how to change the title, please let me know.>>
use the little triangle, and ask the moderators to change the title - they are usually quite responsive to such requests though it might take a while.
use the little triangle, and ask the moderators to change the title - they are usually quite responsive to such requests though it might take a while.
