Happy New Year

It has been a perfect start to 2025 here in the foothills; we had a big snow fall up in the mountains and ski resorts just before the Christmas holidays and, since then, it has been wall-to-wall sunshine and blue skies with frosty mornings and clear, bright days.

The property market is . . . → Read More: Happy New Year

Christmas in the Foothills

 

Christmas in rural France is a more low-key and less commercial than in many parts of the world and is based mainly around food, family and festive traditions.

The main Christmas meal is Le Réveillon de Noël and this is eaten on Christmas Eve around midnight to celebrate the . . . → Read More: Christmas in the Foothills

Wild-water and cold-water swimming in the Pyrénées

As the temperatures steadily rise at this time of year, the French head to the water; either to the seaside, or to one of the many inland lakes dotted around France. Here in the Ariège, we are lucky to be able to choose either the Atlantic coast or the Mediterranean for a day . . . → Read More: Wild-water and cold-water swimming in the Pyrénées

Ten reasons to choose the Occitanie region of France

 

1) A more laid-back lifestyle, focused on quality of life

2) A slower pace of life (apart from the odd madman behind the wheel!)

3) Lovely climate without extremes; lots of sunshine, warm summers, and sunny, bright winters, no wildfires, plenty of rainfall.

4) Variety of landscape and culture on your . . . → Read More: Ten reasons to choose the Occitanie region of France