House now sold! If you’d like to advertise your house for sale with The Good Life France contact us…
When Barbara and Robin decided to retire to France, they did their homework. They had a long wish list and visited several regions but decided on “the lovely Charente Maritime (Dept 17) due to its micro climate of warm summers and mild winters” says Barbara.
After much searching they found their dream home, within walking distance of a small town, within 10 minutes’ drive to the coast, in a tranquil location surrounded by fields of sunflowers and vineyards.
The couple have been incredibly happy here but sadly personal circumstances have forced their return to the UK and so they have reluctantly put their house up for sale.
We asked Barbara to tell us a little bit more about the house and the area.
“The local little town of Cozes has a Mairie (town hall), where the staff are very helpful, opposite which are the town gardens housing the library and tourist office. The High Street has every shop you’ll need including lovely boulangeries, a bar and a nearby medical centre with English speaking doctors. There is also a weekly market held in the High Street in the Medieval Les Halles, a wooden hall where all sorts of fresh produce is for sale. It is a favourite meeting place for French and English alike”.
It is a typically French small town in an area popular with tourists in the summer and with plenty to do. The people are friendly and love to party so there are lots of fêtes and events throughout the year. Says Barbara “The fête des moules is always fun with many people getting together to eat mussels and dance late into the night… The big annual festival throughout France is of course Bastille Day in July when lots of locals enjoy al fresco eating, drinking and dancing at nearby Salle des Fêtes followed by a fireworks display. Long benches are provided and everyone mingles together and has a great time”.
This is a wonderful home in a stunning location, classically French and in a place where newcomers are welcomed. The annual “Neighbours Day” is a great way for the locals to join up with the adjacent village and spend a summer day eating, drinking and singing songs.
The nearest small beach is 10 minutes drive away with the larger, beautiful beaches of the Atlantic coast just 5 minutes further on.
The nearest large town, Royan, is 20mins drive; La Rochelle airport is an hour away and Bordeaux, a World Heritage centre is 1hr 20 minutes by car.
The detached bungalow is in a tranquil, rural but not isolated hamlet and the town is a pleasant 15 minute stroll away (just a couple of minutes by car). There is a large established garden, the neighbours are friendly and the house needs no work making it ideal for those seeking the good life in France for retirement, family living, as a holiday home or rental property.
