Patty and her husband are actively looking for a place to call their own in France and they are leaving no stone unturned, as you will hear when you play this episode.

Because Patty and her husband have a goal to move to France within 5 years, when they come to France they don't look for the best tourist attractions. Instead, look for places where they might want to live. They travel to get the feel of a place and they also usually visit the nearby attractions.

Header photo: this is the village of Montolieu, village du livre et d'art near Carcassonne, France.

Looking for a place to call your own in France

Their search lead them to the Rhone Valley, Burgundy, the Aude and the Ariège. These are the sort of beautiful places they'd like to retire to eventually. Places that are not touristy, with charm and character, affordable prices, and easy access to a city and services.

After my chat with Patty Annie will share a scary personal update, travel tips and news and AT LONG LAST! Some details about the French Immersion / Join Us in France Reunion I am planning for all of you who would like to join me in France May 21 through May 27, 2023 in Toulouse. I’ll be emailing everyone on my email list about it as well. If you’re not on the email list, subscribe here.

Table of Contents for this Episode

• [00:00:00] Intro
• [00:03:09] Looking for a place to call your own in France
• [00:03:18] Patty’s trip
• [00:04:08] Why the trip?
• [00:04:48] The places she enjoyed
• [00:04:51] Loved Montolieu
• [00:05:41] Worst season for tourism
• [00:06:03] Carnival in Limoux
• [00:08:27] Wine from the Abbey
• [00:09:26] Montolieu
• [00:10:31] Bram
• [00:10:50] Quillan
• [00:12:18] Carcassonne
• [00:13:10] Two-Michelin-star restaurant
• [00:15:04] Narbonne
• [00:15:49] Mirepoix and Ariège
• [00:16:48] Ariège
• [00:16:54] Foix
• [00:17:43] It’s wet
• [00:19:02] Skiing
• [00:20:48] Clientele
• [00:21:36] Castelnaudary
• [00:23:21] Traveling back across South
• [00:23:35] Uzès
• [00:24:30] Market in Uzès
• [00:24:43] Candy Museum
• [00:27:06] Rouille de Seiche
• [00:28:10] Birthday in Lyon
• [00:29:42] In Burgundy
• [00:30:00] Lons-le-Saunier
• [00:30:42] Chalon-sur-Saône
• [00:31:48] Baume-les-Messieurs
• [00:35:02] Looking at a place with the eyes of a potential resident
• [00:35:45] Places where they don’t switch to English the second they hear your accent
• [00:36:56] Getting to a good level of fluency in French
• [00:37:47] Using iTalki to struggle through and converse in French
• [00:40:10] Thank you Patrons!
• [00:41:39] Itinerary Consult with Annie
• [00:43:56] Travel tips and news
• [00:43:58] What is the best way to enter the Louvre?
• [00:45:38] Getting your Covid test before you fly home
• [00:47:22] Ascension is a national holiday in France
• [00:48:21] Grotte Cosquer, a replica of a painted cave in Marseille
• [00:51:11] French Immersion with Join Us in France
• [00:53:47] Fire at Annie’s house