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August 2008 |
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It is reported that a Russian billionaire is expected to be paying 500 million euros for the world's most expensive home, a truly exceptional villa in the Cote d'Azur. So, a timely prompt, at the height of the summer period, to remind our visitors that the Languedoc offers the benefits of the true Mediterranean South of France with property prices that are much keener than in those areas further East, such as Provence, Cote d'Azur / Riviera. And, as we regularly explain, the Languedoc is also the sunniest region of France!
Of course in these busy summer weeks we enjoy the outdoor life, with village fetes and markets, music festivals and other open-air events, and dining alfresco on the terraces of the local bars and bistros, while beaches have plenty of space for everyone, even at peak times. However, whilst the summer is a hectic time for the agents, with many visitors combining their house hunting with a summer break, it should be said that the agents are usually busiest from late August through to late autumn and this year is proving no exception.
So, if you plan to visit for house hunting during August through to October, please give us as much notice as you can of your dates and we will be delighted to see how we can help... and while this region may never be home to the world's most expensive home, it does offer exceptional value for Mediterranean areas, whether you are looking for a traditional village house, a sunny Mediterranean villa, a renovation project, or even a chateau estate...
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Special news |
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STOP PRESS: Ryanair announces new route, Bristol-Beziers - originally scheduled to commence in May, but now brought forward to 31st March, 2008 (see the Ryanair site for details of all their services: www.ryanair.com).
We have been reporting since 2006 on the development of Beziers airport for international flights, and particularly the extension of the runway which was completed in 2007. They have been saying for some time that they wished to establish a UK link as one of the priorities and this Bristol-Beziers link is the first international service to be announced.
The Languedoc has already been accessible via four airports in the region (Montpellier, Carcassonne, Perpignan and Nimes) and now this new service runs into the heart of the Herault, a most beautiful area of the region.
This will make the Beziers / Herault area even more accessible for many already having homes in the region, as well as new visitors...
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European news headlines from BBC News... |
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July 2008 |
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LATEST NEWS... a special note for those relocating to or established in the Languedoc, especially if you are planning or already have a business in the region... we have launched a new enterprise offering a range of business support services for English speakers in the region. D'OC Management can provide web and graphic design... marketing and advertising... interior design... even bookkeeping / secretariat support.
So, whether you need a web site for your holiday letting project, chambres d'hotes, or other business, or need other help, contact us now or visit our sister site: D'OC Management.
For the region, with temperatures in the Languedoc now regularly over 30C and everyone heading for the Med., this holiday time tends to be quite busy as many people combine their house hunting with a break. So, for our usual plea for this time of year... we are always delighted to help with a visit, but if you will be coming to the region for property hunting this month or in August, please give us as much notice as you possibly can so that we can get viewing appointments reserved for you.
Finally, in response to requests for help with accommodation and related travel aspects, we now have on this site a number of links (for our region and elsewhere in Europe) relating to holiday rental properties, hotel booking service, car hire, travel insurance, etc. Do make full use of this links as options to consider when planning your trip.
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We hope that will be to the Languedoc and will look forward to welcoming you to the region!
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June 2008 |
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June truly sees the Mediterranean alfresco life get under way and we have to remind ourselves how lucky we are in this sunniest region of France as we enjoy the open air restaurant terraces, the social whirl of barbecues and village fetes, beautiful landscapes and scenery (the fields are now ablaze with poppies!) and wonderful sandy beaches!
While the Languedoc offers soaring temperatures, you will also find here the lowest property prices in the Mediterranean regions of France and our local agents offer a wide range of properties at keen prices, whether for that dream holiday home or for your relocation to the sunny South.
In addition to a huge selection of village houses, classic maisons de maitre and winegrower houses, modern villas and coastal properties, this month we are launching a new range of properties, of particular interest to those looking for investment opportunities. These are leaseback properties, offered under the French government initiative to create additional tourism accommodation. Within a leaseback scheme buyers can benefit from tax incentives and guaranteed rental income. If you are looking for French leaseback investment properties ask us for details now!
Whether it is traditional property purchase or investment opportunities you are seeking, we will be delighted to help with your property hunting. Remember that July and August tend to be the busiest times for the local agents so if you will be visiting during the peak holiday weeks, please give us as much notice as you can of dates. However, if you plan to visit before that peak time, contact us now and we will be delighted to welcome you to the region this month!
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May 2008 |
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Many people are visiting for house hunting at this time of year and this month we have to remind those planning their trips to bear in mind the public holidays in France in May, which fall on these days...
- Thursday 1 May (Labour Day and Ascension)
- Thursday 8 May (VE Day)
- Monday 12 May (Pentecost)
We always recommend planning some weekdays into your visit, simply because not all agents here work on Saturdays, and hardly any on Sundays, but in the first half of this month one also needs to be aware of the holidays, as local agents, like most businesses, are closed on these days.
On the subject of visiting, we are regularly asked if we can recommend companies and services to help with different aspects of a trip to the region. Whilst we have always tried to help with individual queries as they have come up, we have now put together a collection of reputable companies to help with different aspects of your visit.
These include: holiday rental accommodation (villas, cottages, etc., in the Languedoc as well as other European countries); hotel booking services (you can use this for the Languedoc, but there are over 4,000 possible hotels worldwide); car hire and travel insurance are other international services also available; you will also find an on-line store for guide books, Languedoc maps, other books of regional interest, and much more!
We hope you will find this package of services useful. Please use the menu, left, and make full use of these links to reputable companies to help with your trip... and remember to contact us to arrange your viewing appointments!
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April 2008 |
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Spring gets under way on a positive note following the recent successful visit to the UK of the French President and his wife. It seems that Mme. Bruni-Sarkozy was a great hit in the UK and there has been much speculation that this visit has boosted the President's flagging ratings in the polls in France! With President Sarkozy and the UK Prime Minister talking of a new 'Entente Formidable' the stage seems set for warm relations between the two countries...
We see the school spring holidays this month, most not having coincided with Easter because of that having been so early this year. April can be a lovely time to visit the region but if you are planning to combine your house hunting with a break during the school holidays, as always we would ask you to give us as much notice as you can.
For some points to remember from recent comments and news...
The new service, Bristol / Beziers, has started this week, the first international service through Beziers airport, now making the region accessible via five airports (see the Ryanair site for details of all their services: www.ryanair.com).
For planning your visit, our new on-line store now features on the main page a selection of Languedoc maps, guide books, and other books of regional interest, and you can use the store menu and search function to find many other products - visit the store via the menu at the left of this page.
We can now help with your property search in both the Languedoc region and the neighbouring Ariege area and will look forward to welcoming you to the sunny South of France this spring!
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March 2008 |
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March already and the first weekend of the month has seen sun, clear blue skies and temperatures of around 23°C - a lovely start to the season even before spring is officially with us... and as house hunting gets under way now, it is time to review what we can offer our visitors in the way of information and resources to help research and property viewing...
This support site has developing in recent months and now has extensive links to related professional services and other useful contacts, including legal advice, mortgages, currency services, French home insurance, and much more. A very recent addition, replacing our previous suggestions for books on France, maps of the region, etc., is an extensive on-line store, provided in association with Amazon.
You can visit the store via the menu on the left - please browse through the huge range of books and other products, whether you are looking for all things related to France or for other interests (you can order directly on line).
If you have followed these monthly comments you will know that there is to be a new Ryanair service into the Languedoc, being Bristol to Beziers, in the heart of the Herault area. Don't forget that the start of this service has been brought forward to 31st March, 2008.
Of course, before then we have the Easter holidays (early this year) and, as this is one of the busiest periods of the year, as usual as this time we must ask you to give us as must notice as you can of your trip if you plan to combine your house hunting with an Easter break. Of course, the local agents do not work on the actual public holidays which in France are the Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th March, but we will be pleased to help with viewings on other days of the holiday period. As always, we suggest planning some weekdays into your visit as in France not all agents work on Saturdays, and hardly any on Sundays, so viewing opportunities can be more limited at weekends.
Finally, do remember that we have now extended our service into the neighbouring Ariege area – a natural extension for us to help those going on to the Ariege from the Languedoc for their house hunting. Whether you will be searching in the Languedoc or the Ariege, or both, we will be delighted to welcome you to our areas of the sunny South of France!
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February 2008 |
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This month we have up-dates on previous reports...
FLIGHTS UP-DATE: last autumn the first international low-cost flight service via Beziers airport was announced... Ryanair, Bristol - Beziers, to launch in May 2008. However, that has now been brought forward and is showing on the Ryanair site as scheduled to commence on 31st March. This new service will certainly make some beautiful parts of the region more accessible and now makes five airports in the Languedoc offering international services.
HOLIDAYS: earlier in 2007 we asked the question “When is a holiday not a holiday?”... and for a while the answer was “when it is Pentecost Monday in France”! Traditionally a holiday, in 2004 the French government declared this a “day of solidarity”, abolishing the day off in the interests of raising extra funds for the elderly, following the difficulties of the heatwave the previous year. However, in the wake of the inevitable protests, the holiday was later reinstated for public sector workers - but it was left it to private sector businesses to decide if they would work that day, or take a holiday! So the situation continued, with many not sure if they should be working on that day.
Well, it is now widely reported that the holiday has been fully restored for all. Common sense seems to have prevailed! That said, has anyone else noticed that Labour Day and Ascension Day, both traditional holidays in France, fall on the same day this year...
Back to French property and we now approach two very popular times for combining a break with some overdue house hunting... the February half-term and Easter school holidays. If you are planning your trip, remember that we now offer a service in the neighbouring Ariege area, as well as the Languedoc region. Please give us as much notice as you can and we will be delighted to help with your visit.
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January 2008 |
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A Happy New Year to all... and we hope that we may be able to welcome you to the South of France in 2008!
Much publicised at the start of this year is the second phase of the smoking restrictions in France, the ban being extended now, enabling you to enjoy smoke-free restaurants and bars with immediate effect. Of course there have been some objections but France is only following the lead of other European countries, including Ireland and the UK; and perhaps the greatest surprise is that, despite the classic image of the Gitane-smoking people, in hazy village bars, apparently the new regulations are supported by about 70% of the French population. Whether you approve of the ban or not, with the wonderful climate here in the South, there are many open-air terraces and pavement tables where it is no problem if you need a puff with your drink or meal... always worth remembering that the Languedoc enjoys about 300 days of sunshine a year!
If you are planning to visit for house hunting this year, bear in mind that in addition to the Languedoc region, we are now offering a further option, in the neighbouring Ariege area. We are starting to list Ariege properties now.
For those planning to visit imminently, as always we would ask you to give us as much notice as you can of your trip... especially if your visit is to be during one of the February half-term weeks, or during the Easter holidays (early this year). It is also worth remembering that you can often get great flight deals with the low-cost airlines if you book reasonably in advance.
Whenever you are able to visit, you can expect a warm Mediterranean welcome here in the Languedoc...
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December 2007 |
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A NEW SERVICE!
This month we are preparing for extending our coverage into a new area, the Ariege. Whilst this is actually within the neighbouring Midi-Pyrenees region, the Ariege does border the Languedoc and many people visiting here do go on to the Ariege, and vice-versa, so this is a very natural progression for us.
Of course our areas of the Languedoc region offer very easy access to the Mediterranean coast, whereas the Ariege is inland of the Languedoc. However, this beautiful area of the South of France also borders Andorra and Spain and gives excellent access to the Pyrenees and skiing; it is an area of natural beauty and spectacular landscapes... and while the Ariege has experienced increased interest in recent years, it still offers some of the best property value in the South of France.
If you are planning some low-season house hunting this month, or will visit in the new year, as always we will be delighted to welcome you to our corner of the South of France, whether for the Languedoc or Ariege, or both!
For a visit in late December, do remember that some local agents can take a break during the Christmas to New Year holiday period, so viewing opportunities can be more limited at that time. In any event, please give us as much notice as you can of your dates and we will be delighted to see how we can help.
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November 2007 |
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With the postal strikes in the UK and public worker strikes in France, getting a letter between the two countries was not easy for a while and it has been necessary for agents to send important property documents by courier to clients in the UK. Well, that makes sense, but there is always scope for confusion between the two languages and with British people asking for documents to be sent by 'courier' because of the postal strikes, one can forgive the French agents being puzzled, as 'courrier' is the French word for mail!
With the autumn having already proved to be as busy as normal for house hunting, of course we rejoice in being able to work with our clients almost exclusively by email, not needing to worry about snail mail; however, we still need to think carefully about the language as certain French authorities who do not like English words creeping into French try to discourage the use of the word 'email' and ask people to use a new word 'couriel'! Confusing? Well, fortunately, everyone we know, French or English, still uses 'email' in either language!
Thinking of authorities, we should sympathise with the French President who has recently expressed his outrage at being questioned about his personal life by overseas journalists. That is not the done thing in France. Fortunately life does have its little compensations, though, and we hear that the French parliament has just voted to double the President's salary...
However, on hearing other recent announcements, we feel that he is worth every cent; it seems that recent changes to tax laws drastically reduce inheritance tax in France, and this will also benefit overseas owners of French property! What better time to consider buying in France...
...and November has started most beautifully here in the Languedoc with warm, sunny days and blue skies, ideal for our autumn visitors. So, with some excellent low-cost flight deals to be had, even more reason to combine a break in the South of France with your overdue house hunting! As always, whenever you are ready to visit we will be delighted to help and we would only ask that you give us as much notice as you can of your trip so that we can reserve the viewing appointments for you.
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October 2007 |
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Well, given the very long-standing love-hate relationship between France and England, as Brits in France there are often times when we have to be diplomatic and none more so than when the two countries face each other in sport. So, as we now congratulate both national teams on their latest superb victories in the Rugby World Cup, we have the situation that they will face each other in the next match, at the semi final stage. So, we have to be careful to not to allow patriotism to make us unpopular! Anyway, as the host nation, as well as a very strong team, perhaps this time France will be more motivated and have the edge... or am I just being diplomatic?
So, autumn is now upon us again and this can be a wonderful time to visit the region. I remember that we ate outside on a restaurant's terrace in late October last year and it was actually too hot to sit in the sun! However, that lunch was followed by a wine tasting at a local chateau, so we did have the chance to cool down in the wine cellars!
Anyway, this is clearly an ideal time to combine an autumn break with your house hunting, but please do bear in mind that the agents do continue to be busy after the summer, in fact right through to late autumn. So please do give us as much notice as you can of your visit, so that we can get the viewing appointments reserved for you, especially if you will be visiting during the half-term holidays later in October. As mentioned last month, do remember that you can access the region via four airports and I should also mention that, by booking ahead, you can often get amazing prices with the low-cost airlines. We will look forward to welcoming you to the region!
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September 2007 |
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With Eurostar having broken the record for the Paris-London train journey, now standing at 2 hours and 3 minutes, the barriers between the UK and France are really being broken down now!
However, that is still a little longer than it takes to fly from London to the Languedoc!! And it is worth remembering that there are low-cost flights to four airports in the region, the best for our key areas being Carcassonne, Montpellier and Perpignan (although Nimes can be used too). Excellent news too that the runway at Beziers has been extended this year to take international flights, although specific services are yet to be announced.
It can be seen that this month we are concentrating on 'getting to the Languedoc'! Well, in early September we are entering one of the busiest times of the year, with many buyers coming to the region and combining a late summer / autumn break with their house hunting. This will continue through to late autumn, so we are fully focussed on helping clients with their research and appointments for their visit. This period can be a wonderful time to visit the region but if you are planning a trip between now and November please do contact us now!
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August 2007 |
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This is the peak holiday month in Europe, described by many as the 'silly season'. Perhaps that is so as we see coverage of a campaign by the mayor of Paris (the world's most visited city) to counter the image of the 'rude' Parisian! Of course, as the temperatures and holiday season hot up, the Parisians themselves head South and here in the Languedoc there is no such reputation for inhospitable people. Life here goes at a Mediterranean pace and holidays are to be enjoyed in a relaxed way, among very welcoming people.
Talking of pace, though, the Tour de France passed close by here, only 15 minutes away, and that is not a recommended activity in the summer heat! Even if the Tour has become controversial it is nevertheless a tremendous physical challenge and unquestionably a fantastic spectacle for those cheering them on. By why race through the South of France in late July?
Anyway, things have settled back to more leisurely ways now and we can all get on with enjoying the beautiful weather, trips to the beach, summer markets, music festivals, and more. If you will be joining us this month, and will also be house hunting, please let us know now. As always, we we will be delighted to help with viewings if possible but please give us as much notice as you can as the local agents are busy now right through to late autumn. Just use the Email or Questionnaire links on this site to get in touch and we will be delighted to see how we can help.
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July 2007 |
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Early July, the month of celebrations, and we are particularly pleased to join those celebrating the release of Alan Johnston...
...of course many will also be toasting France's new leader, President Sarkozy, and wishing him success with his programmes of change; not the next revolution perhaps but thoughts to ponder as we approach the country's biggest public holiday and celebration, Bastille Day (on the 14th July).
But July also sees much informal celebrating, especially here in the South where everyone can enjoy the outdoor life, whether the village 'fetes' with partying into the night, dining alfresco on the restaurant terraces, or simply watching the world go by from a pavement table of the local village bar; and while the professionals will compete at the World petanque championships this month, every village will hold its Bastille Day boules matches, and any shady corner of a village square can become the focus of an impromptu game at any time. The Mediterranean life and its different priorities come to the fore in the summer.
Of course this season means lots of visitors, with many seriously house hunting as well as enjoying a holiday, so while we will be squeezing in the odd game of boules it is also a time to focus on our clients' needs. If you will be taking the chance to combine finding your house in the sun with a Mediterranean break please let us know and we will be delighted to help with your house hunting. As always, though, we would ask you to contact us as soon as possible for July and August... and even going into late summer and early autumn our local agents remain very busy with visitors, so please give us as much notice as you can.
Now where did I leave those boules...
Expat blog: Thoughts on living somewhere else.
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June 2007 |
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Before this month's post, we would like to support the plea for the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston...
Elections again! After months of election campaigns, at this time of year it is hard to focus on there being yet more voting in France, this time for the national assembly; but with a landslide victory forecast for the new president's party, we will only report further if that doesn't happen!
This is the time though that the South of France comes into its own. As the world's attention is drawn to the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix, these events are always a marker for the start of summer and over here in the Languedoc we are seeing all the local signs as we come into June. The fields of poppies are not just the stuff of picture postcards and everywhere you look the fields, roadsides and hedgerow are ablaze with that unique colour; and as we see the cherries appearing in the orchards, and feel the temperatures rising, we can look forward to another glorious summer and the outdoor life, with a few barbecues planned already!
We are always reminding you that there are the highest temperatures in the Languedoc, being the sunniest and hottest region, but one will also find here the lowest property prices in Mediterranean France. If you can visit for house hunting this month, before the peak holiday season, so much the better, but if you will be coming later, during the peak holiday time, we can only ask you to give us as much notice as you can, so that we can get appointments reserved for you. Whenever you can make your trip, we and our local agents will look forward to welcoming you and to sharing some of the Languedoc summer...
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May 2007 |
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No surprises in the final result of the cricket World Cup and we can now pay complete attention to the political scene. With less than a week to go, of course the French news is full of the Presidential election and if Segolene Royal and Nicolas Sarkozy were names not well known outside France, most people have now heard of these two remaining candidates; and if the first round of voting went unexpectedly according to the poll predictions, perhaps it is now just a question of whether Mr. Sarkozy can hang on to his slender lead or if enough votes of the centrist candidate of the first round, Mr. Bayrou, will now go to the left and swing the result to Mme. Royal. Well, the world will know soon enough now, with the final vote on the 6th May...
...and with further speculation that Mr. Blair may make an announcement about his own future following this week's UK regional elections times could be changing for Anglo-French relations!
If you are planning to visit the Languedoc for house hunting, then May and June can be an ideal time to beat the peak rush, if you are able to visit before the school summer holidays. However, if you need to visit during school holidays, we will be pleased to help with a trip during the half-term at the end of May. For earlier visits, watch out for the May public holidays in France which we mentioned last month and please do let us know your dates as soon as you can. May can be a lovely time to visit and our local agents will be delighted to welcome you to the region.
LATEST, 6 MAY: Nicolas Sarkozy elected president, as forecast throughout the election campaign.
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April 2007 |
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This month we have tuned in to the huge amount of coverage of World Cup cricket but it is not really a subject one cannot hears discussed in the local bars of rural France! If cricket is not your passion, and the remaining four weeks until the final on the 28th of this month will not grip you, it is not too late to join all the visitors combining an early Easter break with house hunting in the Languedoc!
Of course the French are gripped by a contest of their own. With the first round only three weeks away (voting on 22nd April), the French presidential election campaigns are now gathering momentum and you are likely to hear this debated vigorously wherever you go! Sarkozy and Royal are still the front runners, with less between them now, and with the candidate of the centre, Bayrou, not yet having made the impact they feared, a run-off between these two on the 6th May does now seem the most likely scenario. However, three weeks is a very long time in politics...
If we can help with your visit in April we will be delighted to but, if you plan a trip for next month, and it is a short one, do allow for the May public holidays when most businesses, including the agents, do not work. May bank holidays are: Tuesday 1st (Labour Day); Tuesday 8th (VE Day); Thursday 17th (Ascension Day). Do remember that in France many smaller businesses, or some of their staff, will 'faire le pont' (or make the bridge) between the weekend and a public holiday falling on a Tuesday or Thursday, to make a long weekend.
Finally, when is a holiday not a holiday? Well, the answer seems to be when it is Pentecost Monday in France! Traditionally a holiday, in 2004 the French government declared it a 'day of solidarity', abolishing the holiday in the interests of channelling extra funding for the elderly, following the difficulties of the heatwave the previous year. However, in the face of protests, the holiday was later reinstated for public sector workers and left for the private sector businesses to decide if they would work or not! So, if you want to contact us on Monday 28th May, we may well be working but then again we may not...
LATEST (23 April): it was said that this was the most unpredictable of French elections but, following a high turnout for voting, it is the favourites, Royal and Sarkozy, who have won through to the final round of voting, to take place on Sunday 6th May...
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March 2007 |
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Early March already and as the dust settles following the half-term period last month, we are seeing that a huge number of houses were bought during those holidays! Comments from agents indicate that more clients were buying this February than usual and confirming the Languedoc as a favourite choice for relocation as well as second homes.
On a national scale, the French presidential elections are now gathering moment; polls are still showing Segolene Royal (socialist) and Nicolas Sarkozy (centre-right) as the front-runners, with the latter currently ahead. Whilst this indicates that these two candidates would go through to a second round of voting, a fascinating development is the surge in popularity of Francois Bayrou (centre) offering an alternative to the traditional left-right options; some polls have shown that although he would not actually make it through to the second round, if he were somehow to get there, then he could beat either of the other two leading candidates! The remaining weeks leading up to the first round of voting (April 22nd.) promise to be interesting.
Meanwhile, back to Languedoc interest, where our clients are already focussing on the Easter holidays. It should be said that these school holidays are usually very busy for our local agents; if you are planning to combine house hunting with an Easter break, please give us as much notice as possible, so that we can get the appointments reserved for you. Do note that the local agents tend not to work on Sundays here, Easter or not, and that Monday 9th. April is a public holiday in France (Easter Monday). We will look forward to helping with your house hunting and welcoming you to the region.
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February 2007 |
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Lots to mention this month, local and national. For the French presidential elections, with the main contenders now known, we still have Ms. Royal and Mr. Sarkozy tipped as favourites to be fighting a second round. However, while there is perhaps now a period of consolidation before the intensive campaigning, there is still a first round to be fought first and plenty of time yet for surprises in a country known for its dramatic politics!
More locally, following our mention last August of the strongly rumoured extension to the runway at Beziers, we understand that work has now been under way on the runway and is expected to be completed imminently. Rumours abound that there will be low-cost international flights operating by this spring or summer and, while no-one seems to know anything certain, there is much speculation that a UK service will be one of the first in place. Whenever that may happen, it promises to make the beautiful Herault area of the region far more accessible for future house hunters as well as many of those already owning properties in the area.
News that France has joined the other European nations cutting down on smoking in public places may have surprised many but it seems that this move is widely supported here, by about 70% of the French people. Perhaps fitting with the widely reported news this month that France has come first again (for the second consecutive year) in the International Living Magazine quality of life index, as the best place in the world to live! Not bad from 193 countries. Of course, we champion the attractions of our particular Mediterranean corner of the country...
This month often sees the school half-term holidays very busy with visitors to the region, when the house hunting season also starts and which gathers momentum as we go into spring next month. This early time can be ideal for house hunting but if you are planning a visit, please do give us as much notice as you can of your dates. As always, we will look forward to welcoming you to the Languedoc and to helping with your property search.
STOP PRESS: Beziers airport announced the opening of the newly extended runway, effective immediately (23rd February); they also announced their objective of establishing three international destinations by 2009, and this is intended to include a UK service in 2007... no details were given at this stage of any specific services.
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January 2007 |
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Our very best wishes for an excellent New Year! And we hope that we may welcoming you to the Languedoc in 2007!
Since relocating our agency to the region a few years ago, we have seen the Languedoc gradually establish and consolidate as a firm favourite for those seeking a second home or permanent relocation and finding that the region continues to offer the best property value in the true Mediterranean South of France, without suffering much of the development that one can see in other Mediterranean areas.
As this new year gets under way, we are seeing that interest is as strong as ever, with a high level of enquiries in January for properties of all types, including houses to renovate, land for construction, and both traditional houses and modern villas of all styles. Coupled with the surge in strength of Sterling, this is an excellent time for the British to buy in the region!
However, our service has been developed over recent years to help English speakers in general find their property here, and we have successfully helped clients of many nationalities, coming from countries all around the world; so, please do not not hesitate to contact us if you need our support in your property search, wherever you are based.
Please continue to keep in touch with this page for our more light-hearted insight and comments, as well up-to-date European news headlines. When you are ready for house hunting we will be pleased to give your our thoughts on your search and help with your visit.
We will also be keeping you up-to-date on the Presidential elections, where the runners are now known and which promise some interesting months ahead...
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December 2006 |
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Following last month's report of the increasing popularity among Brits of wine with a meal, we now hear of reputable research (University of London) indicating that traditional wine making methods and certain grapes of South West France seem likely to contribute to the longevity long associated with the Mediterranean diet... of course we would not encourage anyone to indulge in more than a modest tipple but what interesting news for those of us living in the largest wine producing region of France!
This autumn has seen superb sunny weather and warm temperatures so we are hoping this may continue into the Christmas period as previous years have seen us stripping off sweaters on a Christmas Day walk in the hills and enjoying stunningly sunny promenades at the coast on New Year's Day! However, if you are planning to visit in December or January, it is winter so bring clothes for all possibilities. House hunting in the winter is quite popular, to see the houses 'at their worst', and we are always pleased to help; we would only ask that you try to avoid the week between Christmas and New Year as our local agents can be closed or have staff away. In any event, with the Pound continuing to flourish, an excellent time for UK buyers.
Election update (French Presidential election of course): we now know that the left have selected their candidate, in Mme. Segolene Royal, and no surprise there perhaps, any more than in Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy having announced, finally, that he will stand for the right. Of course the incumbent, President Chirac, is expected to stand down but there is speculation about his having not announced formally that he will not stand again... we will keep you posted or you can check the BBC European news headlines on this page.
Finally, for all our readers and house hunters, whether you will be in the Languedoc or elsewhere, our very best wishes for an enjoyable and peaceful festive season.
STOP PRESS: it seems that a report by the governing party in France has suggested that French children should be taught the virtues of drinking wine. Where else but France! But in view of the research findings on health benefits of wine that we reported originally this month, perhaps there is something to be said for it...
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