France is one of the favourite places in the world when you ask people. This is because of their good climate, unspoiled countryside, top-notch culture, excellent healthcare, colorful traditions and history, and, of course, the glitter and sophistication of Paris.
Here are places you should consider for retirement in France
Lyon
Filled with beautiful 18th-century buildings painted peachy yellows, orange, and pinks, and graced with not just one, but two wide rivers, Lyon, located in the Rhône-Alps region of southeastern France, has a mellow, almost languid, vibe. With a half million people, it’s the third-largest city in France.
Lyon also has all the advantages and liveliness of a big city. With museums, theaters, galleries, cafés, boutiques, and an extensive transportation system to deliver you to them all, there’s never a shortage of things to do. The rent is very affordable compared to Paris.
Lastly, Lyon is known for being the food capital for its excellent food. You can easily get the best meal with so many restaurants around the city.
Montpellier
Located on the warm, sunny, southern coast of France, Montpellier is in the Languedoc Roussillon region, happily nestled between the Cévennes mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea.
The city is France’s eighth-largest and fastest-growing, with a population of about 253,000, of which around 70,000 are students. Home to the first and most famous medical school in France, Montpellier is known as a university town and embodies all the liveliness and energy you’d expect.
Art lovers will treasure the city’s numerous galleries and museums, including the famous Fabre museum, known for its impressive collection of 17th- to 19th-century European art.
For those who love to ride on bikes, the city is bike-friendly as it offers more than 90 miles of bike paths throughout the city even leading all the way to the beach. Talk about the perfect ending!
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Often known simply as Sarlat, this town with a population of about 11,000 is in the center of the Dordogne region of southern France. Sarlat offers big-city convenience and activities, packaged in a small-town setting, which makes it a delightful location to visit and a wonderful place to call home.
This town is known for its narrow streets occasionally interrupted by quiet squares meander through the historical center, bringing to mind the romantic images of small-town France. Caves with prehistoric paintings, castles guarding nearly every hilltop, and rivers quietly winding through forested valleys, draw visitors to the area.
The city is also blessed with attractions such as The Summer Theater Festival, Fall Film Festival, and Holiday Music Festival showcasing the cultural side of Sarlat.
The Cultural Center offers exhibitions and performances throughout the year. The local cuisine is as outstanding as the setting. The area is famous for truffles and their delicate yet musky flavor accents many local dishes. Goose, duck, and foie gras are favorites in many of Sarlat’s restaurants.
Bordeaux
Paris might be the crown jewel of France, but the city of Bordeaux is a glittering diamond in its own right. This ancient city, in the famous wine-growing region of southwest France, has experienced a dramatic renaissance in recent years.
Situated on the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux is close to over a dozen gorgeous sandy beaches. Beaches around these parts tend toward the naturally wild side, with scrubby pines, marshes, and large dunes. Hourtin Lakeside Beach is a natural clear-water lake that happens to be the largest freshwater lake in France.
The weather in Bordeaux tends to be pleasantly mild, getting neither particularly hot in summers nor particularly cold in winter. Average temperatures in July, for example, reach only about 70 F (although the highs are about 79 F), while the average low in December is 43 F.
Pau
If you are looking for a retirement option that really delivers, consider Pau—a beautiful French city of 80,000 a few miles from the Spanish border. Gorgeous old villas and mansions line the streets, taking in spectacular views of the snow-capped Pyrenees.
The climate here is very adaptable, no wonder many European nobles flock to the city for vacations.
The city is known for its interest in sports and boasts the first 18-hole golf course created in Europe, which you can still play today. It has a Victorian-style clubhouse with a distinctly British atmosphere.
It would not be France without a local wine, and Pau is famous for Jurançon, which is produced in only 25 towns and villages. The moelleux (sweet) white wine is the most famous, however, they also produce a dry one.
But when it comes to essential facilities, Pau has an excellent hospital and other health centers, an airport with connecting flights around the world, and the TGV (Train Grand Vitesse) trains that run to places like Paris, Bordeaux, and Toulouse.
