Should i move to brittany

There are a growing number of Riding Schools offering lessons for the novice or trekking and competition for the experienced rider. The Bretons are proud of their culture and language and almost every town and village boasts its Bagad pipe band and Dance Circle. In short, Brittany offers something for everyone, old and young, whether they prefer to spend their holidays quietly or expend their energy in sporting activity.

Property prices in Brittany have seen a substantial increase in the last three to four years. Some attribute this to the fact that British buyers are seen as having more money to spend than their French counterparts, causing French vendors to raise their prices.

Notaires see the rise in a different light, as vendors ask prices which then put off many prospective buyers. There is now a backlash against this trend and prices while not decreasing seem to have stabilised. When we were in Cornwall both our daughter and our son lived and worked in the South East of England so now we are still almost the same distance apart. There is no doubt that the huge number of Brits now living in France not all of them of retirement age are having an impact on the French way of life.

It's cheaper for us here as we don't have to pay the heavy social insurance and tax which the French do. Tips for buying property abroad. The most constant and fundamental must be the way we shop for food.

Bacon can now be bought, and tomato ketchup, but not Parmesan cheese, or, strangely, white wine vinegar, though every other sort of vinegar seems to be available. French flour is different to English because the type of pastry cooking is different. Double cream and clotted cream seems to be unheard of in Brittany. We find the French much more courteous in an old-fashioned way, which is really rather civilised. We enjoy all that "Bonjour, Madame; Bonjour Monsieur" stuff. Michael's communication in French has certainly improved, while mine continues on a schoolgirl level.

Our doctor very helpfully speaks very good English, as do some of the staff in our local bank. We are both slowly gaining confidence, having just joined two local societies.

Health care here is excellent. Getting an appointment can usually be made for the same day. The North, West and South coasts are all quite different so it can be beneficial to live centrally. Prices in tourist coastal spots tend to be stronger and plots smaller. Great for growing veg as mild with enough rain to not have to sort irrigation systems. Thanks for the information and opinions.

I think indeed we will be looking for something around 20 minutes inland, to try to avoid the high coastal prices, but to still be within easy striking distance. As far as rainfall goes, according to Wikipedia, Vannes gets Surprisingly this is less than Cannes, which comes in at Loire Atlantique shows mm. Vannes shows a more uniform monthly distribution, whereas Cannes has a couple of hig months in October and November, and this November was a record, and 5 times the normal average.

You really want to be south coast, it is the driest en warmest place in Brittany. AKA finisterre. I would go somewhere Vannes - Auray and then about 15 minutes inland, perfect weather, close to big towns, close to the sea etc.

Comparing the climate between the Mediterranean coast and the Channel coast seems to be an odd hobby. Brittany has huge advantages over some areas, that's why it's a popular destination.

If you fancy living in a similar but slightly better climate than the South West of England without the crowded oafs and stupid property prices then Brittany probably ticks all of the boxes.

If I lived there I would certainly want to be within striking distance of the coast, 20 minutes away ounds close enough to me.

The North coast has impressive cliffs and beaches and is nearer Uk with particularly Brest and Dinard airports. The South Brittany coast La Baule and especially around Lorient has sandy beaches and is warmer there is a climate belt around Vendee and a lot meire connected to the rest of France and good for wind surfing etc and probably more attractive for young visitors. Really you need to come and explore because no one will not what really suits you, the most important thing is to be sure when you buy, good luck.

Most people love their own areas and all areas have their loveliness and defenders. I live 20 minutes from the coast and when it's madly windy au bord de mer it can be tranquil chez nous. Someone said on here that the weather changes south of Plouay; I drive south through Plouay, often this seems to be true.

Another angle is to buy in a good rental area in the UK and rent on the continent where suits at the time; buying in Brittany isn't just for Christmas. I happen to live very close to Plouay see previous post. Make a note of which put their price up in the summer months and which are tourist traps. You should eat like a local. However, larger properties are very in-demand, so renting tends to be expensive and complicated.

If you want a larger property, buying is more straightforward. Everything else in Brittany is also fairly standard. It benefits from the French infrastructure, so life is pretty easy-breezy. People here easily live on this amount without a worry. You need your own transport. There is plenty of public transport at an affordable price, but you need a car to actually live there. Everything else in Brittany is fairly standard for France.

There are excellent, affordable public services from libraries and buses to activity centres and sports clubs. Brittany is well-known for having a very specific microclimate. The Atlantic coastline makes for some beautifully warm, humid weather, while the northern coast onto the channel brings in some cooler air. Depending on what you are looking for, you could get it very wrong or very right.

Here are our favourite places to live in Brittany. Vannes feels like another world. The town was a Roman fort and still retains plenty of old buildings, windy streets, and cramped pubs. Right next to Saint-Malo but without the hustle, bustle, and ferries.

Dinan is the perfect stone village with a rive through the middle. Houses can be pricey, but it strikes the perfect balance of busyness even in winter without being too crowded. Instead, Roscoff is a beautiful village. Rennes is the economic hub and beating heart of the area. Brittany has one of the largest communities of expats in France. There are even some small villages where the English outnumber the French.

However, the number of Brits is so large, they dwarf any other expat communities and tend to adopt different nationalities as their own. Like many other areas, you can find online boards, websites, and Facebook groups of expats that can help out with everything from jobs and accommodation to activities and restaurant suggestions.