When you close your eyes and think about life in the south of France what do you see? If cocktails at Jimmyz, champagne on the Croisette in Cannes and mooring up at Nikki Beach in St. Tropez spring to mind, then be assured that life in the south is not all about glitz and glamour………..
With over 76 million visitors a year, France is the most visited country in the world – and for a reason. As well as the Riviera glitz, France offers fantastic food, history, culture, transport links, weather and a peaceful pace of life, so here are five reasons that people choose to invest in property in the south of France.
1. Life in the south of France is not just about glamour
If you buy a luxury property in the south of France you can live it up in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat or sweep in for the Cannes Film Festival. But it isn’t all about glamour, away from the Côte d’Azur the deep south awaits offering history, culture and unrivalled landscapes. For example, heading towards Nimes you can visit the ancient Roman Pont du Gard that was constructed in 1AD and south of here you will find the the incredible pink salt marshes of the Camargue. A little further west and you are in Cathar Country – the Cathars were Christians persecuted by the Catholics in the 11th century – where ruined castles can be explored against backdrops of glorious landscapes. Back near the Riviera you can visit the perfumeries in Grasse and the master artisan glass blowers in Biot.
2. Properties are never far from good airports
There are plenty of private jet terminals in the south of France, in Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez, along with exclusive transport options for getting around. The airports, of course, also offer standard chartered flights and there are many across the south of France that mean local and international destinations are at your fingertips. Montpellier, for example, is about four hours from Barcelona and the French Riviera. Toulouse’s international airport, which is home to Airbus, receives flights from all over the world where two hours after landing you can find yourself soaking up the splendour of the Pyrénées.
3. The south of France means delicious dining for foodies
From simple breakfast oreillettes in Montpellier to the region’s cherished confit de canard, the French are proud to share their traditional foods with all you gourmands out there. Try bouillabaisse (fish soup) in Marseille, the famous sweet chestnuts and truffles in the Perigord and Roquefort cheese in Roquefort-sur-Soulzon. For gastronomy lovers top quality menus are in abundance across the south of France, particularly notable on the Riviera is the two-Michelin starred Oasis Raimbault for southern cuisine with an oriental touch. For wine lovers the south of France is a treasure trove, from Fronton’s négrette grape, to the malbec in Cahors and the fabulous blends of Bordeaux.
4. A slower pace of life and beauty spots await
Shopping at weekly markets for local produce, boules tournaments, family dinners and weekend walks summarises the lifestyle of many living life in the south of France. While the cities can offer quality shopping, commerce and nightlife to rival any European destination, it is easy to leave that all behind and sink into a more relaxing way of life. Hiking trails such as the GR51 in the Cote d’Azur offer sensational view across the coastline while the GR10 runs the length of the Pyrénées and parallels the French-Spanish border. Here you can find hidden azure blue lakes and free-roaming horses – and thermals spas with natural sulphuric, healing waters that are heated solely by the earth.
5. The south of France is not just a summer destination
France can clock up so many visitors a year because the country has year-round appeal. Regular holidays to your luxury French property are likely to be on the agenda and this is also why second homes are appealing as investment opportunities – holidaymakers rent properties all year round in France. The French Riviera boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year with summer months bringing, on average, around 12 hours of sunshine each day.
