Living in France

Guide to living in France and French lifestyle

Think of France and what comes to mind? Wide tree-lined roads, excellent food in great-value restaurants, a gentle climate and landscape, timeless rural lifestyle, a strong sense of family, great pride in national identity, a secular state and traditions both cultural and social. Then there are the negative clichés - national arrogance, language inflexibility, unprincipled self-interest, impenetrable bureaucracy, slow working practices.

What’s the truth behind all these myths – and could French life work for you? If you plan to buy property and live in France, either permanently or part-time, it pays to be flexible about embracing the culture and keep an open mind and heart. So find out more about the many different aspects of living in France:

• Rural Life in France

  Living in rural France is the idyllic dream of many and France certainly has much to offer in its villages and hamlets. more

• Routines and Courtesies in France

  Good – and that usually means formal - manners are considered important – and you’re expected to conform. more

• Working Life in France

  Working in France is very different from the UK, with an emphasis on office courtesies and a rigid structure to the working day. more

• Family Life in France

  The family remains a strong influence in society in France more