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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: