October 28, 2012

Where Would You Live in France?

Bayeux

If you had the choice to live anywhere in France - a specific city or region, in the country, in the mountains or by the sea - what would you choose?

This was the most recent question I posed to my Twitter friends and it was interesting to see how many knew exactly where they would live, while others wavered between the city and the country, or couldn't choose between two different regions.

I agree, it's a tough question to answer!*







Le Minervois

French Riviera

@RamblingEpicure The Marais, Ile St-Louis or Montmartre in Paris.

@Jdecker200 I'd be in Toulouse: gateway to Provence, lively metro area, beautiful city. AND great food, too

@daisydeplume Well am I supposed 2 choose 1 where I'm not already living? I guess either Nice or Strasbourg cause I need some city-anonymity

@hsaffari  I love the city I grew up in unabashedly, so Paris.

@lacuisineparis we love Normandy....so diverse and filled with surprises !

@ewie13  Paris. Always Paris.

Paris

@LaRee1979 I will have to say #paris , but it's (unfortunately) the only place I've been to in France! And I AM a city girl at heart!

@AnnMahNet I'm torn between Paris and Provence, specifically the village of Bonnieux in the Luberon. (Could I be any more cliché? :)

@tilarmaz  @AnnMahNet done summers in both places. bonnieux highly recommend! you'll always have paris LOL.

@LostNCheeseland I think I could live in Toulouse although the cultural and culinary offering is tame which I think I'd have trouble with

@k_sam I def love visiting other parts of France, but at this point in my life, it's Paris all the way baby!

Port-en-Bessin

Cassis

@rhino75  I like Paris but I would love to live in Brittany, near the sea! ‏

@EEParis  Paris!

‏@jennybeaumont  I'm living my dream. One foot in Normandy, the other in Paris. :)

@heronhibou  Great question I love being in Haute Savoie. The french Alps are amazing but I'd go with Bordeaux for a change of scenery.

@PASmith6  Easy peasy, Marseillan or Annecy or Amboise. Oh, Sorry too hard a question

@KangarooSweet Strasbourg - used to live there for about a year and want to return there to live in the near future

Pavé de Printemps

Tuesday Morning Market

@dinkypen Exactly where I am now! Took a bit of finding but this exact spot is just perfect in every respect :-)

@everydaycook Paris

@milkjam ummm Lyon I think!

@Stocius  #France If I could live anywhere... Burgundy.
But in Burgundy... #Beaune , #Volnay #Saint-Romain ??? #decisions

@annief1 I have been to the LOT area which is lovely and I have been to the area right next to Switzerland near Basel .. not sure!!

@TimTD Provence or Bordeaux ‏

Bozouls

Paris

@spacedlaw Pays de Loire, I think.

@TheLittleChef Savoie or Jura ‏

@juliethecat I'd return to Strasbourg/Alsace. Miss it. I always think oh, Provence. But when you've lived somewhere young... *sigh*

@puppyfur44 “@louloufrance: Time for another Twitter question: If you could live (not take a holiday) anywhere in #France..exactly where we are,Charente ‏

@kasiainparis Paris & the south of France? Though haven't lived in the south...

@NormandyR The answer to that one is in my user name!

Evening on the Canal du Midi

@wonky73 probably the cote d'azur. Though someplace rural might be nice.

@brassfrog  I'd live in Arles Home to Van Gogh, Roman ruins, central to Luberon, Le Baux, Pont de Gard, Aix, Camargue, Avignon, Nimes more

@deedeeinfrance Cannes or Nice.
 ‏
@bakenshakeblog We have just moved to Aude and are in love with the mountains!

@vanbinh  Bordeaux - wine, ocean, cognac, food, weather, proximity to Basque country. Lyon - eh, same reason, except for the Basque part

@aalavoie En Bourgogne, ça ressemble aux Cantons de l'Est du Canada (sur des stéroides!) et le vin est le meilleur en #France selon moi!

Armagnac Tasting

Cognac Trip

@SirenCall  Pau in the Bearn.. it's got everything and not over-run.. ‏

@Ann_McCarthy  En Bourgogne, aussi.

@Bellitum St Hilaire nr Carcassonne is our spot. Back next wk.:)

@MajellaOShea @Bellitum  Languedoc, one day! #lifedream

@thatwritinggirl Lived in Lyon for a year and it was amazing. Unpretentious, but big enough to be anon. Amazo food/wine/shopping/going out.

@LucyVanel I would choose #Lyon. Big metropolitan area, great arts, wonderful public works, still human in size, +gastronomic capital... 

@PerpignanPost  It,s got to be the #pyrenees-orientales , the southernmost, sunniest departement of France. #nocontest

Thanks everyone!



*What about me?
Well, as much as I find Paris completely enchanting, I'm not sure if I would want to live there full time. I've become very spoiled by the quiet and calm of the country! So, I would want the best of both worlds, like ‏@jennybeaumont.
That's not asking for much, is it?



If you didn't have a chance to chime in on Twitter, I would love to hear your answer in the comments.





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32 comments:

TCH said...


Menton.

But we are very happy with Jarnac.

Jean said...

That's a tough question !!
If money were no object I would have a place in the Alps, one in Paris, one in Provence and another by the Brittany coast.
As it is, we have a little place in the Loire and from there we can get to everywhere else within a few hours if we want to, which is just perfect !!

brunofrance said...

Longchamp racecourse.

georgiegirl said...

Any small village on Cote d'Azur that has a train station.

melinda said...

no one said the Loire valley & that in addition to Paris, of course, would be my choice

Provence Search said...

For me Aix-en-Provence has it all. University town with lots of culture and sophistication. Very near the Med. but also the Luberon at 30 minutes, countryside at fingertips, and less than 3 hours to Paris on the TGV. Fantastic climate, excellent schools with best Int'l Bac programme in France. What more can I say. For families it has got to be the best place to live on the planet :-)

Kassandra said...

Wow, a question after my own heart because I am still exploring France to find my place to live so all the comments are SO helpful!

I would have to say (dreaming) Paris of course but that being said, I am enchanted with Bergerac right now. Bordeaux for a big city is fabulous, and great for transportation elsewhere!!!

You could run this type of question for a while, lol, for example, "Other than Paris...", or "Which town under 25000 population..." or "Where in Normandy....". I love it!!!

Unknown said...

After reading all these responses, I think I've revised my answer -- Paris AND Provence. Pourquoi pas? Thanks for lots of lovely food for thought :)

French Girl in Seattle said...

After 10 years in Paris, and 16+ in Seattle, I am looking forward to investing in Nice in a few years. Great location. Ideal weather. The Mediterranean coast. Perfect-sized town (I love cities...) I plan on being there mostly in the winter and early spring when the weather in the Pacific Northwest is still "merdique" (Pardon my French!) :-)

Brianna Asaro Photography said...

I couldn't say EXACTLY. I love cities because I get restless easily. But a small touristy town would do, too... still enough to do and shops to peruse....

The Beaver said...

For me , either Annecy , Le Hohwald or somewhere along the rives of the Seine in Paris. I guess I can just keep dreaming :-)

Diane said...

I do not think I could be much happier anywhere other that where we are. A small, quiet and peaceful hamlet, with great French neighbours Diane

I have now typed in the verification 5 times, this is the 6th and my last try!!!!

CarolynB said...

Paris.

Fun post! Cheers and thank you.

janine@thegoodlifefrance said...

I wouldn't be anywhere other than Nord Pas-de-Calais where I live now - but perhaps a different village - one with a boulangerie and a bar! It's an unfashionable choice I know but this is really the loveliest, most friendly, culturally rich place I've ever been to in France and I've been all over! Happy to advise anyone on what there is to see and do!

Awena Robert said...

Living close to Lyon, I have to say I am happy in this region, but I would secretly like to live in Toulouse, not too far from the mountains, the sea and Spain which I love.

I have to add that I would also be very happy to live in Brittany (in finistère, around Quimper) where I come from, as I completely feel in my element when I am there.

Take care.

Awena
http://awenaphoto.blogspot.fr

Anneli Faiers (@Delicieux_fr) said...

I would live exactly where I do - In the Gers, in the middle of fields :) However, I would not turn my nose up at a little apartment in Bordeaux as I LOVE the sophistication of the city and it never feels manic there. City living in style. I could certainly manage the odd weekend....

Lille said...

Normandy would be my choice although I do love out by Alsace and Lorraine.
We are currently looking for qqc in
the Eure but that can change.

Lille

Fripouille said...

Hi all, and my choice is Lyon, where I live now and have happily done so for the last 15 years.

That said, I'm currently renovating a house I bought out in the countryside as I feel an urge to live a quieter life coming on....

Sandy said...

That's a great question. I'm a village girl at heart...I would have to say Cruzy, France in the Languedoc. I love that garrigue and Canal Du Midi. =)xx

Jennifer said...

TCH
That's quite a difference! :)

Jean

I like the way you think. lol

Jennifer said...

bruno
An excellent choice.

georgiegirl
I like that idea! There are so many beautiful little places down there.

Jennifer said...

melinda
I agree with you... the Loire Valley is gorgeous. We almost move there instead of Normandy.

Provence Search
You make it sound amazing! I've never been to Aix but you have now given me the desire to go. :)


Jennifer said...

Kassandra
Good luck with your search! I've heard recently from several people that Bordeaux is spectacular. Bergerac is beautiful too, but more isolated. It is a difficult choice!

Ann
I like your answer. :)

Jennifer said...

Véronique
Ahhhh....Nice....such a wonderful city! When you get your place there, may I come for a visit? :)

Brianna
I agree with you...even though I love the quiet of where we currently live, I love that I can be in the center of Bayeux, which has everything we need, in 5 minutes.

Jennifer said...

Beaver
I've heard Annecy is beautiful. I must go visit one of these days!

Diane
Sorry you had trouble with the comment verification! I have to keep it there because I get so much spam!
It sounds like you've found a wonderful place to live and I'm happy for you. :)

Jennifer said...

Carolyn
A wonderful choice!

Janine
I think it's wonderful that you have made your home up there. I'm sure that 90% of the people who don't like the Nord Pas de Calais have never even been there!
I wrote about a cheese from this farm http://www.fermeduvinage.fr/#&panel1-1. If they are close to you, you should check them out.

Jennifer said...

Awena
So many beautiful places to choose from!

Anneli
The Gers is gorgeous! I understand why you love it the way you do. And I understand the desire to have a little place in the city...


Jennifer said...

Lille
There are many wonderful places in the Eure. I hope you find a spot that makes you happy!

Fripouille
Good luck with your renovations and I hope you find country life as satisfying as city life. :)

Jennifer said...

Sandy
Ah...I know it well...an excellent choice!

La Torontoise said...

Cannes.
It's anything thinkable at your fingertips. So diverse, that it can accommodate any lifestyle and any pocket.

That's where I am all my vacation time...

And it's a good investment.

Betty Carlson said...

I'm very late here, but you are starting to make me think that Normandy would be really nice! I love Aveyron, but the problem is how far away it is from everything. Sometimes I miss the water, which you have in Normandy, and the proximity to Paris. For the moment though, it's Aveyron for us!

Jennifer said...

La Torontoise
Happy that you have found your place in France. :)

Betty
Aveyron is beautiful...and you seem happily settled there.