France
France is the most visited tourist destination in the world and French properties have long been a favourite with the British because of France’s close proximity and ease of access. Those particularly seeking rural properties in France made the best investments five to ten years ago as since then prices have risen quite considerably. However, there are still many affordable properties across the country with good investment potential.
Geography
France is situated in Western Europe and has coastlines on three different waters - the English Channel, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The majority of France is low-lying, except in the south with the Pyrenees, and in the east with the Alps. The north of France has a cooler climate than in the Mediterranean south and centrally the climate is continental – warm summers and colder winters.
In the region of Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, Vogue Estates sell properties in Alpes Maritimes, Var and Vaucluse. This is a varied region with the mountains of the Alps and the French Riviera on the coast, offering the glamorous and chic towns of Nice and Cannes.
The Languedoc-Roussillion region offers Pyrénées-Orientales, Hérault and Gard and properties in France are also available in the neighbouring region of Midi-Pyrénées.
History
France was peacefully occupied by Julius Caesar and the Romans in the 1st century B.C. but from the 3rd century onwards France’s history has not been as peaceful. Several barbarian invasions scarred the country and brief unity was found under the Merovingian and Carolingian kings.
The end of the Middle Ages saw the English and Burgundians leave, allowing France to become a unified state and after the French Revolution the country became a dominating European force under Napolean. Set-backs occurred after defeat in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 and France was weakened further by the effect of two world wars.
France recovered well and is now a leading world power at the forefront of the European Union.
Cuisine
France is world-renowned for its exceptional cuisine and all visitors to France must sample at least some of the dishes the country has made famous.
Although dishes and specialities vary by region, France is most obviously famous for its many wines. In the Languedoc and Roussillon regions the most notable cuisine includes mussels and oysters, Roquefort cheese and Catalan style snails.
The Provence and Côte d’Azur region is the country’s supplier of olive oil as well as vegetables, herbs and citrus fruits and in the winter, truffles are popular.
Currency
As with most of the EU members, France adopted the Euro when it was introduced. Prior to this, the currency was the Franc, and one France was made up of 100 centimes.
Language
The French are proud of their language and although there is only one official language of France, French is spoken throughout the world in many countries as a first, and a significant number of countries, as a second language. There are a number of variations of French in the world, such as Belgian French, Swiss French, Canadian French and Cajun French to name a few.
Many French words have found their way into the English language and are now used as common words without even realising their origin.
Featured Property
Floreale
- Price : 220,000 EUR
- Location : Montpellier
- Description:
Floreale enjoys an exceptional location only 10 minutes from Montpellier old town and 15 minutes from the wonderful golden Mediterranean beaches. This is a residence designed to ensure aesthetic quality, sustainable living and harmonious integration. It offers 2 bedroom apartments with large terrace...