Leggett magazine

LEGGETT
MAGAZINE
FRENCHPROPERTY | EXPERTADVICE | LIFESTYLE | DESTINATIONS
ISSUE 08 WINTER / SPRING 2018
INSIDE: 322 PROPERTIES FOR SALE
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LEGGETT
PRESTIGE
3
A
VERYWARMWELCOMETOTHELASTESTEDITIONOFLEGGETTMAGAZINE.
This issue is packed full of advice and inspiration to help you with your
life in France. Of course we also highlight 322 superb properties for
you to look through.
This is only a small selection of the 15,000+ properties we have for sale across
France but we hope that it gives you a flavour of what to expect when you visit
www.leggettfrance.com.
We were delighted to be awarded the title of "Best Estate Agency in France" for
the fifth year running - this is a prestigious award and we believe it reflects the
professional service and family values that we offer clients.
In this edition of the magazine you will find some truly inspiring interior deco-
ration ideas as well as a feature on a simply gorgeous property in the Périgord
Noir. This year we are happy to continue sponsoring the Jardins Ouverts/Open
Gardens charity and you will find full details of how to visit one or more of their
gardens on page 42.
We haven't forgotten that many of you will be looking to buy a new home in
2018 so we have included handy guides on buying/selling as well as regional
articles.
Enjoy the magazine and we look forward to meeting many of you throughout
the year.
Happy reading!
Trevor & Joanna Leggett
NEXT ISSUE AVAILABLE JULY 2018
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4 LEGGETTFRANCE.COM
38 12
Contents ISSUE 08| WINTER/SPRING 2018
ents
On the wine trail
Win a wine tour for two!
Generous Gardeners
How gardening can help others
Life in France
An English pub in the Dordogne
Sailing in France
The best spots on the south west coast
Living the dream
Work, rest and play in the Alps
Ready to Sell ?
How to achieve a good sale
Ask Sandy
Your most common questions answered
Secret Agents
Working for Leggett Immobilier
38
42
44
46
48
50
52
114
Côte d'Azur
Affordable places to buy
Escape to the country
A simply charming home
Buying Property
Expert advice on the process
Old meets new
A wonderful château near Sarlat
Design Ideas
Fabulous Fireplaces
Mortgages
Advice from ICE Finance
Holiday Homes
How to make money from your property
Own a ski property
Advice on where to start looking
6
12
18
20
24
28
32
34

Gallery
58 pages of French
properties for sale
PLUS regional guides
to get you started
20
46
24
6
56
66
72
80
90
102
110
112
Grand Ouest
N.E & Central
Rhône-Alpes
South
South West
Prestige
Newbuilds
Commercial
The team
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Joanna Leggett
EDITORIAL DIRECTION &
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Nicki Brown
STAFF WRITERS
Helen Holbrook & Laurence Constant
CONTRIBUTORS
Graham Downie, Karine Charriaud, Jane
Berry, Lisa Greene, Vicki Randall, Heather
Byrne, Sandy Guyonnet, Dominique Petit,
Bruno Taxy, Helen Charlesworth, Jennie
Tombs, Nicolas Minard, Alicia Mitchell, Liz
Rowlinson, Laurence Constant, James Wil-
liamson & Ros Sales
TRANSLATIONS
Lucie Robbe, Laurence Constant &
Maddie Wade
PROOF READING
Stuart Ross
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Tracey Randall & Laura Shannon
PHOTOGRAPHS & ILLUSTRATIONS
Cyrille Moingeon, Sarah Hudson-Vernon,
Jane Berry, Shutterstock & Tony Terrot
COVER PHOTO
Shutterstock
CIRCULATION
25,000 printed copies. Printed by Rotim-
press
CREATED BY
Nicki Brown at www.studiothreec.com on
behalf of Leggett Europe Ltd, 6 Chichester
Terrace, Brighton, BN2 1FG, England.
ADVERTISING AND ENQUIRIES
+33 (0)5 53 60 79 10
Leggett Magazine is published twice yearly
(January & July). To be added to the digital
mailing list for future copies, please email
info@leggettmagazine.com. To view any of
the properties featured in the magazine email
info@leggett.fr quoting the reference number,
or call +33 (0)5 53 60 79 10. Leggett Immobil-
ier is one of the leading international estate
agencies in France with a portfolio of over
15,000 properties for sale. Visit our websites
for details: www.leggettfrance.com or
www.leggett-immo.com.
Average property prices for each area supplied
by the Notaires de France and correct at time of
going to press. The contents of the magazine are
fully protected against copyright and may not
be reproduced in any way without permission.
Articles in this issue do not necessarily reflect
the views of the magazine. Leggett Magazine
is not liable for the return of any photography
or documents supplied for reproduction in this
magazine.

7
LA CÔTE
D'AZUR
WORDS: LIZ ROWLINSON | PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK
Don’t assume that the glamorous Côte D’Azur is beyond your
budget. Here we show you some great places to buy without
breakingthebank

8 LEGGETTFRANCE.COM
CÔTED'AZUR LEGGETT MAGAZINE
T
HE FRENCH RIVIERA,
or CÔte d'Azur, has
been the sum-
mer playground of
choice for the rich
and famous for over a century
now. With the best climate in
France and some of the most
stunning coastal scenery, it has
attracted artists and writers such
as Picasso and F Scott Fitzgerald,
and celebrities like Bridget Bar-
dot who brought glamour to the
fishing village of St. Tropez.
Today Cannes is famous
for its film festival, Nice as the
Riviera’s buzzy metropolis and
the Caps of Antibes and Ferrat
for offering many of the most
expensive seaside homes in
France. Easy access to the Ital-
ian Riviera at its eastern end,
and the beautiful hinterland of
Provence and the foothills of
the Alps is another plus point,
but there are also superb inter-
national schools serving a very
large cosmpolitan expat com-
munity, golf courses, fantastic
restaurants and vibrant village
markets.
The legacy of its long histo-
ry as a holiday destination is a
slew of beautiful Belle-Epoque
mansions and trophy homes
at eye-watering prices, but the
good news is that if you head
back from the coast a little, it’s
surprisingly affordable - you can
get properties within little more
than an hour from the coast
from €100,000.
The key is to head up into
the hills above the seaside re-
sorts behind the traffic-clogged
coastal strip for peace and
authentic charm. In the Ar-
rière-Pays the stylish hill-top
towns of Vence, St-Paul-de-
Vence and Grasse have attract-
ed international buyers to their
Provençal style villas, rustic mas
or pretty sky-blue shuttered vil-
lage houses. In Sillans-la-Cas-
cade, an hour from the sea, for
example, it’s possible to buy a
five-bedroom detached house
with a beautiful garden, for
€498,000.
In recent years the hilltop
town of Mougins - 15 minutes
behind Cannes - has become
popular for its high-class restau-
rants and its renowned interna-
tional school. Lorgues is a beau-
tiful historic town famed for its
market and worth a look. Even
in this fashionable area you
can get a four-bedroom home
with a pool with change from
€400,000.
Or how about Tourtour? A
Cap d'Antibes

9LEGGETT IMMOBILIER - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CANTRUST
Mougins
LEGGETT IMMOBILIER - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CANTRUST

10 LEGGETTFRANCE.COM
SÉRANON
A quaint village house only a few steps
from the boulangerie!
PRICE : €119 000 REF : 72686SJE06
SAINT CÉZAIRE-SUR-SIAGNE
Architect designed eco home sitting
amongst olive groves. Room to build a
swimming pool and only half an hour
from Cannes.
PRICE : € 472 000 REF : 78830JBG06
LE MAS
Stunning 3 bedroom house with spec-
tacular views.
PRICE : € 194 400 REF : 80267SJE06
OUR SELECTION
of the French Riviera, 48km to
the sandy beaches of Cannes,
for only €108,000.
Last but no means least, the
lovely picturesque ancient vil-
lage of Cipières is also worth a
look. Perched on a rocky ridge
high above the Loup river val-
ley, with a view north and east
across to the Montagne du
Cheiron, it offers village houses
in the low €200,000's, or a love-
ly four-bedroom townhouse for
€250,000.
Our Leggett agents Jennie Tombs
& Sascha Jenner pick out a selec-
tion of the best priced properties
for sale in the French Riviera...
charming village in the Var,
which true to its name, has an-
cient towers dating back to the
11th century. There is a pretty
central square, welcoming cafés,
restaurants and shops, and it's
no surprise it is classed as one
of the most beautiful villages in
France. For €390,000 you can
get a three-bedroom house with
a heated pool on a private do-
maine with use of tennis courts
in Tourtour.
You can head back behind
Aix-en-Provence towards the Lu-
beron in the heart of Provence,
or for even greater value, head
east past the Verdon area into
the Alpes-Maritime national
park. “For just over €100,000
you can get a small one-bed-
room home that is close to ski
resorts, and just over an hour
from the coast,” says Sascha
Jenner, our agent based in the
popular hub of Saint-Vallier-
de-Thiey. For €250,000 it’s easy
to find a three-bedroom house
with a garden.
In the ski resort of Greo-
lières-les-Neiges you can get a
timber chalet in the mountains

11
CIPIÈRES
Lovely character town house with 4
bedrooms.
PRICE : € 239 000 REF : 71048SJE06
TOURTOUR
3 bed house with pool, situated on a
private domaine with tennis courts
and views.
PRICE : € 390 000 REF : 73463NFA83
SILLANS-LA-CASCADE
Five-bedroom detached house with a
beautiful garden and swimming pool.
PRICE : € 498 000 REF : 61570GWI83
FACING PAGE
Winter landscape of Greolières and the waterfalls at
Sillans-la- Cascade.
THIS PAGE
Chapel Notre-Dame de Gratemoine; Grasse; St. Paul-
de-Vence.

13
“EachyearIwaitforthereturningswallows,they
tooseemtoknowthisplaceisparadise..”
Escape to
the country !
WORDS: HELEN HOLBROOK | PHOTOS: CYRILLE MOINGEON
LEGGETT MAGAZINE INSPIRING SPACES

14 LEGGETTFRANCE.COM14
T
HE QUAINTLY NAMED
Corgnac-sur-l'Isle is in
an idyllic setting. Not
far from the bustling
market town of Thiv-
iers, around here is prime foie
gras and truffle territory.
From here the road climbs
gently through wooded and lush
hilly landscape until you reach
Peter Ritmeester's Lacombe de
Laxion - the most beautiful me-
diaeval French country house. It
was once apparently the gate-
house for the original château
– however, with its 15th centu-
ry origins, it now pre-dates its
neighbour which was rebuilt in
17th century Renaissance style.
It's also believed to have been
home to the seneschal respon-
sible for local judicial matters
in the absence of the Marquis.
Later it became a farmhouse or
even two dwellings as one can
still see stone sills dividing the
house between major rooms.
Peter lived a busy corporate
life in Holland before he mi-
grated here – today he relishes
the peace and tranquillity of
his totally secluded home just
a few minutes from the village.
While Corgnac-sur-l'Isle is small,
it boasts the essentials of daily
life with several shops, the café
des sports and pharmacy.
As you arrive the first thing
you see is the beautiful land-
scape which surrounds his
home. Straight ahead is the
main house - its beautiful deep
pitched roof a symphony of the
terracotta tiles so typical of this
LEGGETTFRANCE.COM

15LEGGETT IMMOBILIER - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CANTRUST 15
region. The main façade faces
south over a panorama of lush
pastures and woodlands as far
as the eye can see. Below, for
the house is built on a slope, are
island beds set into the grass
with specimen trees and shrubs.
Behind the house is the long
dormer-roofed barn, now con-
taining two gîtes, which form a
side to what was once the old
farm courtyard. A gifted garden-
er, Peter has recreated this into a
magnificent rock garden - a mass
of colour in spring and summer;
he also planted cypress, juniper
and Japanese maples to provide
year-round interest. An old wa-
ter course now flows again and
the adjoining pools he put in
are planted with grasses. Wide
sweeping steps built of stones
found on the property lead up-
wards to lawned terraces, a myr-
iad of sitting areas in the garden.
One of his first jobs outside,
Peter says, involved the swim-
ming pool, to deter local cows
from taking a dip on warm days!
Now this whole area has been
beautifully landscaped. Natu-
rally in his garden there is also
a highly productive vegetable
potager.
But it is the main house
where the charms of this an-
cient dwelling are really set to
seduce. Set over three levels,
the first floor has the highly un-
usual feature of a loggia running
the entire length of the house
– some 20 metres long it is be-
lieved unique in the local area.
In summer, this is bedecked
LEGGETT MAGAZINE INSPIRING SPACES

with geraniums adding their
colour to the honey-coloured
walls of this home.
Beautifully renovated, ex-
pansive living spaces on the
ground floor feature pierre ap-
parent walls while stone reveals
on plastered walls appear as
you move up through the house.
Entering the house at
ground floor you will be imme-
diately struck by the warm and
welcoming ambiance of this
lovely home. Beside French
doors which open to the sunny
stone terrace a pair of chairs
have been placed, the ideal
spot to take one's morning cof-
fee and contemplate the day
unfolding outside. Also in this
light-filled room is the well-ap-
pointed kitchen, enough to sat-
isfy the demands of any cook,
a lovely dining area with cosy
seating next to the fireplace with
woodburner. On the floor are lo-
cally crafted terracotta clay tiles,
on the ceilings beautiful beams.
Upstairs the floors are of
wood – predominantly chest-
nut – with two beautiful, more
formal living rooms on the first
floor with ancient feature fire-
places. One of these rooms – the
bureau - has become the perfect
library, the other is a lovely salon
with impeccable views out over
the 5 hectares of this property.
On the third floor are three gen-
erous bedrooms with exposed
roof trusses and all the other ne-
cessities for a comfortable life.
Like the main house both
gîtes have been impeccably
restored and bring a great deal
of comfort to lucky visitors –
one has three bedrooms and a
ground floor living area com-
plete with woodburner, the sec-
ond two lovely bedrooms.
“The very first time I visited
here I could see immediately
the potential,” Peter says. “Over
the years it has become the

THIS PAGE
The large open
rooms with
views over the
surrounding
countryside
FACING PAGE
The cosy
kitchen packed
with character
features and
country charm
most comfortable and cosy of
homes and the most wonderful
place to live – as everyone who
visits here says – it truly is par-
adise!”
This property is currently for sale
through Leggett Immobilier refer-
ence 79557LC24

Vickiisthedirector
inchargeofour
contractsdepart-
ment
I
’m delighted to say that
2017 was another record
year for us, where we
handed over the keys to
around 1,400 happy clients.
As usual, many of these were
from the UK and outside France
– it’s clear that quality of life,
sunshine and (above all) great
value houses are of greater sig-
nificance than political factors
or a strong Euro.
I guess we wouldn’t have been
voted “Best estate agent in
France” for five years running
if we weren’t doing something
right. If you’re looking to buy
your dream home in France
then you have certainly come
to the right place.
GETTING STARTED
From the moment that your
initial enquiry is taken by
one of our experienced sales
support team you will be in
safe hands. They will take time
to understand your budget and
needs and will source suitable
properties from within our port-
folio of around 15,000 French
properties for sale.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
It’s important that you are as
open as possible about what
you want from the outset. First-
ly, you need to think about the
geographic location you want
to be in – how are you going
to access the property and at
what times of year? Remember
that some airline carriers only
operate summer schedules.
Also, don’t underestimate
traffic conditions during August
and peak season, particularly
if you’re looking in a popular
tourist destination like the Dor-
dogne in summer or the Alps in
winter. Then you must decide
on the kind of property you’d
like. New or old? In the centre
of a town or village or in the
country? Does it need to be de-
tached? How many bedrooms
and bathrooms – do any need
Buyingyour
FrenchProperty
Lastyearwehelpedover1,400people,
from50differentcountries,findand
buytheirdreamhome.Leggettdirector,
VickiRandall,offersadviceonhowto
makesureyourpurchasegoessmoothly.
WORDS: VICKI RANDALL I PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK
AN EXPERT GUIDE TO
BUYINGFRENCHPROPERTY LEGGETT MAGAZINE

"It’s
important
that you
are as open
as possible
about what
you want
from the
outset"
LEGGETT MAGAZINE EXPERTADVICE
to be on the ground floor? Do
you need a garage or barns to
renovate? I would recommend
that you write these down.
There are many questions you
may not know the answer to
but there will always be a list
of “must haves”. This is a great
way of finding out what is really
important to you.
USE YOUR LOCAL AGENT
Once you have agreed your
viewing itinerary you will get
to meet our local agents. They
will live and work in the area so
make sure that you exploit their
knowledge. Go armed with your
questions in advance. Pick their
brains about what it’s like in
the different seasons, do local
hospitals and schools have a
good reputation, which are the
popular towns and villages with
the locals, are there any traffic
issues? Plan well and use your
time with these local experts
wisely.
Hopefully you’ll find a prop-
erty that matches your brief
and you’ll want to make an
offer. This is where it’s import-
ant that you already have any
financing in place.
BE PREPARED
Having an “in principle”
mortgage offer puts you in a
strong negotiating position
and speeds up the purchase
process. Vendors will always
be happier to negotiate if they
know the potential buyer is
serious and ready to move.
You’ll always find that our
agency fees are included within
the asking price but don’t forget
that you’ll need to set aside an
extra 7-10% to pay the notaire
for his costs and search fees.
These are obligatory, but you
do have the option of choosing
your own notaire at no extra
cost. Our agents will always
be able to recommend a local
notaire if needed.
HELP AT HAND
The good news is that Leggett
Immobilier has an in-house
contracts department who will
be by your side from start to
finish. They are experienced,
bilingual and friendly to work
with and no other estate agen-
cy in France offers this kind
of service. We even employ
our own fully qualified notaire
who can help the team with
trickier transactions. Our team
will take you through the initial
exchange of contacts (called
a compromis de vente) right
through to when you sign for
the house and pick up the keys
(the acte de vente). Timescales
vary but you’ll find this usually
takes 3-4 months from having
an offer accepted to moving in.
It can be done quicker but we’re
at the mercy of the notaire and,
of course, the holiday seasons!
Being France there is a moun-
tain of paperwork, but rest
assured we’ve done it thou-
sands of times before and we’ll
make sure you fully understand
what’s going on each step of
the way.
FINALLY...
All that remains is for me to
wish you all the best with your
search and to hope that you
join our roster of happy clients.

Post
Modernism
IN PERIGORD NOIR
TrappistNunsoncemade
chestnutchocolateshere,today
thischâteauisasybariticretreat
WORDS: HELEN HOLBROOK
PHOTOS: CYRILLE MOINGEON
T
HE PERIGORD NOIR,
arguably one of the
most beautiful areas
in France, is where the
Dordogne river seems
to wind its way almost through
history. Many châteaux dot its
riverbanks and lush wooded
surrounding countryside. Gold-
en stone is the building material
of choice and mediaeval Sarlat,
with its picturesque tangle of
honey-coloured buildings and
alleyways, market and shops, is
the closest town – what could
be more idyllic?
Just a few kilometres south
of Sarlat, less than two from the
river, sits a 15th century château
which has been transformed

INSPIRINGSPACES
into the most sybaritic of re-
treats – a post-modernist luxury
chambres d'hôte set within a
turreted golden stone building
for, from its exterior, this châ-
teau resembles something out
of a children's fairy tale.
The château itself dates
back to the 15th century – 1476
to be exact – and has had sev-
eral incarnations over the past
500 years. In the early 19th cen-
tury, the original building was
largely destroyed by fire and the
present château rebuilt from its
remains. By the end of of that
century it had become a con-
vent for Trappist nuns who re-
mained here until 1910. During
their tenure they produced
THIS PAGE
Brilliant red Dali
'Lip' settees sitting
back to back; the
Mondrian inspired
wall in the dining
room; one of the
luxurious bathrooms
and a suspended
fire adds style to a
living area.

22 LEGGETTFRANCE.COMLEGGETTFRANCE.COM22 LEGGETTFRANCE.COM
chestnut chocolates and rebuilt
the building opposite the châ-
teau which they chose to name
the 'Commanderie'.
In the 21st century, the châ-
teau came into the hands of a
gifted couple from Strasbourg
who have undertaken the most
radical of all its renovations.
Working closely with a ded-
icated team of architects and
interior designers, they trans-
formed the château itself into
a luxury four suite chambres
d'hôte, reserving the Comman-
derie for their own home.
The property is set within
four hectares of surrounding
woodland. Paths and walkways
are dotted through the trees,
beautiful stone terraces provide
inviting places to eat, relax or
contemplate and a swimming
pool completes the scene.
The main building is ac-
cessed by an ancient stone
staircase leading up to the front
doors. Inside it has been trans-
formed in immaculate post -
modernist style. Quite simply it
is amazing – from the commu-
nal areas to spa complete with
starlit jacuzzi, massage, therapy
and exercise rooms as well as
a circular steam room set with-
in the confines of one of the
turrets. The 'Dali' lounge where
16th century frescoes from the
château of Bois-Normand depict
major stages in the life of Moses
are set into the walls. Set in
complete juxtaposition are the
pair of brilliant red Dali 'Lip' set-
tees sitting back to back as well
as a centred open log fireplace.
The Mondrian inspired din-
ing room is black and white
and hung with other modern art
pieces – there are also lounging
and dining areas each designed
to tempt one to sit and relax,
read or savour. Naturally there
is a stunning kitchen and a well-
stocked wine cellar, for here
simply everything has been
thought of!
The four bedroom suites in
this property are accessed up
the open tread staircase – all
with a dedicated theme which
include Klimt and Zen – each
has its own luxurious bathroom
and sitting area.

23LEGGETT IMMOBILIER - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CANTRUST 23
FOR SALE
For details of this property visit
www.leggettfrance.com and search
property reference 72029ERE24
LEGGETT MAGAZINE INSPIRINGSPACES
The owners have arranged
their own, completely sepa-
rate, accommodation across the
courtyard in the Commanderie.
Here they have vast open plan
living on the ground floor, with
another quite amazing open
tread staircase, this time paint-
ed bright red, the same tone be-
ing echoed in the kitchen, while
the lounge area is complement-
ed by an unique woodburner
suspended from the ceiling.
Doors lead outside to the pri-
vate decked area, offering love-
ly views over the grounds. Up-
stairs are three more bedrooms
for their own personal use.
Once both in the corpo-
rate world, the owners chose
the locale for their deluxe spa
and well-being retreat care-
fully, noting there are no other
similar establishments offering
such contemporary design in
the Périgord Noir. This beautiful
area also offers many attractions
for visitors.
This whole property has
been operating very successful-
ly as a spa retreat with many cli-
ents returning year on year.
Having completed their in-
spired renovation upon the châ-
teau to perfection, its owners
are now seeking their next chal-
lenge and the property is being
offered for sale.

A
GREAT FIREPLACE provides
a wonderful focal point to any
home. Few products bring peo-
ple together and create an ex-
perience like a fireplace does.
Nothing beats cosying up to a real wood fire
orsimplyfeelingtheheatfromawoodburner
inwinter.
These days the choice of products is
simply inspirational. Grand open fireplac-
es, fireplace inserts, stoves and gas log
fires are the most popular options avail-
able. Choices can depend on the style of
your property, heating requirements, type
of fuel and of course efficiency. Perhaps
you are looking for a statement piece or
simply something simple to cosy up to?
Whatever you choose make sure you seek
professional advice especially before in-
stallation.
fabulous
fireplaces
Withsomuchchoiceonoffer,how
doyouchoosetheperfectfireplace?
AliciaMitchell sharesaselection
ofherfavouritefireplacesfromthe
Leggettpropertyportfoliotogive
yousomeideas
MY DESIGN SCRAPBOOK
Almost sculptural!
A suspended stove is
the epitome of con-
temporary fireside
living.
PROPERTY REF: 72029ERE24
Love this one!
i

Officially one of the
top 5 most beautiful
fireplaces in France.
If your budget doesn't
extend to buying the
real thing, then con-
sider commisioning
a bespoke fireplace
from a local artisan
stonemason.
Modern stoves come
in all shapes and
sizes and and offer a
stunning focal point
to a room. A perfect
addition to open-plan
living.
PROPERTY REF: 24423CJ47
PROPERTY REF: 80562RS130
Alicia
Mitchell
is the
Marketing
manager at
Leggett
u
J
25

26
MY DESIGN SCRAPBOOK
PROPERTY REF: 40212JB16
PROPERTY REF: 81592JM116
PROPERTY REF: 66335AF37
A sleek insert adds a
streamlined look to a
contemporary space.
Clean and efficient,
an insert is a popular
choice these days.
Traditional surrounds
made from wood,
marble or granite give
a room a real sense of
grandeur.
Practical and yet so
beautiful. A bespoke
surround is simply
stunning.
USEFUL ADDRESSES
www.fireplaceproducts.co.uk
www.cvo.co.uk
www.marcmaison.com
www.o-poele.com
www.leroymerlin.fr
Some of the important questions to answer when
choosing your type of heating.
d Which source of energy will you use?
d How much heat do you need?
d What flue system will you use?
d What budget do you have?
d Is it efficient?
d How economical?
d What ventilation system is required?
Be prepared
Z
J

NicolasMinard
is director of Ice
Finance.
EXPERTADVICE LEGGETT MAGAZINE
D
EMAND FOR FRENCH
property from UK
buyers is remark-
ably strong at the
moment – our
friends at Leggett Immobilier
tell us that 2017 will have seen
their sales increase by around
20% over the previous year.
Similarly, figures released by
BNP Paribas earlier this year
show that sales to UK buyers
jumped by a third between
2014 and 2016.
This is quite something,
given the uncertainty we have
seen over “Brexit” and (of even
greater significance) the weak-
ness of sterling. At the time
of writing, the pound will buy
1.10 euros, yet still the British
love affair with French property
continues unabated.
We are constantly being
asked why international buyers
should take out a French mort-
gage and we respond with what
ByNicolasMinard,directorofIceFinance–specialistFrench
mortgagebrokers
GOODREASONS
WHY UK BUYERS
SHOULD TAKE OUT A
FRENCH MORTGAGE
we think are three compelling
reasons:
1. It mitigates the effects of
a poor exchange rate
2. French lending rates are
at an historic low
3. It can help smooth the
way for your property
purchase
Our company, Ice Finance,
works with all of the major
French lenders and can help
you find the best rates to suit
your particular circumstances.
We do this with complete trans-
parency and, what’s more, we
offer a “no deal, no fee” service.
HOW TO COMBAT A POOR
EXCHANGE RATE
Historically many UK clients
have either been paying cash
for their purchase or remort-
gaging their UK property to
raise funds. By taking out a
mortgage in France they can
mitigate the need to transfer
money if they feel the ex-
change rate is against them.
Borrowing in euros also
means that you don’t need to
raid your share portfolio or your
savings account at a time when
you may feel the money is
better left in situ.
The good news is that
French lenders are still keen
to lend to buyers from the UK
and there is a whole range of
flexible products to choose
from. Our team can source the
best fixed/variable/capped rate
mortgages with a loan to value
of up to 85% if necessary.
MAKE THE MOST OF
HISTORICALLY LOW
RATES
At the time of writing we have
clients borrowing at around
2.0-2.5% which means that re-
12
3

LEGGETT IMMOBILIER - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CANTRUST 29
payments are relatively easy to
service. Last year saw a record
amount of real estate loans
(which were one of the main
drivers of the improving hous-
ing market) and, whilst they
have since increased slightly,
they are still at an historically
low rate.
This cheap financing of
property continues to underpin
a healthy and active property
market. The Notaires de France
tell us that there were 907,000
transactions in the last 12
months, a figure which dwarfs
the 837,000 in the previous
“benchmark” year of 2006.
One of the consequences
of this soaring demand is that
prices too are beginning to rise
– the thought that a property
purchase can be made with
both the heart and the head is
proving attractive to UK buyers.
PUT YOURSELF IN A
STRONG NEGOTIATING
POSITION
Research shows that those buy-
ers who have their financing in
place are in a stronger position
when it comes to negotiating
a good price and agreeing a
purchase quickly.
Our brokers will be able to
work with you in gaining an “in
principle” offer so that both the
estate agent and the vendor
can have confidence that you
are a serious buyer with the
ability to move quickly. Don’t
under-estimate the influence
that this can have with vendors
when it comes to your negoti-
ations.
Furthermore, because
we work with the leading
French banks and lenders, the
loan process is usually quick
and easy, again leading to a
smoother property transaction.
Hopefully this snapshot
will have given you a greater
understanding of the benefits
of taking out a French mort-
gage. It’s probably worthwhile
adding that buying real estate
in France is a secure and
straightforward process. Add to
this the “pro-business” factor
that President Macron has intro-
duced in his first year of office
and the outlook for the sector
looks healthy.
As I said earlier, French
banks remain keen to lend to
British buyers and my team will
be delighted to make sure that
you find the lender and loan
that best suits your individ-
ual circumstances. We are a
completely bilingual team with
vast experience of the French
mortgage marketplace.
Nicolas Minard
BA has a double
diploma in
Wealth Manage-
ment from the
University of
Clermont
Ferrand as well
as 16 years
experience in the
private banking
sector.

Wefoundthebestmo
Ice Finance are independent mortgage brokers,based
in France. We work with BNP Paribas, Crédit Foncier,
Crédit du Nord and other leading banks and lenders.
Our friendly, bilingual team will find you the most
suitable mortgage at the best rates on the market and
will be by your side for the whole application process.
Now that’s a cool service.
For a quote from our experts contact us now on
+33 (0)5 55 10 10 91 or mortgages@ice-finance.net
Mortgages start from21,500€
Fixed rate for up to 25 years

rtgage ratesinFrance!
#livingthedream
INVESTISSEMENT CONSEIL EXPERTISE
www.ice-finance.net

LetyourFrench
homeearnyou
income
TakeadvantageofFrance’soutstanding
tourismbylettingoutaproperty(ortwo)
toearnanincome-buthowdoyougo
aboutit?
HOLIDAY RENTALS
32
F
RANCE IS THE WORLD'S
most visited country,
offering a diverse range
of holiday options,
from beach, skiing,
natural parks, historic villages
and vibrant cities. It’s the first
choice for many British families
for summer holidays because
most of it is easy to drive to,
something you cannot say of
Spain nor Italy.
In an age when many of us
love the freedom a holiday cot-
tage or villa over a hotel, there
are all sorts of opportunities for
the owners of French proper-
ties to let them out for holiday
rentals. In fact the French
government encourages this in
many ways, and is not currently
seeking to restrict this in popu-
lar holiday areas on the coast or
in ski resorts (unlike some of its
Alpine neighbours).
If you, like many others, are
thinking of renting out your hol-
iday home when you are not us-
ing it, there are some important
things to consider, rather than if
you are just buying something
WORDS: LIZ ROWLINSON | PHOTOS: C MOINGEON, SHUTTERSTOCK
LEGGETTFRANCE.COM

Peta Matthews
and her property
in Brittany. For
sale through
Leggett. Search
reference:
78727DH22
TOP TIP
"Consult an
accountant
to explore
the most
tax-efficient
way to
operate the
rental
activity"
33
for your own use. France is a
huge country but access is very
important to those with limited
time, so think about transfer
times to the nearest ferry ports,
airports and TGV station.
When considering location,
consider seasons (how long
is the typical rental season
there?), proximity to amenities
and attractions, and also look
at what sort of properties are
typically in demand there from
tourists. Are you going to target
couples, or families?
When choosing a property,
think about how it will be used,
how easy it will be to maintain
and does it having something
that will make is stand apart -
part of the appeal of France is
its abundance of charming his-
toric properties - people want
to stay in a petit château or a
Brittany longère or a Dordogne
pigeonnier.
Bear in mind that many
people now seek character
properties with mod. cons.
inside - decent wifi, modern
showers, coffee machines - and
having any stand-out features
(hot tub, pizza oven, games
room, etc) can help attract
paying guests.
Once you have your proper-
ty and have kitted it out appro-
priately for rental guests (and
remember that swimming pools
must have alarms or be fenced
off), how do you go about
renting it out? You will need
to make sure you set it up as a
rental property before you have
your first guests. “You must
register with the local Tax Office
in readiness to declare the
rental income to be received.
This is the case even if you are
not resident in France and are
receiving the rental income
in GB pounds sterling rather
than in Euros,” advises lawyer
Barbara Heslop of Heslop &
Platt. “An accountant should be
consulted to explore the most
tax-efficient way to operate the
rental activity and to assist with
the annual income tax return.”
For Peta Matthews, an En-
glish-born French resident, be-
coming a “micro-entrepreneur”
(formally auto-entrepreneur) -
small business owner status - is
the best way of renting out her
gîte complex in St Guen, Britta-
ny. “I do my own tax return and
pay a professional tax of around
£200 a year, but otherwise it
is very painless,” she says. She
and her husband have run two
gîtes on their twelve-bedroom
property for nearly a decade.
Before that they ran a B&B in
Normandy. “Running gîtes is
one of the easiest ways to earn
income - it suits a lot of British
people. But you do have do be
practical, as you do need to be
able to fix things that go wrong
for guests.”
She says they advertise
their properties on cheznous.
com (for £350 per year) and
they also have their own
website, holidaycottagebrit-
tany.com. “But we also have
return guests and lots of car
club guests - we sleep 16 and
everyone has their own bath-
rooms, which I think adds to
the appeal.” The property - that
has bookings for 21-22 weeks
a year - is now for sale through
Leggett for €585,000.

A
S ANOTHER WINTER
arrives many of us
will already be plan-
ning ahead to the
new ski season in
the French Alps and Pyrénées.
In fact an increasing number of
us are likely to have visited the
region over the warmer months
too - the popularity of dual-sea-
son homes close to lakes and
mountain villages has been grow-
ing.
Both sporty couples and
outdoor-loving families have
been investing in mountain
homes that offer biking, climb-
ing, rafting and all sorts of other
summer activities on tap. Year-
round homes also have the ad-
vantage of offering good rental
returns, helping owners to cover
the costs of ownership.
If you are looking for a
mountain home it is essential
you ask yourself how you want
to use it, which will affect the ar-
eas you pick. If you want to use
your home for frequent week-
ends throughout the year, you
need somewhere within an hour
or so of the nearest airport.
If you are definitely look-
ing to make an income from
the property, ask yourself how
much? Heather Byrne, our co-
ordinator in the Alps, suggests
points to consider in making it
a profitable investment. “Acces-
sibility to the slopes; by foot or a
Dreamofowningaboltholein
theFrenchmountainsyetnotsure
wheretostartlooking?Hereare
sometipsfromourexperts.
DREAM
SKI HOMES
WITHOUT
HIGH PRICES
WORDS:HELENHOLBROOK|PHOTOS:CMOINGEON

regular shuttle service near the
property? Close to restaurants,
bars or services? Is there good
activity in the summer? Is there
a property management compa-
ny in the area?”
The world’s largest ski ter-
rain of the Three Valleys is
where many people want to
be, so the key is to look to the
smaller resorts for better val-
ue - so St. Martin-de-Belleville
and Les Menuires, rather than
Courchevel and Méribel, for ex-
ample. St. Martin-de-Belleville
is a picture-postcard village in
the Savoie region, 90 minutes
from Grenoble. St. Martin holds
its own against its fashionable
neighbours, with newly reno-
vated three Michelin starred
restaurant ‘La Bouitte’. You can
buy a second-hand two-bed-
room apartment in the resort for
€200,000.
Likewise, in Les Menuires,
there’s a two-bedroom, two-
bath ski-in-ski-out apartment
in the heart of the 2000m high
village, with ski locker facilities,
spa and swimming in the res-
idence, and supermarket and
ski rental on the doorstep for
€325,000. You can also choose
a smaller satellite resort in the
vast Espace Killy ski domain - in
a small hamlet near Tignes, you
can get a large two-bed apart-
ment for €399,950.
You should look for new ski
lift links, and infrastructure, says
Byrne. “These show the local
Maire has an active approach
and interest in the resort. Some
projects have the potential to
increase the property's value.
For example, Morzine - in the
Portes-du-Soleil - a big project
BELOW
Ski apartment in Les Menuires
Ref: 81955EH73 ; Ski chalet in
Morzine Ref: 76473NJW74.
35
"If you are
looking to
make an
income
from the
property,
ask yourself
how much? "
€325,000
€1,750,000

has just been confirmed that
will involve a new lift system
linking Avoriaz to Morzine.”
There’s a six-bed chalet there
for €1,750,000.
One region that is affordable
and within 90 minutes of Greno-
ble airport and 1hr 45 minutes
from Lyon is the southern Alps
that includes the well-known
resorts of Les Deux Alpes and
Alpe d’Huez - due to be linked
in the next few years.
These resorts may not have
the cachet of Val D’Isère or Méri-
bel but it’s perfectly possible to
get a ski chalet with a budget of
€350,000, or an apartment for
€150,000. For example, you can
get a charming four-bedroom
chalet 20 minutes drive from
both Les Deux Alpes and Alpe
d’Huez, for €346,000.
The local agent, Niven Dyer,
says that at this sort of price lev-
el, he currently has an increased
number of enquiries from UK
buyers since Brexit. “Buyers still
want their dream Alpine home
but are happy to downsize in
order to get it, he says. “There’s
also a huge market from road cy-
clists as the Oisans area is world
famous for the Tour de France
climb to Alpe d'Huez. Half of my
clients are serious road cyclists
that like to ski.”
The Pyrénées, with a more
low-key vibe than the big-name
Alpine resorts, is another op-
tion you might consider. “The
Pyrénées offer a superb range of
properties with prices starting
as low as €35,000,” says Yvonne
Russell, the local agent.
“But do think about location.
Do you want to be in an actu-
al ski resort or close to one? A
property in a ski resort is super
if your main reason for staying
is to ski - you are straight out
on to the lifts and have restau-
rants and shops within walking
distance. However if you want to
visit at other times of the year,
the restaurants may be closed
and you will have to drive to vis-
it shops and other activities.”
She suggests that a prop-
erty that has easy access to a
resort (up to 30 minutes) will
offer more year-round activities
and more of a French lifestyle.
Depending on the location, you
will also be able to visit differ-
ent ski areas giving you a lot
more choice. The most popular
resorts are: Grand Tourmalet/
Pic du Midi - La Mongie/Barèg-
es; Luchon - Superbagnères; plus
Peyragudes and Saint Lary Sou-
lan.
Between Superbagnères and
Peyragudes there’s a two-bed
apartment for only €139,000,
or there’s a charming four-bed
chalet just 20 minutes from Ba-
gnères for only €339,000 - with
a swimming pool it’s a great
year-round home.
ABOVE
CLOCKWISE
2 bed apartment
Ref: 74860CMC31;
2 bed apartment
between Tignes
and Val d'Isère
Ref: 70862BF73T;
House in Haut
Garonne Ref:
62468CMC31
SKIHOMES LEGGETT MAGAZINE
€139,000 €339,000
€399,950

+33 (0)6 02 52 08 95
+44 (0)1944 768 561
+44 (0)7 48 46 46 778
matthew@mkn-surveyors.com
www.mkn-surveyors.com
Matthew NOBLE
BSc (Hons) Chartered Building Surveyor (MRICS)
’ Structural Building Surveys
’ Property Development Advice
’ Pre sale surveys
’ Project Management
’ Fast response times
’ 25 + years of experience
We are fully insured in the UK and Europe
and cover all areas of France
Suite E14
Joseph’s Well
Hanover Walk
Leeds LS3 1AB
United Kingdom

On the
wine trailEnjoyingabespokewinetourcankick-startone'sloveaffairwith
finewines,sowhynotdiscoverthegrandwinesoftheSouthWest
withtourcompany'AmuseBouches'?
Asinglebitesizedhorsd'oeuvre
Amuse-Bouche...
CHARLES CRAMAILH
WORDS: HELEN HOLBROOK | PHOTOS: C MOINGEON

39
W
HAT A GREAT
service the Ro-
mans did when
they intrduced
vines to France,
for the varieties produced here
are legendary.
As with all good things
this didn't happen overnight!
France is methodical about her
wine, and vineyards are defined
and classified. A listing process
which has gone on for centuries
– the Appellation d'Origine Con-
trôlée – defines the area, grapes
and method of wine-making of
each region and has become al-
most a liquid trademark.
Bordeaux is one of the most
famous wine producing regions
in the world. The Appellation
here covers a wide swathe of
country, however many, if not
most, of the top quality clar-
ets produced in Bordeaux are
more specific, especially those
from the Medoc and St. Emilion
whose best estates have the
right to sell wines designated as
grand cru.
But where to start, which
wine to choose and, unless one
is a connoisseur, how best to
visit winegrowers and châteaux
as many are not normally open
to the public.
Charles Cramailh and his
bespoke wine tours – Amuse
Bouches – provide the oppor-
tunity to learn more about the
wonderful wine of this region,
most particularly in and around
St. Emilion, Pomerol and Bor-
deaux.
Based in the beautiful vil-
lage of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne,
Charles is passionate about his
subject: “You never stop learn-
ing about wine, it is an odyssey.
Wine-making is a skill which
takes a lifetime to learn - it's the
same for any oenophile or wine
lover!”
His entire career has been
focused upon the provision of
superior customer care in the
hospitality sector. Now he has
brought this expertise into the
other passions of his life – wine
and gourmet food – by creating
specialised vineyard tours cou-
pled with a gastronomic experi-
ence.
"You never
stop learning
about wine, it
is an odyssey.
Wine-mak-
ing is a skill
which takes
a lifetime to
learn."
Charles
Cramailh,
Amuse Bouches
“We take small parties on
tailored tours, introducing them
to some of the greatest wines of
the Bordeaux region - our ter-
roir is full of history, beautiful
countryside and unforgettable
flavours!
“We go into private châ-
teaux for a tasting experience
like no other. It's an opportunity
to learn a little more. It's fasci-
nating to learn how two vine-
LEGGETT MAGAZINE WINE

ONTHEWINETRAIL LEGGETT MAGAZINE
yards, almost side by side, might
have completely different char-
acteristics developed by gener-
ations of winegrowers.”
Amuse Bouches provide ev-
erything from transportation to
gourmet luncheons with bilin-
gual guides on wine journeys
away from the normal tourist
trails. Other tours visit local ar-
tisan producers to sample del-
icacies of the region including
caviar and truffles.
For those who dream of
owning a vineyard, the rewards
might be high but be prepared
for hard work. Many things need
to be considered, from budget
to the amount of commitment
you are able to give. Types of
estate for sale vary: A 5 – 8 acre
estate would allow you to pro-
duce some wine, though typical
small wine-makers usually have
between 13 – 38 acres.
What will be required is
expert advice from a special-
ist with the knowledge to help
you make the right decision and
Leggett's own in-house wine ex-
pert, Xavier Routurier, based in
our St. Emilion office, can pro-
vide the essential link in iden-
tifying and finding your perfect
vineyard.
For those of you at a differ-
ent stage of your wine appreci-
ation journey, Amuse Bouches
is the perfect first step to learn
more about the wonderful Bor-
deaux region and its impeccable
heritage of wines.
“With us, there is no rush,
you'll be able to take all the time
you need to stroll around châ-
teaux vineyards, taste, savour
and enjoy special moments à la
française!”
Visit the website
http://www.amuse-bouches.fr
for further information on the
Amuse Bouches tours.
Enter our competition to win a vineyard tour with
Amuse Bouches, personally escorted by the knowl-
edgeable Charles Cramailh. The prize is for 2 peo-
ple and includes a vineyard tour, gourmet lunch
and transportation to and from the Aubeterre sur
Dronne area in May 2018.
To enter, visit our website
www.leggettfrance.com/pages/competition
and answer the following question.
'What is an Amuse Bouche?'
CLOSING DATE: 31 MARCH 2018
WIN!
A VINEYARD
TOUR FOR 2
PEOPLE

C
LAUDE MONET
considered Giverny
his greatest master-
piece - while most
couldn't even dream
of emulating the glories of his
garden, the pleasures of creat-
ing or visiting beautiful gardens
are immeasurable.
From planning where to
put special plants to the first
buds of spring, then May with
its roses and delphinium spires;
followed by russet tones of
autumn and finally the joy of
seeing your garden garnished
by winter frosts… it's the place
where you can truly lose your-
self!
Gaining inspiration by
visiting gardens is as much a
part of gardening as putting
your hands in the soil and at
Leggett Immobilier we're proud
to continue supporting the
Open Gardens / Jardins Ouverts
scheme, which like any well
tended garden, is sending out
shoots and growing massively
year on year.
In 2017 it grew to include
150 gardens opening in 28
départements. The year was
highlighted by new 'roots'
sprouting in three more dépar-
tements with many new ini-
tiatives including 'Community
Days' successfully trialled in the
Deux Sèvres, where several gar-
deners in one location joined
forces to open on the same day.
And for all gardeners, whether
they be well-established or
new, it's a great way to make
friends and integrate into your
community.
Jardins Ouverts president,
Mick Moat, says the scheme is
attracting more gardens each
year: “we never intended to
be just a British association
and now around 40 percent of
Jardins Ouverts are French!”
With the increasing numbers of
gardens opening, so too is the
amount raised for charity: “this
past year we almost doubled
The association Open Gardens / Jardins Ouverts raised
over €23,500 for charity in 2017 with the help of generous
gardenersacrossFrance
WORDS::HELENHOLBROOK I PHOTOS:OPENGARDENS/JARDINSOUVERTS
Generous
Gardeners
GENEROUSGARDENERS LEGGETT MAGAZINE

the money raised to €23,500
which we donated to 11 differ-
ent charities. Our principal ben-
eficiary remains À Chacun Son
Everest, the childrens' cancer
charity, who formally received
their cheque at Journées des
Plantes de Chantilly, France's
premier gardening event, in
October 2017 with Prince Amyn
Aga Khan”
One of the most beautiful
gardens we've come across
recently surrounds a property
for sale in Massignac, not far
from the famed Massignac lakes
of Haute-Charente. The gardens
are set in an acre of beautiful
mature parkland surrounding a
restored 17th century longère.
Perfectly landscaped, plants
have been placed almost as if
by an artist's hand. Different
specimens, including cloud
pruned trees are all set to
perfection in peninsula beds.
Unusually for south west France
the soil here is acid allowing
azaleas and rhododendrons to
flourish. The garden includes a
lovely stream close to a crafted
Rocaille bridge tempting you to
pause and admire the beauti-
ful pond which is surrounded
by drifts of white phlox and
pink roses in softly coloured
flowerbeds.
With other keen gardeners
in and around Massignac, it
would be a wonderful way to
integrate into the local commu-
nity should this lovely home's
next owners join Open Gardens
/ Jardins Ouverts!
For more information about
Jardins Ouverts / Open Gardens
visit www.opengardens.eu
43
ABOVE
The lovely
garden in
Massignac,
for sale with
Leggett
Ref: 75600JMI16
RIGHT
His Highness
Prince Amyn
Aga Khan
together with
organisers of
Chantilly and
Open Gardens
/ Jardins Ou-
verts including
president Mick
Moat, Joanna
Leggett and
Orane, one of
the children
who has
benefited from
À Chacun Son
Everest.
Jardinage et Esprit de Générosité

My
localJohnBaileyandhis
daughtershavemadetheir
pub-TheRoyalOak-part
ofthecommunityinthe
townofMareuil-sur-Belle
T
HE PRETTY MARKET TOWN
of Mareuil-sur-Belle in
south west France is the
last place you'd expect to
find a traditional English
pub. It's here John Bailey and his
daughters created The Royal Oak –
and it's been quickly adopted by all
as their 'local'.
John originally bought the old
watermill here to convert to houses,
but once he put ceiling beams in the
barn someone said it looked like a
pub and, recognising an opportuni-
ty in the 'thirst' market, the idea just
grew. Today it's thriving and known
for great food, his famous Sunday
roasts and curry nights.
But John didn't stop there, he's
restored the mill into a charming 5
bedroom chambres d'hôte, created
extensive gardens, put in a swim-
ming-pool with club house and is
currently building a sun terrace
overlooking the carp-laden tribu-
tary of the river Belle! Since open-
ing in 2011, John has also created
an impeccable green for lawn bowls
which has quickly attracted a keen
following.
With horse brasses decking the
walls and cosy seating set around a
great fireplace, there's a welcoming
ambiance in the Royal Oak which
his clientele love.
“We've become very much part
of the community and the French
enjoy the taste of English beer.
We've a wide variety on tap, and our
French clients come in regularly to
order 'un pint!'. They're also taking
to bowling too though they have to
get used to rolling balls rather than
throwing boules!”
Royal Oak Mareuil,
20 rue des Martyrs, 24340 Mareuil.
Tel: +33 (0)9 51 98 85 16
MYLIFEINFRANCE LEGGETT MAGAZINE

Whether you have found the perfect Alpine Chalet
or magnificent Villa, we make the process of
getting a French mortgage simple.
When it comes to French mortgages,
our team speak their language and yours.
For a quote from the experts call us now on
Intelligent
Property
Financing
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internationalprivatefinance.com/
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+44 (0)207 484 4642
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Sail away
with me...JamesWilliamsonexplainstherulesandregulationsonsailingaboatin
Franceandpickssomeofthebestspotsonthesouthwestcoasttovisit
owner, whether you are sailing
a fifty foot Halberg-Rassy or a
small bath tub.
The popular port of Les Min-
imes in La Rochelle is one of
the largest pleasure boat ports
in Europe and holds over four
thousand boats. The facilities
are very well maintained with
all boats on their own pontoons,
with electricity and fresh water.
It seems to be very good value
indeed compared to your chum
who keeps his boat on the south
coast of England and who may
well splutter an expletive if they
T
HERE ARE TWO GREAT
days in a man's life,
when he buys his
first boat and when
he manages to sell
the bloody thing, or so the old
adage goes. This might well
ring true in the UK where boat
ownership costs can be very re-
strictive and your average boat
owner comes with well rounded
vowels.
Not so in more egalitarian
France, where the enjoyment of
having one's own boat and the
freedom of sailing can be sur-
prisingly accessible on a modest
income.
The south west coast of
France offers some of the most
enjoyable sailing in Europe.
From the famous deep water
ports of Sables-d'Olonne, home
to the Vendée globe, and the
fabulously lovely La Rochelle,
or to the chic little market towns
on the Ile de Ré you will find
friendly sailing folk from all
walks of life.
The sailing community tends
to be fantastically friendly and
will be ready to share a yarn and
a glass or two with a fellow boat
knew that two thousand euros a
year is about the annual fee for
an eight metre sailing boat.
Being France there are a few
rules and regulations that are
best adhered to, however they
are designed more for your own
safety than to squeeze a few
more euros from your purse.
A sailing qualification is re-
quired for insurance purposes
and also a VHF radio certificate,
should your boat have one. For-
tunately British RYA qualifica-
tions are recognized in France
and are not too hard to obtain.
BELOW
The stunning port
of La Rochelle at
night.
FACING PAGE
James and partner
Helen on their boat
'Cirrhosis of the
river'. They moved
to the Dordogne in
1993.
WORDS::JAMESWILLIAMSON I PHOTOS:TONYTERROT WWW.TERROTPHOTOGRAPHIE.COM
SAILINGINFRANCE LEGGETT MAGAZINE

The day skipper courses, run
by the RYA, are available in many
countries around Europe, and so
can be considered an enjoyable
mini-break with benefits.
Sailing schools in Gibraltar
offer the course for around a
thousand euros with board and
food included. These courses
involve a four day stint in the
classroom and five days of in-
struction at sea, with trips to
Morocco and Spanish ports
on one of their well equipped
boats. It’s a thoroughly edu-
cational and enjoyable way to
achieve a qualification.
In the most popular ports
waiting lists for a berth can be
quite long. It’s a good idea to
put yourself on the waiting lists
in a few ports if you are think-
ing about getting a boat in the
future, it doesn’t cost anything
and you can always decline any
berths that are offered to you.
It’s not uncommon to turn a
berth down and stay on the list.
It’s a great time to buy a
second-hand boat, the choice is
huge and can suit pretty much
any budget. A little trailer sailer
is a great way to start your life
on the ocean waves and avoids
the cost of a permanent berth,
be careful though, you will soon
be looking at the neighbours'
boats and thinking, I need a boat
that’s just a little bigger!
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.rya.org
Royal yachting association for
training information.
www.sailinggibraltar.co.uk
Rock sailing Gibraltar.
www.portelarochelle.com
Capitanerie La Rochelle for
information on berths.
www.apolloduck.com
A useful second hand boat site.
474747

THEALPS:
Agreatplaceto
workandplay
Former Londoner Rod Hulme, 32, moved
totheAlpinetownofSt.Gervaistopursue
his ideal lifestyle of doing what he loves
bestinthemountains.
LIVING THE DREAM
WORDS: LIZ ROWLINSON | PHOTOS: C MOINGEON, SHUTTERSTOCK

Rod and
partner
Clemence.
I
T WAS ALWAYS ROD HULME'S
plan to live in France at some
point. With a French mother,
he had spent many happy
summers in Cannes, with
her family, and had been skiing
in the southern alps since he
around five years old.
He was also a keen hiker
and it was this that led him to
work for the sports equipment
brand, Decathlon, when he was
living in Dalston, east London. “I
really wanted to work for their
internal hiking brand, Quechua,
which I loved, so to do this I
moved to their HQ in Lille three
years ago,” he says. It was there
he met his French partner, Clem-
ence Cornu.
Apart from a natural affinity
for France, the ability to speak
the language was also able to
help him make the permanent
move there. He adjusted to life
in France during that time. “I
think it takes six months to a
year to really integrate, but it
was easier with a very active
sports and social life with my
colleagues,” he says. “Speaking
the language definitely gives
you an advantage.”
However he really yearned
to live in the mountains, and
was even able to achieve it via
career progression and a trans-
fer to Decathlon in the Haute
Savoie town of Passy six months
ago. He purchased a two-bed-
room apartment in the former
Grand Hotel of St. Gervais-Les-
Bains, a popular town with
views of Mont Blanc just 3km
from Passy (through Leggett).
Picturesque St. Gervais boasts
Baroque architecture, a legacy
of being a tourism resort since
the early 1900s due to the
popularity of its thermal baths,
which sit in the lower village, Le
Fayet. It’s also a starting point
for climbers of Mont Blanc. The
Tour de France passed through
it in 2016.
“I really liked St. Gervais as
it’s a vibrant year-round small
town, with elegant architecture
and it’s well located close to
both Chamonix and Mégève.
It's an hour from Geneva, which
is very handy as I travel with
work and back to see friends in
the UK,” he says. “It also gives
quick access to the ski slopes -
St. Gervais has over 60km of ski
runs, and it’s part of the Evasion
Mont-Blanc domain, the third
largest in France.”
There are a few British ex-
pats in the town and Rod loves
the village atmosphere of the
restaurants and bars - that are a
bit busier in the summer - and
the 15-minute commute to
work. “I love the outdoors so it’s
the ideal place for me to live,”
he adds. “It’s working in my per-
fect playground - I love hiking,
biking and also have taken up
trail running.”
He is looking forward to
his first winter season, and the
chance to ski nearly every week-
end. “I even hope that I might be
able to hop out at lunchtime for
a couple of hours if the snow
is good, and then work later
to compensate. This is why it’s
great to live here, it’s about the
quality of life, people work hard
but they also get to enjoy life.
Weekends are not about work!”
he says. That’s something many
of us aspire to, but how many of
us truly achieve that?
LEGGETT MAGAZINE LIVINGTHEDREAM

"It’s
vital that you
approach the
sale of your
property from
a buyer's
perspective"
LeggettImmobiliersoldover1,400propertieslastyear.
Joanna Leggett looks at the things their successful
vendors did to make their house stand out from the
crowd.
committing to a viewing.
LETTING GO
It’s vital that you approach the
sale of your property from a
buyer's perspective, not as a
seller and, as far as possible,
that you take “emotion” out of
the equation. Putting it bluntly,
almost all of our vendors are
emotionally attached to their
homes and feel that they are
worth more than the current
market value. They have seen
the loving care that was taken
in building a bespoke kitchen
or they have sweated blood and
tears in transforming the garden
into a thing of beauty. It’s not al-
ways easy for owners to let go
and focus on the sale.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
A study by scientists at Prince-
ton University showed that first
impressions of people are made
in just one tenth of a second.
That literally is a blink of an eye
and the “first impression” con-
cept holds good for property
too. You need to make sure that
a potential buyer’s first thoughts
I
T'S LIKELY THAT YOUR house
will be one of the biggest as-
sets you own – therefore it is
essential that you place it in
the hands of a reputable and
proactive agency. If you appoint
Leggett Immobilier to sell your
property it will immediately be
put in front of 5.4m overseas
buyers every month, with list-
ings on our own sites, SeLoger,
Le Bon Coin, Rightmove Interna-
tional, Zoopla and other global
portals.
You'll also benefit from
our exclusive partnership with
Hamptons International and our
presence at many international
property exhibitions. Our sales
support team currently receive
around 8,000 new enquiries
each month, from both France
and abroad.
VIRTUAL TOURS
Leggett agents also offer to cre-
ate a virtual tour of your proper-
ty free of charge – this is partic-
ularly appealing to international
buyers who are browsing our
website from a distance and
want to learn as much about our
properties as possible before
READY
TO SELL !
SELLINGFRENCHPROPERTY LEGGETT MAGAZINE

are favourable. Try standing out
on the road and visualising
what they will see, then change
things so that the vista becomes
more attractive.
Make sure that your garden
is tidy with plenty of colour
and absolutely zero clutter. Try
putting in some fresh plants
around the entrance, give those
shutters a fresh lick of paint and
invest a morning in cleaning the
windows so that the sunshine
the buyers are looking for can
come streaming in.
Children can create mess
beyond words. You may know
that the books, clothes, toys
and computers are just surface
clutter but they will distract the
buyer from seeing the positive
things (such as a room's size,
clarity of light or architectural
features). You should also rec-
ognise that many buyers don’t
want to be met by your family
dog jumping up and saying hel-
lo. I’ve seen it happen hundreds
of times and have even had se-
rious buyers refuse to get out of
the car until the pets are on a
leash or taken away.
You should be aiming for a col-
ourful approach to the house
and a tidy and welcoming feel
indoors.
A GOOD TIME TO SELL
The property market in France is
growing stronger with 900,000+
homes sold in the last year.
This means that you need to
get two things right to ensure
a sale. Firstly, make sure that
your house is well priced when
compared to similar proper-
ties around it. Nearly all buyers
will have this “comparable evi-
dence” at hand and will just dis-
miss your property if the figures
don’t stack up.
Secondly, ensure that you
give yourself the best chance
of a sale – snagging, painting,
planting and tidying will only
cost a handful of euros and a bit
of your time but this work will
repay itself a thousandfold.
Joanna Leggett is Marketing
Director of Leggett Immobilier
and a regular panellist on the
Property Question Time TV show.
1. Plant colourful shrubs and flowers along your
driveway – keeping the entrance to the house clear
of parked cars, bicycles and toys.
2. Give your shutters and front door a fresh
coat of paint and think about changing your door
knocker to make it stand out and more attractive.
3. Get rid of any nasty odours – above all make
your kitchen welcoming with fresh coffee and
bread far more preferable than last nights curry or
fried onions.
4. Make the beds, pick up dirty laundry, wash &
put away the dishes – even consider laying up the
dining table. Make sure that rooms are well lit.
5. Clear up any mess made by your cats & dogs.
Nothing puts a buyer off more than that!
Joanna's
5 TOP TIPS

Ask Sandy...
Got a question on living in France? Ask our in-house
expert Sandy Guyonnet
Once the vehicle has arrived in France, you must
register it and obtain a Carte Grise (Certificat
d’Immatriculation). You apply for the Carte Grise
through your préfecture or sous-préfecture by
completing a Demande de Certificat d’Immatric-
ulation. You will need the following paperwork:
• Passport
• Proof of address
• Registration certificate & proof of ownership
• Import tax certificate
• Contrôle Technique (i.e MOT)
• Certificate of conformity
You will be given a provisional registration cer-
tificate which you will need to have your num-
ber plates made up. Your new Carte Grise will
arrive in the post and then you must notify the
DVLA that your vehicle has been permanently
exported.
How do I register a car in
France?
To obtain a French pet passport you
must first make sure that the animal
is microchipped. Then visit your lo-
cal vet in France who will read the
microchip and vaccinate the animal
against rabies and issue the pass-
port. Please note that the vaccina-
tion takes three weeks to fully work
and you will not be allowed entry
into the UK until the three weeks
have expired. The passport will have
an expiry date linked to the expira-
tion date of the rabies vaccine, if
your pet is not revaccinated then
the passport expires.
How do I get a pet
passport?
Meet Sandy Guyonnet, a
member of our in-house
contracts team and a
qualified notaire. Each
issue she is on hand
to answer some of our
clients' most common
questions. Sandy has
a Titulaire du Diplôme
Supérieur de Notariat
and is one of the most
respected voices in the
industry.
To ask Sandy a ques-
tion please email your
questions to asksandy@
leggett.fr and we will do
our best to publish the
answer in the following
issue.
This has to be done by post and you
can see full details of what to do at
www.service-public.fr/particuliers/
vosdroits/F1758
You will need to fill out the forms
available at this link as well as send-
ing copies of:
• Your current licence
• Your passport
• Proof of address showing that
you have lived there for at least
six months
• Three photos
• A stamped, addressed, envelope
The address to write to is: The Na-
tional Permit Exchange and Permits
Department, Préfecture of the
Loire-Atlantique, CERT PCI, 6 quay
Ceineray, BP 33515, 44035 Nantes
Cedex 1.
Changing a UK
driving licence

• Your last three French payslips
or certified accounts
• A copy of your Carte Vitale
showing your social security
number
If you are retired then you may be
asked for proof of funds showing
that you will not be a burden on the
state.
Armed with these documents
will give you a good grounding but
be prepared for queues, frustrating
conversations and requests for fur-
ther, random, documentation.
EU citizens who have been in France
for more than five years are entitled
to apply for a Carte de Séjour UE –
Séjour Permanent. We know that
different Préfectures have different
rules and policies so you should
check with your local officials. As a
guideline though, they will usually
ask you for the following:
• A copy of your passport + three
passport photos
• A copy of your birth certificate
• A current utility bill showing
address
• Further utility bills for every 6
months of the last 5 years
Your first port of call should be your
Mairie. However, in some cases, they
may point you towards the Préfecture.
Ask for the Direction Régionale de l’En-
vironnement, de l’Aménagement et du-
Logement (DREAL) office.
Formal authorisation is usually re-
quired for all newbuilds and works to
existing buildings where the works ei-
ther increases the external surface area,
or creates new floors. As a general rule
any extension over 20m2 needs plan-
ning permission.
Planning permission can also be
required for house alterations and/or
change of use. If you are within 500m
of a listed building it is essential that
you check local rules and regulations
with your Mairie.
A planning application is called a
Demande de Permis de Construire while
application for building works is called
a Demande de Déclaration Préalable.
Please note that whilst it is the
mayor who signs the document giving
approval/refusal it isn’t always him/her
that makes the final decision – this is a
question that you should ask from the
outset so that you know who to lobby!
The planning
permission process
You are entitled to put your child
into the French education system,
which has a generally excellent rep-
utation. Your first stop should be to
your local Mairie who will introduce
you to the school/college/lycée. If
your child is in maternelle/primaire
then language should not be an is-
sue, but if he/she is older then you
will have to discuss this with the
head teacher. The extra support that
your child receives will vary from
school to school and region to re-
gion.
School insurance is compulsory
and called Attestation d’Assurance
Scolaire. This is inexpensive and
How do I put my kids in French school?
easy to obtain – it shows that your
child is covered should he/she
cause damage to school property or
another pupil. You will need sepa-
rate Assurance Scolaire if you want
your child to be insured for loss or
damage to your child's belongings
and/or personal injury to them-
selves.
You should also check your own
Responsabilité Civile Propriétaire
which is your own third party liabil-
ity insurance and often included in
your home policy. Once you know
what this covers then you can de-
cide how much to include on your
child's policy.
How do I get a Carte de Séjour?

50 14
61
27
76
80
62
59
60
02
95
78
91
77
93
92 94
75
08
5551
52
57
67
68
88
54
70
25
90
39
74
73
01
69
42
38
26
07
05
06
04
83
13
84
34
48
30
11
66
09
31
81
82
12
46
32
65
64
40
47
24
33
17
16
86
79
87
23
19
15 43
63
03
71
21
5818
36
37
41
45
89
25
10
2B
2A
29 22
56
35
53
72
49
44
85(01) Ain
(02) Aisne
(03) Allier
(04) Alpes-de-Haute-
Provence
(05) Hautes-Alpes
(06) Alpes-Maritimes
(07) Ardèche
(08) Ardennes
(09) Ariège
(10) Aube
(11) Aude
(12) Aveyron
(13) Bouches-du-Rhône
(14) Calvados
(15) Cantal
(16) Charente
(17) Charente-Maritime
(18) Cher
(19) Corrèze
(21) Côte-d'Or
(22) Côtes-d'Armor
(23) Creuse
(24) Dordogne
(25) Doubs
(26) Drôme
(27) Eure
(28) Eure-et-Loir
(29) Finistère
(2A) Corse-du-Sud
(2B) Haute-Corse
(30) Gard
(31) Haute-Garonne
(32) Gers
(33) Gironde
(34) Hérault
(35) Ille-et-Vilaine
(36) Indre
(37) Indre-et-Loire
(38) Isère
(39) Jura
(40) Landes
(41) Loir-et-Cher
(42) Loire
(43) Haute-Loire
(44) Loire-Atlantique
(45) Loiret
(46) Lot
(47) Lot-et-Garonne
(48) Lozère
(49) Maine-et-Loire
(50) Manche
(51) Marne
(52) Haute-Marne
(53) Mayenne
(54)Meurthe-et-Moselle
(55) Meuse
(56) Morbihan
(57) Moselle
(58) Nièvre
(59) Nord
(60) Oise
(61) Orne
(62) Pas-de-Calais
(63) Puy-de-Dôme
(64)Pyrénées-Atlantiques
(65) Hautes-Pyrénées
(66)Pyrénées-Orientales
(67) Bas-Rhin
(68) Haut-Rhin
(69) Rhône
(70) Haute-Saône
(71) Saône-et-Loire
(72) Sarthe
(73) Savoie
(74) Haute-Savoie
(75) Paris
(76) Seine-Maritime
(77) Seine-et-Marne
(78) Yvelines
(79) Deux-Sèvres
(80) Somme
(81) Tarn
(82) Tarn-et-Garonne
(83) Var
(84) Vaucluse
(85) Vendée
(86) Vienne
(87) Haute-Vienne
(88) Vosges
(89) Yonne
(90) Territoire de Belfort
(91) Essonne
(92) Hauts-de-Seine
(93) Seine-Saint-Denis
(94) Val-de-Marne
(95) Val-d'Oise
FRANCE
The regions of France changed in early
2016. This is how they now look. There are
no changes to the départements.
•Bretagne
•Normandie
•Pays-de-la-Loire
•Hauts-de-France
•Ile-de-France
•Centre-Val de Loire
•Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
•Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
•Grand Est
•Provence-Alpes-Côte-D’Azur
•Occitanie
•Nouvelle Aquitaine

55
93
80
75
106
Gallery58pagesofbeautifulFrenchpropertyforsale.Fromcosycottagesto
charmingchâteaux-thesearchforyourdreamhomestartshere
PROPERTYGALLERY
ALL PRICES ARE HAI (HONORAIRES D'AGENCE INCLUS) WHICH MEANS ESTATE AGENCY FEES ARE ALREADY INCLUDED
108
68

56
T
RADITIONALLY,THEGRAND
Ouest encompasses
Brittany and Pays de
la Loire – however, we
have taken the liber-
ty of including Normandy in
this section of the magazine,
as many international buyers
search across all three.
I have lived in Brittany since
2005 and know all three regions
very well. As well as differing
landscapes, architecture and prop-
erty prices, they each have a
distinct character too. I heartily
recommend that you come and
discover this magical area for
yourself.
PAYS DE LA LOIRE
Nantes often tops French polls
of peoples’ favourite city – it
is the regional capital of the
Pays de la Loire and was once
the most important seaport in
France (despite being 50kms
inland). The city acquired great
wealth from the subsequent
trading and it remains a lively
and fun destination. The inter-
national airport flies to 22 coun-
tries, with ten UK destinations
– once here you have the choice
of heading for the coast or stay-
ing inland.
La Baule and Le Croisic are
two classic seaside resorts in
the Loire Atlantique. You will
find beautiful villas and lux-
ury hotels with a clientele to
match – enjoy an aperitif, visit
the famous casino then dine out
under the stars with the Atlan-
tic lapping at your heels. Head
south down the coast and you’ll
be able to relax on some of the
finest beaches in France, perfect
for family holidays.
Inland you will discover a
green and rolling countryside
with many historic and pictur-
esque villages. I think that you
may also be pleasantly sur-
prised by the value for money
on offer. It’s a rural area and
prices reflect this.
BRITTANY
The official tourist site for Brit-
tany is a work of art – you can
search “things to do” in a myriad
of ways and you’ll need a day
just to create a shortlist of “plac-
LisaGreene
is our area
coordinator
for the Grand
Ouest area
LEGGETTFRANCE.COM
WithamagnificentcoastlineandeasylinkstoParisand
theUK,it’snowonderthattheGrandOuestisagreat
favouriteofinternationalbuyers
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK
The
Grand Ouest
LE CROISICPOINTE DE TOULINGUET
ROUEN
MENEHAM VILLAGE, KERLOUAN

5757
ONETOWATCH
"Granville is a simply beautiful, fortified, town with
views out over the bay of the Mont Saint Michel to
the islands of Chausey. I moved to France in 2004
(along with my two horses) and never tire of stroll-
ing around the walled “Haute Ville” taking in the
boutiques, restaurants, the warm, stone properties
and magnificent sea views. Property in and around
the town is always popular with locals and overseas
buyers alike"
Claire Murphy is our agent in the bay of the Mont
Saint Michel.
Découvrir...
Le Grand Ouest
Avec sa côte magnifique et son accès facile
depuis Paris et l’étranger, il n’est pas surprenant
que le Grand Ouest figure parmi les destinations
les plus prisées de nos acheteurs. La Bretagne,
les Pays de la Loire et la Normandie ont leur car-
actère propre et leurs spécificités.
En Pays de la Loire, la dynamique ville de Nantes
arrive régulièrement en tête des villes préférées
des Français, tandis que les stations balnéaires
de La Baule et du Croisic sont des lieux rêvés
pour une maison de vacances ou un investisse-
ment locatif. Il en est de même pour la Bretagne
qui regorge de trésors à découvrir et où l’on
apprécie la permanente proximité avec la mer.
Enfin, la Normandie, terre du célèbre Mont
Saint-Michel compte nombre d’exceptionnels
villages aux allures médiévales.
Le Grand Ouest est une région très abordable
qui offre un large choix de propriétés. N’hésitez
pas à contacter notre équipe pour lancer votre
recherche.
LEGGETT MAGAZINE GRANDOUEST
es to see”. All of which means
that whether you are moving
here to live, or buying a holiday
home/investment property you
can purchase with both your
head and your heart.
One of the things that I like
the most is that you are never
far from the coast. Even in the
middle of the region you can
still make a last minute decision
to hit the beach and be there in
under an hour tops. We like this
most in the winter where we
have the rugged coves and san-
dy beaches to ourselves and we
can sip our coffee watching the
fishermen go about their dai-
ly lives in the same unhurried
way as they have been doing for
hundreds of years.
NORMANDY
Normandy too has its fair share
of things to do and see. I adore
the architecture of my neigh-
bouring region and a visit to
Rouen, Bayeux or Mont Saint
Michel always throws up some-
thing new and exciting. I would
also advise you not just to drive
away from Le Havre, Caen or
Dieppe once you disembark the
ferry….each have plenty to offer
in their own right.
Inland, the half-timbered
and thatched houses make
some of the towns and villages
seem chocolate box pretty – yet
you’ll find that property prices
are most reasonable.
To summarise, I’m totally con-
vinced that, whatever your price
range, you will find your dream
home amongst the 3,000+
properties we have available in
Grand Ouest – why not let our
team give you a helping hand?
THIS PAGE
CLOCKWISE
St. Malo; Colourful timber
framed village houses in
Normandy; Saumur.

PROPERTYGALLERY LEGGETT MAGAZINE
58 INFO@LEGGETT.FR +33 (0)5 53 60 79 1058 INFO@LEGGETT.FR +33 (0)5 53 60 79 10
To Discuss your project ring:
www.archisurvfrance.com
Nick Warner: +33 6 84 74 55 53
Tim Bowman: +33 6 32 70 56 73
www.french-property-survey.com www.brittanyarchitecturalservices.fr
base.europe@gmail.com
Thoigné. With over 5000m2 of landscaped gardens, its
outbuildings and guest cottage, this 14-15th century stately
home, offers remarkable architectural features and is organised
around a hexagonal tower, that serves 6 rooms (210m2) includ-
ing 3 bedrooms.
*Agencyfeesincluded:6%TTCtobepaidbythebuyer (€530,500withoutfees)
Thoigné. Avec plus de 5000 m2 de jardins paysagés, dépendances
et maison d’amis, ce logis seigneurial 14-15ème siècle, contient
des éléments architecturaux remarquables et s’organise autour
d’une tour hexagonale desservant 6 pièces (210m2) dont 3
chambres.
*Honoraires : 6 % TTC inclus à la charge acquéreur (530 500 € hors honoraires)
REF:80058E172
VILLAGE MANOR HOUSE
SARTHE(72)€562,000HAI* DPE:E
6 BED EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY
ORNE(61)€840,000HAI* DPE:D
REF:70136EI61
Réveillon. Beautiful equestrian property with amazing views.
A spacious 450 sqm. stone farmhouse with 6 beds, 3 baths, a
stone outbuilding (to renovate), and purpose built dutch barn
with stables, gallops, paddocks with field shelters on 35 acres.
*Agency fees included : 5 % TTC to be paid by the buyer (€800 000 without fees)
Réveillon. Belle propriété équestre avec une vue imprenable. Com-
prend une spacieuse maison de 450 m2 en pierre, 6 chambres, 3
salles de bains et une annexe (à rénover). Grange avec écuries et
paddocks sur 35 acres de terrain au total.
*Honoraires : 5 % TTC inclus charge acquéreur (800 000 € hors honoraires)
Rare chance to buy an established, reputable restaurant, delica-
tessen and apartment in Central Brittany. Further potential for
a B&B.
*Agencyfeesincluded:4,7%TTCtobepaidbythebuyer (€500000withoutfees)
Opportunité unique d'acheter l'un des restaurants les plus réputés
de Bretagne. Plus de potentiel avec de vastes zones à développer
pour B & B ou d'autres hébergements.
*Honoraires : 4,7 % TTC inclus charge acquéreur (500 000 € hors honoraires)
REF: 82236NG22
FABULOUS BUSINESS FOR SALE
CÔTESD'ARMOR(22)€523500HAI*

59

CALVADOS (14))
€295,000 HAI* DPE: E

St. Germain-du-Crioult. Tasteful 5 bed
longère presented in 3 units. In use as a
successful B&B.
*Agency fees included : 5 % TTC to be paid by
the buyer (€280 000 without fees)
REF:67062CK14
CALVADOS (14)
€420,000 HAI* DPE: D

Condé-sur-Noireau. Exquisite 19th
century 5 bed classic mansion. Set in
parkland garden with guest house.
REF:53838CK14
CALVADOS (14)
€139,000 HAI* DPE: F

Landelles-et-Coupigny. 3 bed maison
de mâitre style property. Stunning
views all round. Newly renovated.
REF:75129EMW14
ORNE (61)
€56,000 HAI* DPE: E

Domfront. Perfect 2 bed holiday home
with garden in quiet countryside.
REF:46639KTR61
ORNE (61)
€214,000 HAI* DPE: NO DATA

La Chapelle d'Andaine. An Impressive
village residence with lodge and coach
houses! Excellent gÎte potential.
*Agency fees to be paid by the seller. Reduction
from €224,700 to €214,000
REF:63629KTR61
EURE (27)
€328,600HAI*DPE:INPROGRESS

Notre Dame-du-Hamel. Charming 18th
century watermill with owner's cottage,
river and mill stream. 4.5 acres.
REF:65445EI27
EURE (27)
€299,600 HAI* DPE: E

Appeville-Annebault. Charming 3 bed
one-storey half-timbered farmhouse.
Idyllic setting in the countryside.
REF:54796JDA27
SEINE MARITIME (76)
€153,000HAI*DPE:F

St. Hellier. Renovated 3 bed family /
holiday home in a quiet location on the
edge of the village. Easy access to port
and coast.
from €172,800 to €153,000
REF:57039TS76
SEINE MARITIME (76)
€219,350 HAI* DPE: D

Neuville Ferrières. Riverside maison
de mâitre and former watermill now
offering a 4 bed family home and 2 bed
apartment with business potential.
REF:72772TS76

MAYENNE (53)

La Dorée. Very Pretty 3 bed detached
country cottage with no close neigh-
bours.
REF:75370RL53
MAYENNE (53)

Jublains. Pretty 2 bed country cottage
with large garden - great potential for
either permanent or holiday home.
from €152 600 to €141 700
REF: 57778KTR53
MAYENNE (53)
€178,200 HAI* DPE: D

St. Brice. Amazing 3 bed lakeside
property with 2 cottages and further
outbuildings set in woodland.
REF:51021DSE53
MANCHE (50)
€229,000 HAI* DPE: C

Beaufice. Enchanting and spacious 4
bed country cottage in idyllic location.
Beautiful grounds and additional plot
of private woodland bordering river.
REF:41466RK50
CALVADOS (14)
€240,750 HAI* DPE: F

Fumichon. Gorgeous 4 bed thatched
country cottage in a rural setting.
REF:77928DCL14
MANCHE (50)
€26,000HAI*DPE:NOTREQUIRED

Lapenty. A renovation project with wa-
ter on site, electricity nearby, flat land,
on a quiet road with proximity to a river,
and a village with bakery.
REF:78063RBR50
MANCHE (50)
€71,500 HAI* DPE: F

St. Georges-de-Rouelley. Charming
former farm complex to restore in 2.5
acres. Numerous outbuildings and huge
potential.
REF:78810RL50
MANCHE (50)
€237,000 HAI* DPE: C

St. Georges-de-Rouelley. Spacious pret-
ty 3/4 bed house with 7 acres of land.
Suitable for equestrian or smallholding.
REF:67405RK50
SARTHE (72)
€267,500 HAI* DPE: D

Noyen-sur-Sarthe.This has it all! A
house by the river, with B&B, a separate
gÎte and a beautiful garden that runs
along the river bank.
REF:50287DSE72

62
MORBIHAN (56)
€339,2000 HAI* DPE: E

Quistinic. 16th century 3 bed stone,
thatched house, completely renovated
to the highest standard while retaining
original period features.
REF:72159BGA56
MORBIHAN (56)
€64,950 HAI* DPE: E

Pleugriffet. Detached 4 bed house with
plenty of character features. 66kms
from Brittany beaches.
REF:72490BVS56
MORBIHAN (56)
€339,200 HAI* DPE: E

Plouay. Two charming detached
longères near to Plouay. Set in a quiet,
rural location with over 2 hectares of
land.
REF:72336PDB56
MORBIHAN (56)
€199,500 HAI* DPE: TBA

St. Aignan. Superbly run B&B business
in a beautiful renovated stone house
near Guerledan lake. Very rare property
and location!
REF:72236BGA56
MORBIHAN (56)
€214,000 HAI* DPE: D

Guénin. 3 bed detached neo breton
style house with garden and stunning
countryside views.
REF:78240PDB56
MORBIHAN (56)
€119,900 HAI* DPE: TBA

Cléguérec. Very cute private 3 bed
stone cottage on the outskirts of a
dynamic country village.
*Agency fees to be paid by the seller
Reduction from €158,000 to €119,900
REF:62887BGA56
FINISTÈRE (29)
€79,995 HAI* DPE: NOT REQUIRED

Guiclan. Delightful 2 bed Breton cottage.
Ideal holiday home in a tourist hot spot!
B&B potential.
REF:68043PK29
FINISTÈRE (29)
€129,500HAI*DPE:NODATA

Plonévez-du-Faou. Simply the best!
Great 3 bed cottage in good location
Would make a perfect gÎte. All at a very
sensible price.
REF:69714SSM29
FINISTÈRE (29)
€197,950 HAI* DPE: E

Plomodiern. Newly renovated 3 bed
holiday home with views of the sea.
REF:67320EBE29
INFO@LEGGETT.FR +33 (0)5 53 60 79 10

FINISTÈRE (29)
€274,990 HAI* DPE: C

Plomodiern. Unusual 2 bed contem-
porary house and land for keeping
animals.
*Agency fees included :7 % TTC to be paid by
REF:71109CBR29
FINISTÈRE (29)
€278,200 HAI* DPE: C

Châteauneuf-du-Faou. 6 bed Lock
house on the Nantes-Brest canal
with up and running successful gîte
business.
the buyer (€260,000 without fees)
REF:75082EBE29
FINISTÈRE (29)
€636,000 HAI* DPE: B
Laz. 3 bed maison de maître, full of
character with eco features.
REF:66523EBE29
CÔTES D'ARMOR (22)
€119,900HAI*DPE:NOTREQUIRED

Magoar. Watermill to restore with 2
houses and 4.6 hectares (11 acres). An
amazing project!
REF:70249LRE22
CÔTES D'ARMOR (22)
€141,700 HAI* DPE**

Plessala. Beautifully renovated 4 bed
longère. Ideal B&B potential.
** The energy estimation cannot be produced
owing to lack of appropriate data
REF:80410NG22
SEINE MARITIME (76)
€302,100 HAI* DPE: B

St. Hellier. A superb 4 bed chalet set in
1.2 acres of gardens. Sauna, large open
plan lounge and dining room. 25 kms
from the Normandy coastline.
REF:76418MGA76
CÔTES D'ARMOR (22)
€187,950 HAI* DPE: E

Rospez. Lovely detached 4 bed neo
Breton house, on the edge of a village,
near the Pink Granite coast.
REF:74927MBR22
CÔTES D'ARMOR (22)
€288,900 HAI* DPE: C

Tréguier. Art Deco flair! Magnificent
3 bed renovated pink granite house,
beautifully landscaped grounds, very
quiet, near beaches and amenities.
REF:80370ELT22
CÔTES D'ARMOR (22)

Loudeac. Historic 6 bed manoir with
gÎte, outbuildings, and woodland set in
4.8 hectares of land.
REF:54250NG22

64
CÔTES D'ARMOR (22)
€299,600 HAI* DPE: D

Plouguenast. Renovated 2 bed longère
with 2 bed gîte, stables, garage, gym,
attic to renovate. Over 1 hectare of
land.
REF:69753SBI22
ILLE ET VILAINE (35)
€149,950 HAI* DPE: D

Rimou. Characterful 3 bed stone cot-
tage in a rural hamlet.
REF:67450CMR35H
€408,000 HAI* DPE: D

Bains-sur-Oust. Beautifully renovated 4
bed longère. Ecological materials used
throughout.
REF:77853PV35
€408,100 HAI* DPE: E

Le Theil-de-Bretagne. Pretty 2 bed
stone character property just 30 min-
utes from Rennes-Saint-Jacques airport.
2 hectares of land.
REF:77794SNE35
LOIRE ATLANTIQUE (44)
€475,000 HAI* DPE: D

Châteaubriant. Luxury detached 4+ bed
house with lavish lounge. Set in 2.5
acres of gardens.
REF:54066DSE44
€450,000 HAI* DPE: D

Ferce. Stunning secluded 5 bed château
with 8 hectares of land set in the heart
of a forest with lake and meadow. Gor-
geous family home or for use as a B&B.
REF:47401DSE44
€194,400 HAI* DPE: E

St. Nicolas-de-Redon. Beautiful 5 bed
neo breton style house with separate
apartment. Close to centre of village
with shops, bars and restaurants.
REF:76106CP44
Moisdon-la-Rivière. Delightful 4 bed
bungalow set in stunning grounds, 10
minutes from Chateaubriant and 1hr
drive from Rennes and Nantes airports.
REF:75999SNE44
VENDÉE (85)

Les Pineaux. 3 bed cottage. Ideal
holiday home. 5kms to a market town,
30kms to La Roche-sur-Yon, 40kms to
the beach.
REF:67038DWJ85
LEGGETTFRANCE.COM

VENDÉE (85)
€147,150 HAI* DPE: F

La Caillère-st-Hilaire. Historic and
romantic 1 bed windmill for sale in the
heart of the Vendée.
REF:76172FBU85
VENDÉE (85)
€167,400 HAI* DPE: E

St. Pierre-du-Chemin. Splendid renovat-
ed 3 bed stone farmhouse, in a quiet
hamlet in southern Vendée.
REF:76849NHA85
VENDÉE (85)

Velluire. South facing pretty stone
3 bed detached village house with
in-ground pool and barn, along with a
slice of land on the river.
REF:72685JDY85
VENDÉE (85)
€194,400 HAI* DPE: D

Montournais. Stunning 4 bed country
cottage set in beautiful gardens with a
B&B annexe.
REF:43685MGO85
VENDÉE (85)
€194,400 HAI* DPE: D

La Tranche-sur-mer. On the coast with
fabulous sea views. Ground floor apart-
ment with pool, facing the Ile-de-Ré.
REF:67026SG85
MAINE ET LOIRE (49)
€130,800 HAI* DPE: E

Noyant. Charming 3 bed hamlet prop-
erty set in beautiful open countryside.
A short drive from market town with
amenities.
REF:62609TGR49
MAINE ET LOIRE (49)
Pouance. Gorgeous longère with 4
bedrooms and an attached 3 bed gÎte, in
a quiet location.
REF:61078WWH49
MAINE ET LOIRE (49)
€309,230 HAI* DPE: E

Chambellay. Character 4 bed coun-
try house with separate gÎte and an
award-winning garden located on the
edge of the village.
REF:53001DSE49
SARTHE (72)
€267,000 HAI* DPE: F

Théligny. Beautiful 3 bed 16th century
farmhouse with gÎte and outbuildings
set around courtyard in 5 acres land.
360° views.
REF:67670EI72
65

At the
heart of
L’HEXAGONE
66
THIS PAGE
CLOCKWISE
Château de Chambord;
Paris;
Montreuil-Bellay;
Boulogne-sur-mer;
Amboise.
FACING PAGE
The walled castle in
Chinon.
ItsdistinctshapemeansthatFranceiscommonly
knownasTheHexagon.BrunoTaxylivesandworks
initsheart…..Paris.
LEGGETTFRANCE.COM
T
HE OBVIOUS SUCCESS
of President Macron on
the world stage has put
Paris at the forefront
of the global property
market once more. This comes
on top of a burgeoning domes-
tic market that has seen the
highest sales volumes this cen-
tury. France has seen 907,000
sales in the last 12 months.
Paris is thriving but this ar-
ticle gives you a brief insight
into the north east and central
France as well. If you look at
the map at the front of this sec-
tion you’ll see that this covers
around a quarter of the country
– not an easy thing to do in a few
hundred words!
If you are reading this in the
UK then my task is made even
more difficult as this top right
corner of France has never been
a hot-spot for British buyers. I’m
not sure why, as the beautiful
countryside here is a magnet
to buyers from Germany, Swit-
zerland, Belgium, Holland and
many other international desti-
nations.
I always think it is a shame
that British property buyers
come streaming off the ferries
and out of the Eurotunnel and
Bruno Taxy is an area
coordinator in Paris
PHOTOS : SHUTTERSTOCK

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