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Your property in South West France
Property in South West France is truly awe-inspiring. From idyllic and secluded Gascon farmhouses through to elegant manor houses on the edge of charming villages and outstanding estates with ancient trees populating the land, the region has it all.
The wide-open terrain of South West France means properties normally include outbuildings that can help accommodate larger gatherings for holiday home owners or can provide compelling rental opportunities.
Inside South West France
Blooming fields of sunflowers and vineyards stretching towards the horizon amid rolling countryside typify this exceptional region of France.
Encapsulating areas such as Dordogne and Gers, the region offers sedate rural living, with wilder terrain at its southern edge where the Pyrénées begin before spilling across the border into Spain.
Each of the main areas in the region are steeped in history, with pristine medieval towns and villages offering a taste of traditional French life, while larger towns such as Bergerac offer a busier, vibrant and urban feel, and destinations such as Arcachon and Cap Ferret offer unrivalled coastal bliss.
Landscape
The broad region serves up every type of terrain, ranging from the Pyrénées in the south to the jaw-dropping beaches that grace the south-west coast of France.
Numerous regional parks, such as Landes de Gascogne and Périgord-Limousin, provide excellent opportunities to explore the great outdoors, and hilltop towns and villages provide stunning views over the surrounding countryside, usually packed with lavender fields, sunflowers or vineyards.
Education
South West France has some well-regarded international schools for families considering relocating to the area.
These include Le Cluzeau, an accredited Cambridge International School that offers secondary- and college-level education, while the Bordeaux International School runs from pre-school through to high school.
In terms of further education, the University of Bordeaux and the Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées are among the top 20 universities in France.
Activities and Entertainment
Breathtaking historic architecture spills out of the region’s picturesque towns and villages, with the likes of Auch’s Cathédrale Ste-Marie, a Unesco World Heritage site, while truly unique sites can be discovered across the region, like France’s most famous prehistoric cave paintings at Grotte de Lascaux in Montignac.
The region is full of captivating towns, whose wondrous squares, such as Place des Cornières in Monpazier and Place du Marché aux Oies in Sarlat-la-Canéda, provide a chance to relax in cafés and bistros, or to peruse the various boutiques down cobbled side streets.
Anyone who loves the outdoors will find it hard to resist South West France, with leisurely strolls in gardens, such as Les Jardins de Coursiana in Armagnac or the manicured Jardins de Marqueyssac in La Roque Gageac, through to more challenging hiking and cycling routes in its various regional parks and skiing during winter in the Pyrénées.
Art and Culture
The region’s cities, towns and villages all contribute to the wealth of museums and galleries, with excellent examples such as the Musée Gallo-Romain Vesunna (which includes the remains of a 1st Century Roman townhouse) in Périgueux and Musée National de Préhistoire, a treasure trove of France’s prehistoric finds.
Food is an intrinsic part of the region’s culture, with attractions such as the Écomusée de la Truffle celebrating the delicacy, while large events paying homage to everything from goose, strawberries, beef and snails take place across South West France.
Music features strongly too, with classical music, jazz and world music among the genres showcased at various festivals and concerts, such as the Marciac Jazz Festival, across the region.
Food and Drink
An abundance of food is produced in South West France, ranging from fruit, including strawberries, melons and kiwis, walnuts and ceps mushrooms, while the region is famous for its cheeses, jams and honey as well as meat rearing.
Particular delicacies include Périgold fois gras, whose quality is guaranteed by an IGP to control where the product can be produced, truffles and even caviar. The region’s cafés, bistros and exceptional restaurants, including several with Michelin stars, produce exquisite gastronomy with the wide choice of local produce on offer.
In terms of wine, the region excels, with Bergerac’s renowned Monbazillac vineyards producing exclusively sweet white wines, and the Côtes de Bergerac and Pecharmant serving up some of the best red and white wines in the region. Beyond wine, the area is well-known for its walnut wine, chestnut liquor and pastis of Sarlat.
Accessibility
The region is exceptionally well-served with major airports, including Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport and Bergerac Airport and Toulouse to the south.
Bordeaux is connected to the country’s high-speed TGV railway line, meaning journeys to Paris can be completed in little over 2 hours.
The region is exceptionally well-served by the country’s autoroutes, providing easy access around the region and to other destinations in France.