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Popularity: 60% [?]

This area borders the Cognac Region and the Charente River valley. Known for being the second sunniest region after the Cote d’Azure, the Charente also benefits from its mild winters. The recent opening of the Ryanair service from Stansted to Angouleme (our regional capital and 30 minutes drive from our office) has meant that the area is now even more accessible to the UK. There are also airports serving the UK at La Rochelle, Limoges, Poitiers, Tours and Bordeaux, all between 45mins and 2 hours drive away. The port of St Malo is 4½ hours drive away and Calais about 7 hours.

Charente Region

The Charente has beautiful properties in lovely locations. Over the last few years the area has experienced growth and investment and property prices are still very favourable. We continue to see bouyant interest from overseas buyers and new interest from Parisian house hunters who, with the extension to the Eurotunnel network, will shortly be only two hours from Paris. With the Lille connections this also means that St Pancras, London will be about six hours from the city of Angouleme.

The present financial climate provides opportunities for buyers. We are contacted on a regular basis by buyers considering lowering the asking prices for their properties so now is the time to be making contact with us to find your home in the Charente.

View properties in this area of France >> Cognac and Charente Properties

Popularity: 5% [?]

Long gone are the days when travel from the U.K. to France took an inconveniently long time.  With the advent of the Eurotunnel, travel is both convenient and quick, making France an easy travel destination at anytime of the year.  In fact, more and more British people are making France the destination of choice for either work or leisure.  

What is the Eurotunnel?
The Eurotunnel is a train service that transports both cars and their owners under the English Channel.  …

More: continued here

Popularity: unranked [?]

It is a relatively new ski resort compared to the more famous counterparts, such as the Courchevel and the Val Thorens. But Meribel’s new ski resort provides a different and perhaps more memorable experience for skiers. In fact, it is best to enjoy Meribel’s new ski resort for at least a week. In this way, skiers can enjoy a ski party.

What makes Meribel different from the others? There are hundreds of ways but the most obvious is the village landscape. Other ski-resorts have buildings and facilities that are crowded together in one small area. On the other hand, the new ski resort in Meribel has tastefully designed facilities and the accommodations blended into the village setting. Instead of boring rectangular structures, the new ski resort has chalet-style accommodations, complete with porches and wood sidings. Besides the adorable accommodations, the walkways are raised for the convenience of everyone. This makes the new ski resort of Meribel the most stylish ski resorts in the Trois Vallèes.

Another reason why the new ski resort in Meribel is unique is the opportunity for a wide variety of gastronomical experiences. There are pubs for those who like the old fashioned way and there are pubs for those who love the new-age trend. There are restaurants that offer the French favorites and there are restaurants that serve international cuisines. Most visitors who enjoy the night après ski would recommend the Dicks T bar and nightclub.

And the primary reason why skiers can enjoy the new ski resort in Meribel for a week or more is the opening of the slopes in the top valley and in Mont Vallon. Today, there are more than 372 miles of ski runs plus numerous off-pistes. For intermediate skiers who love cruising for miles and miles, the ski runs of Meribel’s new ski resort present the perfect opportunity to further develop their techniques. There are also numerous ski runs for experts and more for beginners. In fact, the new ski resort in Meribel has 9 black runs, 21 red runs, 33 blue runs, and 11 green runs. There are also 2 Olympic runs, one slalom stadium, and 2 snowboarding areas. The best part is that the ski slopes in this new ski resort are well maintained with plenty of snow.

Meribel is also located right at the center of the most extensive network of slopes. This is one of the reasons why this new ski resort is more expensive than most. But you get what you pay for. Cheaper accommodations may mean less comfort and fewer amenities. This is acceptable only for a short duration or for skiers who are used to roughing it. But for a week-long relaxing and fun winter holiday, it is always best to have comfortable if not luxurious accommodations.

The ski runs are supported by 200 modern lifts. This huge number considerably reduces the waiting line and the skiers can spend more time skiing rather than standing in line. The only caveat for skiers is that the new ski resort in Meribel will not give much French ambiance. Most visitors are English-speaking and English is heard more often than French. Nevertheless, the whole week or more of winter holiday can be spent on things more exciting than learning to pronounce sil vous plait. The new ski resort in Meribel also has facilities for swimming, skating, rock climbing, paragliding, snow biking, and more.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Shopping In France

France is the ultimate shopping destination for the sophisticated consumer. It offers everything from the ultimate in haute couture to perfumes to wines and cheeses. And shopping in France is not the
utilitarian experience it can be elsewhere. Rather it’s a serious activity that demands attention and a certain flair.

First we look at Paris where the shops make up an important part of the fabric of the city’s cultural identity. Then we’ll head to Bordeaux which offers more than just its famous wines.

Shopping In Paris

Think of Paris and you think of designer fashions, perfumes, and accessories with brand names famous for their chic the world over. But of course they come with hefty price tags. Here’s a tip. Bargain seekers should do their window shopping at the grand fashion houses to get a feel of what’s in vogue. Then head to the budget shops and markets to get similar items at pennies on the dollar.

If you’re short on time you can get all your designer labels under one roof at one of the large French department stores. The two queens, les grands magasins Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, sit side-by-side on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement. Fully exploring them could take days.

If you want the real Paris shopping experience, head for one of the unique wonders of the city – the galleries or passages. These are glass-roofed shopping arcades that date back to the 19th century. They ooze charm and transform rainy days into episodes of romance and discovery.

Don’t’ forget that Sundays are closing days for most stores in Paris. But fear not, one of the city’s many flea markets will provide a great alternative shopping experience.

Shopping In Bordeaux

Bordeaux is truly one of Europe’s best kept shopping secrets. In the scenic charm of the city you’ll find the world’s most popular brand names: Cartier and Rolex for watches, Hermes and Christian Lacroix for fabrics and clothes, Louis Vuitton for luggage, Mont Blanc for pens, the list is endless.

Bordeaux is home to the longest pedestrianised street in Europe. Rue St. Catherine runs from the stately Place de la Comedie to the student district near the place de la Victoire. And its entire length is graced with some of the country’s premier shopping outlets.

Bordeaux’s epicenter for shopping is known fittingly as the Golden Triangle. This triangle contains the prime shopping zones of the Allées de Tourny, the Cours de l’Intendance and the Cours Clemenceau. In its heart is the Place des Grands-Hommes, where you’ll find Bordeaux’s most prestigious outlets.

If such luxury doesn’t tempt you, don’t worry. Bordeaux is home to a plethora of chain stores that offer good value purchases. And the local boutiques offer distinctive items without the brand name mark ups.

And of course don’t forget the wine. The Bordeaux region is France’s premier wine making area and you can get sublime local vintages by the bottle or by the case.

For shoppers who want to spend some time in France, check the internet for cheap France hotels and find Paris hotels or cheap Bordeaux hotels.

Popularity: 24% [?]

Tourist France

New feature on 1st-for-French-Property.co.uk - regional videos! These introduce a region to you as a Tourist France so that you can see what the landscapes are like, places to visit and things to do. We have a selection of videos for each region.

Interested in Poitou Charentes Property < < click here

Videos By Regions:
Alsace Region
Aquitaine Region
Auvergne Region
Brittany Region
Burgundy Region
Centre Region
Champagne-Ardenne Region
Franche-Comte Region
Ile-de-France Region
Languedoc-Roussillon Region
Limousin Region
Lorraine Region
Lower Normandy Region
Midi-Pyrenees Region
Nord Pas-de-Calais Region
Picardy Region
Poitou-Charentes Region
Provence (PACA) Region
Rhone-Alpes Region
Upper Normandy Region
Western Loire Region

Hope you enjoy our Tourist France series.

Popularity: 26% [?]