Why France?

France, which covers 549,000 square kilometres, is the largest country in western Europe. It is a land of climatic and geographical contrasts. Enclosed by the mountainous ski slopes of the Alps and the Pyrenees lie the verdant pastures of the Ile de France and Limousin; the vineyards most notably of the Loire valley and the area around Bordeaux; the remote hills and rugged plateaux of the Auvergne; the industrialised landscapes of the north; and the sophisticated, cosmopolitan resorts of the Mediterranean south.

The five principal rivers are the Seine (which flows through Paris), the Loire and the Rhone (along whch grow many fine vines), the Garonne in the west, and the Rhine in the east, which forms a natural border with France's old enemy and new trade and political partner, Germany. In adddition a lattice of canals completes a superb transport network which accounts for 40% of all the waterways of Europe.

North and north-westem France (Brittany, Normandy, Picardy and the Ile de France) generally enjoy a 'British' climate of milder winters and pleasant summers. Eastern and central France (Alsace, the Vosges, the Rhone valley, Burgundy and the Auvergne) generally have colder winters with heavier snow, and more clearly defined seasons. In the south and south-west (Provence, the Midi, Aquitaine and the Basque country) winters are occasionally cold but summers are almost invariably hot, from Nice in the east to Biarritz in the west.

Deciding Where to Live

Deciding where to live in France will involve balancing professional, family and perhaps educational obligations, and personal preferences. Deciding what sort of accommodation to live in, whether to buy or rent, and in which area of the city, are personal choices which will be shaped by your circumstances and future plans. Think carefully about the following points when you decide where to live:

• Size - Do you prefer to have a larger home in a less popular but cheaper area, or a smaller home in a more central and/or expensive area?
• Facilities - Which facilities do you want to be nearest? Shops, schools, entertainment, your workplace?
• Transport - What public transport facilities are there nearby? Do you need parking space?
• Safety - How safe is the area? Is it really as safe, or as dangerous as you have been told?

If you have the opportunity it is a good idea to briefly visit the quartier (district) where you are considering living. Bear in mind the points above, be observant when you visit the quartier, and decide on your priorities before taking a decision.

Local Considerations

Each town, commune or arrondissement (in Paris, Lyon and Marseille) has its own mayor and local council, and state-run services from education to taxation are operated on the basis of sub-divisions of the arrondissements. This can have varying degrees of importance at different stages of your life. For instance:

• Your chances of finding a place in a municipal creche for your child will be affected. The number of places available varies greatly in different areas.
• Your children will be assigned to state schools according to the arrondissement you live in, and the sub-divisions become crucial when it comes to entering your child into one of the elite lycees.
• Your local housing tax (taxe d'habitation) will vary according to not only the size of your appartment or house, but also to its last official listed valuation by the local authorities, which will take into account average market prices per square metre at the time of the valuation. The presence of large businesses or factories can have a very beneficial effect for local residents in terms of their taxe d'habitation.
• Local authorities rival each other on the quality of services they offer to their residents. Mainly, this is part of the party political game, but the results of a sustained programme over a number of years to restore a certain quartier or maintain a general standard of living across the neighbourhood can make a considerable difference.
• In March 2001, the French elected new municipal councils. A change in the political wind since March 2001 may well set in motion a levelling of the differences between the arrondissements and towns.

Environmental Considerations

When you do narrow your choices down, it is worth taking a trip to the local mairie to find out what is planned in the area in the near future. If there are plans to move the school a kilometre away, or to cut a new metro line under your street, or to build a block of new flats on the site opposite, you may want to reconsider.

You should also be wary in rural areas of the danger of flooding, which has been a particular problem in both northern and southern France. Village centres are not immune from major problems. When you view a property, ask if the building is in a flood-risk zone (zone inondable). Many buildings were constructed in such zones even up until very recent times. The age of a building is no guarantee against the risk of flooding in some areas.

Final Considerations

As you begin your home search, there are three basic rules to remember:

1. Furnished rented accommodation is generally more expensive than unfurnished accommodation.

2. The suburbs are generally less expensive than the city centre, although everything depends on location.

3. Weigh up a larger home in a more distant location against increased travelling time and monthly cost, as well as perhaps inferior amenities - although that calculation can work in both directions.