Buying a lifestyle
Recent research by the University of Bordeaux has revealed that the Dordogne is the most attractive inland department in France for British housebuyers. In a scientifically conducted survey it was discovered that 60% of British residents made their purchase because of the Dordogne lifestyle.
So what does this lifestyle consist of, in the minds of prospective buyers, or indeed in the minds of those of us who've taken the plunge?
Probably each person will have their own answer. My own opinion is that it's a mixture of factors, which combine to create a seductive alternative to life in the UK. Take the following ingredients:
- attractive countryside with low population density
- a pleasant climate, with summers that bit warmer than the UK
- good food and wine
- good health and education systems
Stir together and you have the beginning of the Dordogne lifestyle. To appreciate the real thing, you have to be eating foie gras in the open air, with a beautiful view spread out in front of you and a bottle of Bergerac wine on the table.
So just remember - when you're buying a house in the Dordogne you're buying a lifestyle as well...