Around 300 days of sunshine
Mild winters, long luminous summers and a life lived largely outdoors.
Your guide to moving to France
Could your next home be in South-West France?
Sunshine, the Atlantic coast, the Pyrenees and unhurried village life. Whether you are looking for a permanent move, a holiday home or a property investment, this is where to start.
Why South-West France
A region people choose — and rarely leave.
South-West France stretches from Bordeaux to Toulouse, from the Basque coast to the Dordogne valley. Life runs at a slower pace here: you eat outside for much of the year and you know the person who grows your vegetables.
British, Irish, Dutch and Belgian buyers have been settling in these departments for decades — for the space, the climate, the schools and the sheer quality of everyday life. This guide helps you do it properly.
Food and wine as a way of life
Farmers' markets, vineyards, duck, cheese and easy long lunches.
The Atlantic within two hours
Endless beaches, surf towns and fishing ports on the Basque and Landes coast.
The Pyrenees within three hours
Hiking, skiing, spa towns and mountain villages for a weekend away.
Property you can actually afford
Space, a garden, a pool — for a fraction of Paris, London or Amsterdam prices.
Family-friendly
Good schools, bilingual options in the larger towns and genuine village life.
Cities & areas
Four characters, one climate.
From the Bordeaux vineyards to the Basque beaches, every area has its own personality. One of them is yours.
Wine & elegance
Bordeaux
A UNESCO-listed city, the world's wine capital, two hours from Paris by train.
Aerospace & the pink city
Toulouse
France's fourth city: young, warm and an hour from the Pyrenees.
Ocean & identity
Basque Country
Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz: surf, strong culture, coastal living.
Countryside & authenticity
Gers & Landes
Rolling farmland, pine forests and stone villages — rural France at its best.
Your journey
From first idea to keys in the door.
Moving abroad raises a thousand questions. These are the four stages most families go through before they finally settle here.
- 01
Picture the move
Understand the region: climate, local economies, travel links and property market.
- 02
Come and look
A scouting trip to visit towns, meet locals and get a feel for daily life.
- 03
Choose your setting
Pick a commune, a plot of land, a school — the foundations of the new life.
- 04
Settle in
Building, removals and paperwork: from project to keys in the door.
Buying, building and investing in South-West France: advice, plots of land, builders and inspiration.
In partnership with our local builder
Thinking of building your own house here?
Our partner works with buyers living abroad: remote site supervision, temporary accommodation, concierge services and French paperwork handled for you.
See how it worksLet's talk
Tell us about your project
Tell us where you are in your plans. We reply with practical, local advice: areas, schools, timing, contacts on the ground — and, if you like, a scouting trip to see it for yourself.
axelrey31@gmail.com
South-West France