The first time I properly explored this part of northern France I confess to experiencing what I can only describe as a deep and creeping sense of who knew?
Where this Francophile had previously disembarked, then motored on through without so much as a sideways glance, convinced it was a thoroughly missable industrial and post-war sprawl, what I discovered was not only off-the-scale aesthetic virtue in terms of its land, sea and townscapes, but moreover, a distinct combination of community, culture and cool that I hadn’t encountered elsewhere in France.
I’m talking about the tip of France’s hexagon, the two départements of Nord and Pas-de-Calais (59 and 62, as they’re known respectively), bound together until 2016 as one region in their own right (Nord-Pas-de-Calais still rolls off the tongue to most French folk) but they are now joined to the area formerly known as Picardy, making a new region called Hautsde-France.
PROXIMITY AND LIVEABILITY
One of the biggest USPs of Nord and Pas de-Calais is their über-accessibility, with many expats looking to buy here not just because it’s closest to the UK (35 minutes by tunnel, 55 by Eurostar, 90 by ferry) but also — increasingly I’m discovering — because it’s the most sustainable option for anyone pledging to eschew air travel.
Holiday-homeowners too often report that they get far more use out of their investments here than if they’d bought in farther-flung parts of France.
Expat Tim Sage, who works with Leggett Immobilier tells me why Nord and Pas-de-Calais are ideal for commuters too: “A no-brainer!” he declares. “Property prices here tend to be lower than in Belgium or other parts of France [and typically 60-70% cheaper than in the UK], so people understandably choose to live here but work, let’s say, in Paris, London or Brussels.
Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av Living France.
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Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av Living France.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Guide To: Working For A Foreign Company
If your current employer is happy to let you continue working for them after you move to France, there are a number of rules and regulations to be aware of to ensure you stay on the right side of the law, as Catharine Higginson explains
On vintage soil
Life in the vineyards of Aude is a dream come true for Leicestershire-born Katie Jones who now successfully exports her wines back to the UK, as Brigitte Nicolas learns
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
What happens if you are buying a French property but can’t attend the completion meeting at the notaire’s office in person? Matthew Cameron explains how a power of attorney can be used and how it works
In safe hands
There can be few more unusual homes than the 11th-century Château de Clérans, situated close to the Dordogne river in the Périgord Pourpre region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE
Robin Ellis made his name as the original Captain Poldark but a diabetes diagnosis led the Tarn-based actor to add cookbook writing to his CV, as Richard Webber learns
My frugal France
Embracing modern technology could save you money and time on both the pleasures and essentials of life in France, says Laura Harley as she shares some of her favourite French apps
Hidden Talents
Moving to France enabled these three expats to switch off from busy careers and in turn discover new creative talents, says Gillian Harvey, who counts herself among them
Beauty to behold
With its legendary vineyards, charming old towns and rich gastronomy, Gironde is quintessential France at its best, as Alison Weeks discovers
AS SEEN ON SCREEN
A Dordogne town, a Charente city and a Pyrenean village all have a starring role in three new films hitting the big screen this year, joining a long list of French locations that have gone before them, as Vicky Leigh learns
A local's view
Trish and Mark Tyler run a beautifully restored chambres d’hôtes, set in six hectares of park and woodland near StÉmilion, which has a fascinating history
