Hello,

we are thinking of moving to the Poitou-Charentes. Can anyone help with advice on which area might suit us.

We love the peace and quiet but don't want to be too isolated and it would be nice to cycle to a little village to have a coffee and pick up some basic groceries. We love walking and history and I'd like to be able to socialise and make friends. (learning but don't speak french yet)
we both work part time from home so as long as we can get broadband we are ok.
It would be great to be able to drive to a beach or nice town within 45mins to an hour, where is lots to see and do.

I would be really grateful for any suggestions or helpful advice.

Chrissie

Hi, and welcome to the forum!
I can't help re the region, but be aware that you'd have to register as Auto-Entrepreneurs (self-employed) if you are both working from home, even part-time and even if your clients aren't in France. And each must register separately if you have different professions....
Your healthcare coverage would depend on what your business status is and a lot will depend on whether, as "we", you are legally bound or simply "friends". In the latter case, if you intend to buy property, get advice from the Notaire to ensure that you are both protected when one of you dies. Without taking precautions, the Inheritance Tax for the surviving partner is 60% of the value of the property and assets!
Others will come along with more info on healthcare coverage, and there are a lot of members in the Poitou-Charentes who'll recommend their favourite locations!

Hi,

Thanks for the tip concerning our business. It's a limited company over here, so I guess that is the same as being self employed? It's just myself and my husband. I will make sure to check that out.
I think I should do a check list of all the practical things to sort out and research too. It's so easy to just concentrate on the lovely stuff and forget about the reality of tax , health care etc. lol.

Thank again x

Hi Chrissie!
I live in South East Charente which is about 1.5 to 2 hrs from the coast, so that would rule out this area for you. I would rather concentrate on Charente Maritime if I were you, although house prices there are a little higher than here (natch, the attraction of the seaside!). There are one or two of us in Charente here, so if you have any specific questions, don't hestitate to ask!
Blackie

Hi Chrissie - welcome aboard.
I live in a small village near Ruffec, so also in the Charente.
You probably need to be more specific. But bear some things in mind - France is a BIG country. so if you go "remote" you will be quite a way away from anything. There are consequences to that.
Firstly many villages are losing their boulangerie, which often doubled as a small shop. That is a trend I can only see accelerating, unfortunately. so you probably need to be near a small town.
Broadband- France is big, so reception in rural areas is not always that great. I am told that when the new TGV from Boulogne is finished in a couple of years, they will have 4G all along the route, so that might help.
Access to UK. Being secluded carries other consequences - it can be a pain getting back to the UK - which we all need to do. For the older of us, getting back to see the kids. For the younger getting back to see the parents.
Prices near the coast are higher (although nowhere like the UK, unless you pick La Rochelle).

Any specifics feel free. We are quite a friendly bunch here. And some (not I) are incredibly knowledgeable

No, a limited company definitely isn't considered "self-employed" here! You should consult a French Expert-Comptable (Chartered accountant) who can best advise which business structure to choose. I used to have an SÃ rl (on my own) and can tell you from experience that the social charges and various taxes are crippling. The good news is that I contributed to healthcare and pension by being salaried, and am very happy now that I'm retired!

That's great thank you. Yes I will have a look at Charentes maritime, I wasn't sure if it would be too busy and touristy to live there? I love the peace and quiet and live in lovely countryside here. My nearest small town is 20 minutes by car and nearest shop for bread and milk about 8 minutes. So it's pretty perfect as I can dip in and out of civilisation. So I'm trying to replica the position I have here in France. The difference is I will have more time on my hands so I can be far more sociable and hope to meet new friends.

Thanks again for your help

Thankfully I'm the creative/arty brains behind the business and my husband deals with all the VAT etc. Phew! ha ha. so I've passed on your comments many thanks. He's going to love all the paperwork.

Thanks for the info. Yes you are right I could end up too remote. The edge of a small town would probably be a better idea. We will probably rent for 6 months first before committing to buying. We both are looking for a more chilled out lifestyle so by the time the 4G is up and running in a couple of years I have a good idea my husband will be on the golf course and I will be having coffee with new friends I have made. Oh..bliss

Hi I'm French and HAD to live for 5 yrs inPoitiers. I had to resist not to commit suicide. Impossible to make true friends there,even through the community onvasortir.com, sad area, not very exciting. I shared this opinion with some other people from other French places. When I was fired out last yr I immediately left to Vendée and don't regret at all. Good luck

Hi Nadine,

Thank you for your honesty. Is Charentes maritime any better?? I'm not tied to where I live so I'm trying to get as much information as possible. We are definitely hoping to make friends where ever we move too. So I'd appreciate any more information you could pass on.

Chrissie

Hello Chrissie
You have to know that within one "département" the landscape and people can vary a lot. Charentes martime is the only one close enough to the sea but that will be difficult from April on because of the numerous tourists, La Rochelle is a very attractive place, leading to ile de Ré too where you can cycle a lot. People call Ile de Ré the 21st "arrondissement de Paris". The advantage is La Rochelle has a small airport with Ryanair I think which can help. This north part of Charente Maritime is quite expensive too. I fell in love with a small city called Nieul-sur-mer 15 minutes north to La Rochelle but this was too much money for me to settle (I am single). Take a look at it anyway. Many good restaurants in La Rochelle, very cultural and famous for disagreable sellers.
A friend of mine lives in Saintes (south of the departement and complains about the people though she has always lived there. The good side is there are quite some Englsih people around that can be helpful when arriving to make friends.
There also is Ile d'Oléron not as posh as Ré and far cheaper but I don not know how it is to live there in the winter. Beaches are nice.The bridge is free from Rochefort while you pay for Ré (a lot)
I once talked to an English woman living in Vendée (where I live) and I was surprised to know there are somme around Challans bevause they like the country side but miss local busses and feel isolated when you have no car. Vendée has now over 600 km cycling paths. Maybe Ile de Norimoutier could please you.
To make friends and socialize, don't think of cafés. We are more into sports or associations. In my city: 1 out 3 has subscribed to an association, and 1 out 5 to the library where we can sit and read any magazine. This is how you will meet some people. Most cities are also twinned with foreign ones, don"t miss that to make your first friends.

Hi Chrissie,
We have a holiday home in Charente Maritime between Pons and Gemozac in a small hamlet. We are about 8km from both towns and 3 km from Champagnolle which has a boulangerie,corner shop/post office and a resto.
We are 20 minutes from the coast at Royan and about 10 minutes from the estuary. Also 20 mins from Cognac and Saintes.There is plenty of history in the region and it is not reliant on tourism although there are visitors in the summer.
we find it peaceful living amongst the vines and sunflowers in summer and most of our guests seem to like it too. La Rochelle airport is 55 mins north west and Bordeaux airport is 55 mins south. Being quite close to the sea it doesn,t get too cold most winters - Feb 2012 an exception!

Before we decided that this was the area for us we looked at alternatives but a visit in February clinched it - we also checked the Dordogne in February( belves area) and it was shut! Also there is good fresh seafood available in CM - very important to me!

Stay in Pons for a few days and have a drive about - you may be pleasantly surprised. Obviously it is not perfect and may not suit all but we like it and the natives seem friendly even if not very many speak any English.

Peter

Hi Pete,

Thanks so much for your post. I've PM ed you hope this is ok

Thanks Nadine, I've sent you a PM