34 Leggett Magazine
Country life has never been more popular - more space, slower pace and more
for your money, whether as a holiday home or a new life. If you yearn for a
more laidback lifestyle, these four departments are sure to tempt.
Deux-Sèvres has a landscape of
charming villages, waterways, lush
green countryside and is home
to the Marais Poitevin, the 'green
Venice of France'. The north features
gentle rolling countryside, granite
stone houses, apple production,
cattle, and vineyards bordering the
Loire Valley. In the south, you'll
fi nd fi elds of sunfl owers, arable
farming, goat cheese production,
and picturesque villages.
The area is becoming
increasingly popular for the
climate - it is warmer than the
north without the extreme heat of
the south - its accessibility, space,
and aff ordability. Average property
prices are around €150,00, and
says local agent Maxine Enderby,
"you get a lot for your money.
Farmhouses with land for horses,
village properties, apartments in the
city of Niort, family homes, holiday
homes, gîte complexes, and B&B
properties - there's everything here.
With great amenities in the larger
towns and a slower pace of life in
smaller towns, this department has
a lot to off er."
The department has easy access
to the Vendée and the CharenteMaritime coast
and beaches. The
capital Niort is just one hour from
La Rochelle, and there are good
transport links to Paris, Bordeaux,
and nearby cities by road and rail.
WORDS: JANINE MARSH PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, KATEAFTER & ROB ATHERTON.
COUNTRY LIVING
Escape to the
country
Deux-Sèvres
Poitou-Charentes