NOUVELLE
Aquitaine
Can it really be sixteen years
ago that we set up home in
this glorious region? Time
seems to have flown by and I
definitely haven't tired of seeing
the glorious contrast of golden
sunflowers and deep verdant-green vines every
summer. Our family has developed deep roots
in the region and our social circle includes locals,
who stretch back generations, as well as fellow
"newbies" from further afield.
I was reminded of this when I read the latest
report from BNP Paribas, saying that almost one
in three homes bought by British buyers last
year were purchased in Nouvelle Aquitaine. Of
course the Dordogne leads the way in terms of
"where" they are buying, but the truth is that all
12 regions had their fair share of sales. Nouvelle
Aquitaine is the largest region in France, so it's
not easy to give you an accurate flavour of life
here in such a short article. As an example, the
Basque culture is hugely different to the more
We asked Maxine Enderby to tell us why the Nouvelle Aquitaine
region is so popular with both local and international buyers.
laid back life we lead here in the Deux Sèvres.
The language and dialect is indecipherable to me,
local dishes are more exotic and parties seem to
last longer into the evening! Even the beaches
seem to have a different character - my local
ones in Charente Maritime are safe, sandy and
family-friendly. Further south, around Biarritz,
they are a surfers' paradise, with adrenalin junkies
mixed in with the families and sun-seekers.
Indeed, le soleil is one of the major
attractions. The gulf stream ensures warm
summers and mild winters - as an example, the
regional capital, Bordeaux, receives well over
2,000 hours of sunshine every year. Speaking of
Bordeaux, this fabulous city is constantly being
voted one of the most attractive destinations in
Europe. The glorious architecture and booming
economy is boosted by the fact that the city
is surrounded by world-famous vineyards and
associated towns such as St. Emilion. Did you
know that there are over 7,375 different wine
châteaux in the region? And don't get me
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