EPISODE DATE: September 7, 2024

Guest Notes for Episode 510: A New Life in the South of France

Category: Provence

Discussed in this Episode

  • Valbonne
  • Cannes
  • Antibes
  • Sofia Antipolis
  • Mougins
  • French Riviera
  • Pont du Loup
  • Gorges du Loup
  • Gourdon
  • Chagall Museum
  • Matisse Museum
  • Nice
  • Monaco
  • Oceanographic Museum
  • Lerins Islands
  • Île Saint Marguerite
  • Île Saint Honorat
  • Picasso Museum
  • Saint Paul de Vence
  • Lerins Islands Sculpture Garden.

Renovating in The South of France

Buying in France

  • Not really buyers’ agents
  • Not really mortgages unless you move full time
  • The process of buying:
    • The offer
    • The Promesse
    • 10 days “cooling off”
    • Wait for Marie approval
    • Caution: Picking the right date to covert funds, and Wiring money from jointly owned accounts
    • Closing
  • Buildings and Syndicats, things to know

Renovation

  • The most important thing is to work with professionals
  • When you go to sell your house, you will need to legally attest to the renovations and provide all the paperwork for all the renovations, as well as all the warranties
  • The warranties.. Mandatory 10-year warranty (known as “garantie décennale”).
  • Don’t let language be a barrier, Google Translate and WhatsApp is just fine
  • The stores are different, there’s Castorama which is sort of like Home Depot, but always Googling to find like a place to buy TVs… Darty is decent
  • There’s Amazon and delivery but it’s a bit of a challenge in an old village, our front porch is the street

The Visa Process

  • Again, highly, highly recommend professionals
  • Allison Grant-Lounes from Your Franceformation is excellent
  • Entrepreneur visa, allows for a spouse
  • 1 year versus 5 years
  • Delays at the prefecture

Traveling with a dog

  • The first trip is the absolute most painful
  • Again, again, highly recommend a professional
  • Feathers and Fur Express https://ffexpresspets.com/ SAVED me completely
  • USDA sent me someone else’s paperwork, and they jumped in and Christmas Eve I got my paperwork to fly 12/26
  • Then, make a vet appointment and get a EU Pet Passport and you’re good to go back and forth as long as you get your rabies vaccines in EU
  • Do NOT let a US vet write in your EU pet passport or it will be invalidated
  • Check about vaccines in different regions. For example, you need Leishmaniasis vaccines and mosquito prevention

Valbonne and The Côte D’Azur

  • Google My Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=19IjvlvWd2RhNM2q9zB5XqSnRWTirr4E&usp=sharing
  • Hiking. Komoot; All Trails apps
  • Sophia Antipolis
  • Picasso Museum in Antibes
  • Chagall and Matisse Museum in Nice
  • Musee D’Archiologie de Nice, Roman Baths
  • Highly recommend Ile de Lerins, Lerins Islands, Underwater Sculptures, Monastery (see below)
  • Village of Mougins
  • Village of Gourdon
  • LOVE Gorges du Loup, Confisserie Florian, waterfalls and hiking
  • Eze and Monaco
  • For Monaco, be sure to visit VIEUX Monaco with the Jardin Exotique, Cathedral, Oceanography Museum
  • Best documentary of the area: Part 1&2: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8wrray

Restaurants

  • Relais de la Poste in Valbonne
  • Meat and Wine in Valbonne
  • The Little Green Cafe in Valbonne, now one in Grasse
  • AU VIEUX FOUR 4 Rue Basse, Gourdon, France. Incredible views and food.
  • Places des Arcades… great atmosphere, food is OK

The Lérins Islands, located off the French Riviera near Cannes, consist of two main islands: Île Sainte-Marguerite and Île Saint-Honorat. Here are the primary differences between them:

Île Sainte-Marguerite

  1. Size: It is the larger of the two islands.
  2. History: Known for its historical Fort Royal, which once held the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask prisoner.
  3. Natural Environment: The island has extensive pine and eucalyptus forests and several walking trails.
  4. Attractions: Apart from Fort Royal, there is the Maritime Museum, which displays shipwreck artifacts and other historical items.
  5. Facilities: More developed for tourism with cafes, restaurants, and shops.

Île Saint-Honorat

  1. Size: Smaller than Île Sainte-Marguerite.
  2. History: Known for the Abbey of Lérins, a Cistercian monastery founded in the 5th century. Monks still live and work there.
  3. Natural Environment: The island is less wooded and has vineyards maintained by the monks.
  4. Attractions: The Abbey of Lérins, old chapels, and monastic fortifications.
  5. Facilities: Limited commercial facilities as it is primarily a place of religious and historical significance. The monks produce and sell wine and liqueurs.

Common Features

  • Accessibility: Both islands can be reached by regular ferry services from Cannes.
  • Activities: Visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and exploring the natural and historical sites on both islands.
  • The coolest is the underwater sculpture garden

Overall, Île Sainte-Marguerite is more focused on historical tourism and natural beauty, while Île Saint-Honorat offers a more serene experience centered around its monastic community and historical significance.

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Category: Provence