Angoulême - any opinions?
Discussion
I'm once again looking at French houses, this time as a permanent residence rather than as a holiday home, as permanent remote working may well be a possibility post Covid.
The region around Angoulême seems on paper/internet to offer a lot for the money. It is on the TGV to Paris when we have to be back in London. You can get good decent houses for not much and it isn't far from Bordeaux which as a wine lover is a real bonus. As a petrolhead the Circuit de Remparts is a huge attraction as well, and I understand the whole area is popular with cycle tourists, etc. (These things are considerations both for living there and if we need to return to the UK and rent the house out as a Gite or AirBnB.)
Does anyone have any experience of the area and any tips to share?
Which direction is better to be looking at? South of Angoulême or north? Does it matter?
Should we aim for Dordogne?
Is there decent internet in the villages and towns yet?
Is it full of expats or still mostly French?
What's the weather like?
The region around Angoulême seems on paper/internet to offer a lot for the money. It is on the TGV to Paris when we have to be back in London. You can get good decent houses for not much and it isn't far from Bordeaux which as a wine lover is a real bonus. As a petrolhead the Circuit de Remparts is a huge attraction as well, and I understand the whole area is popular with cycle tourists, etc. (These things are considerations both for living there and if we need to return to the UK and rent the house out as a Gite or AirBnB.)
Does anyone have any experience of the area and any tips to share?
Which direction is better to be looking at? South of Angoulême or north? Does it matter?
Should we aim for Dordogne?
Is there decent internet in the villages and towns yet?
Is it full of expats or still mostly French?
What's the weather like?
Paul-427 said:
Cherval is where I live. It is not the prettiest village around but has a typical French style and feel. Although a number of Brits are around, there are still a large number of French, many of whom have been here for years.
Easy access to countryside as well as Angouleme, Riberac, Perigueux and Bergerac.
Countryside more rolling than closer to the coast so more Chateaux (Chateau's ?) and many other interesting sites to see.
Been here 6 years and have not had any problems with the locals etc, although my general comments on a previous post, still stand.
Ah that's interesting. Do you mind a couple of specific questions?Easy access to countryside as well as Angouleme, Riberac, Perigueux and Bergerac.
Countryside more rolling than closer to the coast so more Chateaux (Chateau's ?) and many other interesting sites to see.
Been here 6 years and have not had any problems with the locals etc, although my general comments on a previous post, still stand.
The Cherval house is the old forge / mechanics on the car park by the war memorial and bus stop. It looks like a strong option, but I have questions over the noise and pollution of the car park and the bus stop. What do you reckon?
Are the cafes and shops open all year round or is it a summer place?
For transport hubs I have Angouleme, Bordeaux and Bergerac. Am I missing other obvious towns?
All this info has been really helpful, and we've narrowed down the things we are looking for, sacked off some pipe dreams.
We've added the following towns to the list. Are there any we should really avoid?
Are there any you would say 'yes, live there!'
Chef Boutonne
Lesterps
Nontron
Mareuil
Ruffec
This is probably going to be a 5 year home, rather than a forever one, if that changes anything.
We've added the following towns to the list. Are there any we should really avoid?
Are there any you would say 'yes, live there!'
Chef Boutonne
Lesterps
Nontron
Mareuil
Ruffec
This is probably going to be a 5 year home, rather than a forever one, if that changes anything.
Paul-427 said:
Hi Sabastian
I know the property you are looking at, but have not been inside so cannot comment on that.
The carpark is very quiet and I think there maybe 1 or 2 buses a day, so noise and pollution is far from a problem !!
The Boulangerie and restaurant, Chez Hannah's are open all year round. There is nothing else here
The only other transport hub is Limoges.
Like most French villages, it is very quite although some may say dead lol
Hi Paul,I know the property you are looking at, but have not been inside so cannot comment on that.
The carpark is very quiet and I think there maybe 1 or 2 buses a day, so noise and pollution is far from a problem !!
The Boulangerie and restaurant, Chez Hannah's are open all year round. There is nothing else here
The only other transport hub is Limoges.
Like most French villages, it is very quite although some may say dead lol
Cheeky Q: We're having no response from the agents about this (Leggets of course!) If you happen to go past the place would you mind checking to see if there is a private sale ad in the window? I want to get a viewing organised.
Magooagain said:
Yes I saw someone there at the weekend.
It's Roberts and Paulette's house.
I've had some great times there over the years and I would often stop for a drink with him on my way home from work.
Things have got better in St Germain recently with the wine bar just opening and the new little chalet bar in the Champ Foire park.
The soil in the garden is fantastic for growing veg due to the years and years of river silt when in flood.
If you want any work done then I'm your man and I'm local.
Good luck.
That's amazing! When we get there we will have to meet up.It's Roberts and Paulette's house.
I've had some great times there over the years and I would often stop for a drink with him on my way home from work.
Things have got better in St Germain recently with the wine bar just opening and the new little chalet bar in the Champ Foire park.
The soil in the garden is fantastic for growing veg due to the years and years of river silt when in flood.
If you want any work done then I'm your man and I'm local.
Good luck.
It's a great little place with the potential to be even better. We're so happy to have got it.
We had a drink at the chalet bar after viewing the place, and sat by the river.
Ha ha, is it still up? The online adverts have all been taken down.
Yep, we've paid the deposit, compromis was signed and now we wait for the 60 days of nothing to happen.
Bourse Immobilier were a bit crap to be honest. They never replied to our calls on any properties they had (we bought this through Confolens Immo), so I expect that sign will stay up until we move in.
Yep, we've paid the deposit, compromis was signed and now we wait for the 60 days of nothing to happen.
Bourse Immobilier were a bit crap to be honest. They never replied to our calls on any properties they had (we bought this through Confolens Immo), so I expect that sign will stay up until we move in.
Doofus said:
You might want to check that colour change with the maire first...
We have friends who painted theers and only when they'd finished were they told to put them back to the brown colour they'd been previously.
Yes. It will definitely need a Déclaration Préalable. A few of the neighbours have a similar colour So hopefully it’s on the approved list. We have friends who painted theers and only when they'd finished were they told to put them back to the brown colour they'd been previously.
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