It is a bit more complicated for early retirees as there’s a failure point in the existing French law. It all culminates with the feast of St Louis (the patron saint of Sète). A carnival lasting several days is held in mid to late August which bears the grandiose title of ‘World Championship’. Jousts are well attended and it’s best to book a seat on the temporary stands to get a good view. Or better still watch from a table at one of the many restaurants which line the sides of the Royal Canal. The finest seafood, local wine and unmatched entertainment – it’s a pretty unbeatable combination. When you move permanently to France, you become a French tax resident. It means your worldwide income has to be declared in France and is potentially taxable in France. The beautiful historic old town of Colmar in the Alsace region of France

While applying for a visa and residency, you will need private health insurance. After becoming a resident, you have three options: Major international airports such as Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris), Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (Nice), and Marseille Provence Airport (Marseille) provide direct flights to cities across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. Trains Toulouse is renowned for its higher education, with many universities, including one of the largest universities outside Paris. Toulouse is very much a city of education, research, students, and scientists. Saint GaudensFrance also has a pedigree for producing high-quality theatre, from Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit – which inspired US sitcom The Good Place – to the legendary Les Misérables . If the stage is where you belong, you can find a home at Paris’s Palais Garnier, The Royal Opera in Versailles, Lyon’s Théâtre des Célestins, and dozens of other gorgeous theatres all over the country.

It is a true cyclist’s paradise with world-class cycle routes where you can enjoy the famous e-bike tours of Marseille. If you’re not a big fan of steep hills, you’ll be pleased that much of Bouches-du-Rhône is relatively flat; cycling can be pleasurable for everyone.From travel guides to tours, books about France, learning French, great hotels and restaurants, history, culture, chateaux, cheese and cakes – and a few more of your favourite things! There are no Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated articles here, it’s authentic writing at its best, real experiences, real writing by real people. The Good Life France Magazine As well as lengthy lunchtimes, people in France also enjoy a legally mandated 35-hour working week. If you’re moving from Britain, that means at least a 13-hour reduction. It’s a win-win-win-win (or gagner-gagner-gagner-gagner ): work less, eat better, earn more, and increase the time you spend with your loved ones. Income Requirement: a monthly income equal to or greater than France’s minimum wage (SMIC), approximately €1,250 net (€1,500 gross) per month, or around €2,000 for a couple. For example, if you choose to live in a beautiful and mild Provence, be prepared for unbearably cold winters due to Le Mistral – a dry wind that blows down the Rhone Valley to central Provence for weeks on end, making winters surprisingly cold.