Getting away from it all in rural France

Whilst a majority of would-be expats are happy to join an established expatriate community in their chosen country, others are feeling the call of the wild and searching for a rural retreat away from it all.

If you’re one of the second group, France could be the answer to your dreams of isolation in a rural setting. The country has a wide choice of sparsely populated areas, and properties are far cheaper than in its cities and suburban developments. Traditional stone cottages with enough land to get lost in, riverside properties and farmhouses set outside villages all cost around 50 per cent less than in more populated areas.

Nouvelle-Aquitaine province is home to the small town of Creuse, surrounded by green, rolling hills, cattle-strewn meadows and isolated lakes. House prices in the region are amongst the lowest anywhere in France at an average of €68,000 or less if the property needs renovation. For more than basic shopping, the main towns of Aubusson and Geuret give a choice of local shops and supermarkets as well as a variety of restaurants, and the great outdoors is easily accessible.

The countryside in Auvergne-Rhone-Alps was shaped untold millennia ago by a range of now extinct volcanoes bisecting the region. Set on the edge of France’s Massif Centrale, the rural areas are wild and beautiful, with peaks rising to 2,000 metres and covered in forests. The region’s capital is Aurillac, a charming, historic town with shady squares and narrow streets, and nearby villages are famous for their cheeses. Average real estate prices are around €89,000, far less than in more populated areas.

Rolling farmland, thick forests and almost 2,000 kms of waterways are all characteristics of the Haute-Marne region. It’s a haven for lovers of nature and delicious cheeses, with a country cottage costing less than €80,000. For those for whom getting away from it all is exactly that, the lower slopes of the Pyrenees mountain range are largely unspoilt, sparsely populated and home to prehistoric cave dwellings, ruined crusader castles and charming small villages. The capital, Foix, has just 9,000 residents and a home costs around €100,000 – a cheap price to pay for peace, quiet and stunning natural beauty.