Living in the Gers in South West France

Living in the Gers in South West France
By Helen Coles

We were lucky enough to find our new home in the Gers, Midi Pyrenees South West France. Having re-located to a little village only a stones throw from the Landes and Pyrenees Atlantique we benefit from all the beauty - physical and cultural of these departments. Within a five minute drive one can experience all the range of architectural styles apparent in these diverse regions. The striking beauty of the Barnaise house; the sturdy practical typical Landaise; the traditionally rustic Gersois farmhouses all add to the charm of this attractive southerly corner of France.

The department of the Gers, a relatively unknown corner of the south west, is easily accessible and not just from the UK. From the part of the Gers which borders the Landes it is just over an hours drive to the Spanish border. Within 35 minutes we are at Pau airport and are a comfortable drive from Toulouse; Bordeaux; Bergerac and Tarbes.

Ideally situated less than a couple of hours from the Atlantic or the Mediterranean and even closer to the ski resorts, no shortage of things to do in the holiday season and no need for manic packing to catch flights to the continent!

Living in this southerly corner of the Gers we only need to look out from the terrace of our house to see the majestic Pyrenees. We have such varied landscape in this part of France that working and living here is a pleasure with sun drenched valleys; rolling hills interspersed with attractive woodland; alongside the varied countryside we find all manner of wild life. Its quite the norm to spy wild boar in the fields and deer darting for the shelter of the woodland, birds of prey too impressively perched on branches along the roadside watching the world pass by.

The fields of sunflowers add a splash of bright colour among the crops of maize and field upon field of vines supplying this Gascony region with its fine wines; Armagnac and Floc. Gourmet restaurants found in even the most obscure of villages where talented chefs whip up delicious meals at ridiculously low prices.

There is something for every-one to enjoy here, traditional houses full of character with outbuildings and acres of land or the more modern town or village house with easy to maintain gardens and within walking distance of the local boulangerie.

The summer season sees the villages spring to life with ftes which run throughout the summer evenings a blaze of colour and music in the lovely warm evenings and under superbly starlit skies.

After extensively travelling throughout France to find the ideal spot to re-locate to Helen and family settled on the border of the Gers; Landes and Pyrenees Atlantique. Their extensive travelling around France gave them the confidence and experience which led them to establish their company, through which they are helping other people re-locate within these areas.

You can find out more by visiting their website at =>http://www.jdvproperties.com

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