By Colleen Mariotti, International Living,
As far as authenticity goes, the gas station shop sells local pâté and foie gras. Although the Perigord Noir region we explored has been well known for decades by the English, Dutch, and Belgians as a summer home locale, there is still a preserved peace that settles over the region even in its most popular corners.
Each day you spend in the Dordogne is a feast for the senses. The earthy aroma of the dewy mornings gracefully gives way to a gentle breeze kissing the endless fields. As we canoed past the kinds of castles dreams are made of, the whoosh of the crinoline from days gone by was almost audible.
I can’t help but think that the Dordogne feels like one of those places that people hide from others once they discover it. I could not think of another reason for it not being flooded with people from every corner of the world. It is unique, timeless, affordable, and precious.
It was shortly after our first few culinary experiences in Dordogne, that we started looking at real estate. The chateaux are classically elegant and in high demand but can still be purchased for under a million euro—which includes expansive property and outbuildings. We were looking for something a little more manageable and found a storybook stone cottage, on over an acre with a pool and mature garden, close to a quiet hamlet, for €250,000. We looked at a three-bedroom, two-bathroom village house in Bergerac that was priced at €170,000. The villages were the perfect combination of modern chic and traditional and the housing options reflected this balance beautifully.
Tags: beautiful places to live in, Dordogne region, expat lifestyle, france, gem location, retire abroad