France - Languedoc Escape to the Continent

150 years ago, the beautiful vineyards behind me were

ravaged by millions of parasites, devastating the land and the people.

Find out what happened and where I am in just a moment.

Today's buyers are taking their continental love affair

one step further with plans afoot to create a new life together

across the Channel. It's very romantic, isn't it, Jill?

-Oh, absolutely, darling.

-Yes.

But their starry-eyed fantasy may need to move with the times.

It's really hip, but how hip are you two?

I think the word hip

is not what you would automatically describe me as being!

I'm in the South of France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region,

and this area produces more wine than anywhere else in the world.

That's more wine than Australia, Bordeaux, South Africa

and Chile all put together.

But in 1875, the French economy was plunged into turmoil when a deadly

parasite was unwittingly brought into Europe on American vines.

Thankfully, the vineyards have been replanted

and the economy shot back up.

And now, here, they produce a third of all French wine.

That's around two billion bottles every year.

Right down on the Spanish border

and stretching across an area from the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees,

Languedoc-Roussillon covers a wild and massive 10,000 square miles.

A sunbaked region of vine-covered hills, wide, sandy beaches

and pretty, historic villages,

Languedoc owes much of its roots to the Romans.

It was on this rugged French terrain

around 19 BC that they built Pont du Gard,

an astonishing three-tier aqueduct that rises

some 50 metres above the river's deep valley.

Whilst one foot is in the past,

the other is firmly investing in the future

as Languedoc's capital, Montpellier,

is world-renowned for academic excellence as well as the arts.

This energetic city is also home to the most modern

and stylish tram networks in the country,

dynamically decorated by the French fashionista Christian Lacroix.

With contrasting cultures, construction

and landscapes fringed by over 100 miles of coast,

Languedoc-Roussillon makes a fascinating foundation

from where to set up home with the added bonus

of some 300 days of glorious sunshine every year.

The great news is, it's good value for money in France.

The average house price in this region is about £160,000,

which is £100,000 cheaper than the national average back home.

But, of course, you pay depending on the area that you want to live in.

So if it's a coastal view you're after, expect to pay a 30% premium.

But what is it about this region that's attracted our buyers?

Let's meet them to find out.

Milton Keynes-based retirees Dave and Jill

aren't averse to a challenge when it comes to setting up home.

They decided the best way to get the right house that would

fit their large family was to start from scratch and build it.

We have four daughters, the youngest two of which are twins,

and we wanted them all to have the same size room.

The only way we could get that, affordably,

was basically build our home.

-We've never regretted it but I don't think we'd do it again!

-No.

I think it's a one-off.

After ten years in their custom-designed home,

their daughters are now grown up and they've set their sights

on the next property adventure, this time in southern France.

Well, last year, after having visited Le Grau-du-Roi,

and we also went to Aigues-Mortes and various other places around there,

all in the Languedoc region, we thought, right, this suits us fine.

It's got a lot to offer. The beaches are absolutely out of this world.

We also picked up all those estate agent brochures

and we looked at the prices and they were affordable.

So I think that that whet our appetite for the area.

Dave has recently retired from his work in electrical engineering

and Jill from primary school teaching,

so now they have more time to focus on their shared passions.

We both play boules.

We think it's quite a nice Sunday afternoon, seeing everybody.

I don't think I'd probably wear a beret or not,

but we might go for that eventually!

And this Francophile pair are so committed to crossing

the Channel, it seems it won't be long before berets are,

indeed, a permanent fixture.

We're not after going somewhere where there's tourists,

British, Italian or whatever.

We want to meet the French.

It's actually Jill's long-held dream to relocate to the mainland, and

she's already brought some French flavour into their current home.

I've always cooked everything from scratch.

Some things are a success and some things aren't such a success.

What French things do you particularly like that I do?

-Well, the moules.

-Yes.

We eat quite a lot of mussels done in lots of different ways, don't we?

-All the different sauces, yes.

-And also coq au vin.

-You love things in a red wine sauce.

-And the snails, yes.

-Yes, the snails.

-I'd eat anything French, yes. French cheeses.

Yes, we do that a lot, don't we? Put camembert in the oven.

That's quick and easy, isn't it?

They've clearly embraced rustic French flair in the kitchen

and in their recreational pastimes,

so the final step is to actually move out to their beloved France.

And when it comes to the new house, it must be equally a la mode.

Enjoying that? I like character.

I don't really want the bland, modern home. It's got to feel French.

I'd like to feel that when I'm in the home, that I'm in a French house.

All the windows will be shuttered.

There could well be a gravel drive leading up the front to it.

There will be vines.

It must have a swimming pool

and probably a minimum of half an acre, landwise.

Sounds like they're after a pretty impressive property,

-and luckily, they have the funds that should fit.

-Cheers!

Our budget for the move is between £500,000 and £650,000.

Our couple want to relocate to Languedoc but are yet to

pinpoint an exact location within this expansive region.

And now they've arrived in France, we're all meeting up

to find out more about their prospective migration.

Jill, Dave, I should say, welcome back to France!

Well, yes, we've been here a few times.

-How many times have you been here?

-Lost count, probably.

-Yes. Loads!

Why do you want to live in this particular region?

The weather, I think.

Yes, and the proximity to the Med

because we are planning on buying a boat, so that is a priority.

-So we don't want to be too far from the sea.

-I like Dave.

He's instantly got his priority in there! There's a boat, Anita.

-It's not just a property. A boat!

-A boat as well, yes.

-Noted.

What about these four gorgeous daughters?

You'll be leaving them behind, upping sticks,

-coming to a foreign land.

-We're going to France.

-We're not going to the moon!

-As long as we see one another regularly.

And what are you looking for from this property?

Two studies, cos he's always moaning at me

that I'm messing up the computer.

So that would mean we'd probably have to use bedrooms as studies.

And we've come to the conclusion we need four,

and then downstairs has to have a large kitchen, which we're

prepared to make larger, ie we'd be knocking down a wall, if necessary.

-We're flexible on the internals.

-Yes.

We want not to be isolated, so within a community.

-And we'd like to take part within that community.

-Yes.

-Are you ready?

-Yes.

-Absolutely!

-Shall I take you to the first one?

-Please do, yes.

-Absolument!

-Follow me. Very good. This way.

For a top budget of £650,000,

our buyers are looking for a traditional French home

that offers four bedrooms, a spacious kitchen/diner in a large

plot of land that has a swimming pool.

They're up for a little remodelling to get the property just right,

but the location must be within an hour of the sea.

And we've got an arresting assortment of beautiful

French houses that will take our buyers right through

the property ages, including the mystery house,

where the present joins forces with the past.

And one of these enticing houses will be guaranteed to become

Jill and Dave's home sweet home for the short haul, at the very least.

For the first property, we're starting just over

half an hour's drive from the coast in the village of Peret.

Set amidst vast, verdant agricultural land,

Peret is a small and quiet village with many historic buildings

a fading grandeur, which house a number of essential amenities,

including a general store with a butcher's,

a baker's and a post office.

The house lies within walking distance of the shops

and epitomises rustic French style, so I'm hopeful

that it's somewhere Dave and Jill will feel really at home.

-And this is the first property.

-Very nice.

Well, it's got what we wanted - shutters, stone walls.

-It's picture perfect.

-Does the blue sky come guaranteed with it?

You know more about France than I do, Jill.

I can see myself here straightaway, from the outside.

For the rest of your time here in France,

-this is where you'll be staying.

-Ah! You've got to be joking?

-No, deadly serious.

-Certainly get the feel for it, then.

-What do you think?

-Different. Very different.

-I think that's a wonderful idea.

-Makes sense, doesn't it?

-Absolutely great!

-Good.

-What do you think, Dave?

-Well, it makes sense.

-I really didn't expect anything like this.

-He-he-he-he-he!

It was built in 1800. That's what it says on the deeds.

-I would never have believed that.

-I thought it was younger than that.

I mean, that's not a bad thing, don't get me wrong.

-But I would never have thought it was that old.

-No.

-I can't wait to go in.

-Excellent. Shall we do it?

-Certainly, yes.

We'll go through the front door.

This wonderfully spacious 200-year-old stone-built property

will be David and Jill's base during the house search.

The accommodation spreads itself over three floors

and was completely renovated in the late '90s.

We're beginning the tour in the main reception rooms

on the ground floor, where there's an L-shaped dining

and living area as well as a fully fitted country kitchen.

-Now, this is the dining room.

-Right.

-That's the kitchen, through there.

And you wanted something old, you wanted something charming,

-with character.

-With the beams, yes.

-Aren't they amazing?

-That is a working open fire.

-A wood burner, yes.

-Spectacular, isn't it?

Yes. We like that, don't we? Yes.

Well, it's certainly got loads of character.

I love the fact that you've got part stone, part painted.

I like doors with glass in. We're used to that, aren't we?

-They're nice, the tiles.

-Yes, we love that, don't we?

-Well, there's lots more to show you.

-Oh, can't wait!

-Are you ready to go upstairs?

-Yes, yes. Fine, thank you.

-This way.

-Good vibes so far.

-Good.

The wooden staircase from the reception areas take us

straight up to the first floor,

where a large study leads straight into the beautiful master bedroom.

Don't hit your head! Come through.

Come through, come through to this magical room.

You can tell that this is an old building when you see those beams.

When you see the shape of the roof, etc, yes.

With that stunning view to wake up to every morning.

But it's a really decent-sized double

and I love the fact that it's got a sloping ceiling cos it gives it

so much height, so it'll be nice and cool in the summer.

On this floor, you've also got a single bedroom

but could be used as another study.

There's also a really decent-sized bathroom with

lots of storage in it, all on this floor.

-I mean, this is a lovely sized room.

-It's very romantic, isn't it, Jill?

-Oh, absolutely, darling.

-Yes.

Well, there's lots more to show you, so follow me. There's more this way.

Be careful.

The final floor is back downstairs

and down again to the lower ground floor, where a separate

entrance takes us into completely self-contained quarters.

-This living room.

-This is different.

-It is, isn't it? Good different?

Yes, again, it's a good size.

So on this floor, you have two really decent-sized double bedrooms

-with their own ensuite shower rooms.

-Right.

And then, this is a living area

for whoever might have been staying here.

It means you have a perfectly self-contained area

for your daughters, for any guests, for any friends.

Carrying on in the style we would like.

-I have saved, in my opinion, the best till last.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Come with me.

-Can't imagine what you're going to show me.

-Time will tell.

-Come on. This way.

-You lead the way.

Through this beautiful garden to this.

That view is just priceless.

It's gorgeous.

Now, below you, you've got the garden with a swimming pool.

This property comes with quite a lot of land.

It comes with 0.8 of an acre and it's quite wild

and quite rugged but you could pretty it up.

I could see us sitting out here with the sun shining in. Yes.

-South-facing.

-Spot on.

Now, the one thing you don't know about the house yet is the price.

-I'll hazard a guess at 525,000.

-525. Jill?

I think it's on for £550,000.

OK. It's actually on for less.

So the whole house, with the view and the pool and the land,

is currently on at £477,000.

I want you to go off, I want you to explore the house on your own,

really get into all the nooks and crannies,

-discuss it amongst yourselves and I'll catch up with you shortly.

-OK.

-OK? Off you go.

-Thank you very much. Thank you.

-Enjoy.

-Thank you.

So the price is really good because they can save a lot of money,

Dave can buy his boat, but is this necessarily the house for them?

I don't know yet.

At over £100,000 under budget,

property number one is a detached stone-built house

across three floors with many historic, characterful features.

As a whole, it offers four bedrooms, open-plan living and dining areas,

paved terraces, an infinity pool and just under an acre of land.

First impressions on seeing the house were very positive.

It fulfilled all the criteria we'd suggested, which was possibly

a stone facade, shutters, nice roof tiles and a typical French look.

And it certainly came up trumps on that score.

It's an unexpected property insofar as it's on different levels,

it's an older house than I thought it was.

When I found out it was 1800s, I couldn't believe that.

I think that's lovely.

The one big concern I've got is that two of the bedrooms

are downstairs and not attached to the main body of the house,

so the only way of getting into them is actually go out,

down a set of stairs and into them, which is not ideal.

Right. Well, house tour number one completed.

-Are you still happy to stay here?

-Absolutely.

-Very.

-You going to make the most of it?

-I think so.

Dip in the pool could be on the orders, yes?

-That sounds a good idea to me.

-Brilliant.

I want you to do some local things as well.

I know you will as well, cos you're up for all of that.

-And I will catch up with you in the morning.

-OK, then.

-Great.

-Have fun.

-Thank you very much, then. Bye.

-Bye. See you.

-Bye.

Jill and Dave are now on their own

and have three whole floors of this fascinating property to investigate,

which will be their home for the duration of the property search.

Well, this is an odd shape, isn't it? It's obviously small.

-Smaller than we're used to, yeah.

-And you know what I would say.

-I need a new kitchen!

-Yes.

I was going to say, yeah, basically take it all down and start again.

Yes. Come on. Let's explore the rest.

Ooh! It's bigger than I thought.

I thought it was just going to be like that.

-Much, much longer, isn't it? Yes.

-Oh, look at the showerhead!

-Yes, very French hotel showerhead, yes.

-You love those.

And it's not long before Dave finds the perfect spot to unwind

-and contemplate the house hunt so far.

-Dipping the feet in the water.

-I'll join you.

-Cool off in the pool at the end of the day.

-You enjoyed today?

-A tiring day of house hunting.

I've liked what we've seen today. Feeling quite positive about things.

-I hope you are.

-Yes, yes.

-Good.

I'm going to feel positive about having a dip in here

tomorrow morning before breakfast.

Our buyers are waking up to their first morning

in the pretty countryside of Peret

and they're kickstarting the day with fresh fruit and pastries out

on the terrace that looks out onto Languedoc's breathtaking scenery.

-Did you sleep well last night, then?

-Yeah, it was lovely. Very nice.

-Very quiet.

-Could get used to this.

I'm sure you could, and I could if you made breakfast for me.

-I could manage that one, yes.

-Go down to the local shop.

That baguette is lovely.

After a decadent breakfast bathed in the sunshine,

it's about time we got back to the business of properties.

The next location is 12 miles from the Mediterranean Sea

in the ancient town of Beziers.

With roots in the first century BC,

the historic Beziers is a larger, busier town centred on a wide,

tree-lined avenue with cafes and restaurants.

History may surround you here,

but when it comes to the property we've picked, we're taking a punt

and jumping a couple of centuries into the future for this one.

On the outskirts of the town in a quiet, residential street,

the property is up in an elevated spot

with a rear view that commands an outstanding panorama,

so where better to create the best first impressions?

Winding our way around to here

-because this is the next property.

-To the eye, very pleasing.

That's the immediate impression, yes.

-I'm already thinking what I could do with it.

-What's that?

I think it needs colour, but the style is French.

-And you can Frenchify it even more.

-Yes.

It's not as old as maybe you'd like. It's built 30 years ago.

I mean, the age of the property's not a problem

if it's the right property.

Well, there's lots more to see inside

-and I can't wait to show you it, so shall we go and do that?

-Indeed.

Why not? OK.

Built in 1983, the interior of the second option

is a far cry from the old stone property Jill

and Dave are currently staying in, so I'm eager to see what

they make of its more modern and unconventional layout.

In we come...

..into this rather open and, I would describe, tres chic living area.

Loads of space. You've got the dining room behind you.

It's very open-plan.

The beautiful views out across in front of us.

The fireplace that works.

-It does help.

-I like the different levels.

Also on this floor you've got a study.

You've got quite a large bedroom

that they're currently using as a master bedroom.

All of it looking out on to your garden and to that view.

-Not bad, huh?

-Yes.

Was it what you're expecting, Dave?

In a word, no.

It's not very French inside, to my mind.

It's got space, which is what we want. It's got lovely views.

Very modernistic.

-I don't like open-plan.

-Right.

So we might be putting a wall or two back in.

It's just too open.

You don't know where one room supposedly starts, another finishes.

I think we like a distinct wall or a door between rooms.

And also, we like to do different things at the same time

and I'll have my music blaring away

and Dave certainly doesn't want to be able to hear that.

I know you love to cook, Jill, so let's take you both to the kitchen.

-I can't wait.

-It's this way.

And into the kitchen.

Decent size.

Particularly because it's got that through dining area

on the other side which has got loads of height.

it's quite a blank canvas in here.

I like that, cos then you can put your mark to it.

You don't want something that's completely finished

and untouchable, really.

That ties up all the downstairs accommodation,

but as well as the ground floor master en suite, there are

four bedrooms in total and the remaining three all lie upstairs.

Come into this bedroom.

Really decent-sized double bedroom.

Nice big storage cupboard.

The fantastic view out of that really charming window.

It's a good size. We can do what we want with it, basically.

I agree with you, yes.

On this floor, you've got two bathrooms, decent sized,

and three bedrooms

that you could do any which way you want. Have a couple of studies.

Have one study. Have two spare rooms. However you want to do it.

You've seen that there's lots of rooms in this house.

There's also a beautiful garden that I'd love to show you.

-So, this way.

-OK.

All in all, I'd say we've received a pretty lukewarm response to

the internal tour of this more modern house.

But hopefully another chance to get into the sunshine

will brighten the mood.

And there's plenty to smile about in the large garden

with lawned terraces, a covered barbecue area,

mature trees and the all-essential swimming pool.

You've got half an acre of land attached to this property.

And quite a beautiful garden.

Garden-wise I think it's spot on, near enough.

So let's talk about price.

I think I would put a price tag of...£560,000.

I'm going to go a tad higher, 575.

You're not far off.

It's actually on at £585,000.

I'd like you to go back in there, have another wander around,

take it all in and we'll catch up in a bit.

-Thanks a lot.

-Off you go.

Once again hugely under budget,

this second property is a spacious open-plan villa that also offers

separate rooms including a large kitchen/diner,

a study, as well as four bedrooms.

Outside, the generous grounds feature fabulous far-reaching views

and a swimming pool.

This is lovely.

This is a fair size. Yes.

We weren't looking for something so modern.

We're after much more of a traditional look

which unfortunately this property didn't provide.

I want to live in a home which not only from the outside looks French

but also has French characteristics inside.

I like for instance the French doors and I like the beams.

It doesn't have to have beams, but those are sort of French

characteristics that this property unfortunately doesn't have.

I think we're exactly in agreement with this property that

unfortunately it's not for us.

The house looks very different on the outside

to how it is on the inside.

-Very much so.

-Lots for you to think about.

-Have you seen enough?

-I think so, yes.

-I have too.

-Then follow me this way.

Jill and Dave have rather rustic ideas about bricks and mortar.

But as they've just seen,

there's more to French design than provincial farmhouses.

And architectural innovation perfectly complements

1,000 years of tradition in the region's cosmopolitan capital

Montpellier, which is also a hotbed for artistic progression.

So, keen to learn more about Languedoc's diverse arts

and culture, we've arranged for our buyers to visit the workshop

of Frederic Chaudiere, one of the city's elite group of luthiers

who've revived the practice of violin-making.

-Hello.

-Bonjour, Frederic.

-Bonjour.

-Hello.

I'm Jill and this is my husband Dave.

-Bonjour, Frederic.

-Pleased to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

This is a lovely workshop. Wow.

Everything is done in this room.

No machinery, just hand tools.

-Wood, glue, varnish.

-That's incredible.

I would have thought you'd use some form of machinery.

No, we don't.

The first record of violin makers in Montpellier dates back to

the late 18th century.

But with the changing fashion for recorded music,

the tradition had died out in the 20th century.

The process starts with maple boards which are joined together

to form the main body.

A violin shape is then traced onto the boards

and sawn out before the wood is hollowed and refined.

-Do you use sandpaper?

-We don't. But we have our scrapers.

This is steel.

The control you get with this kind of tool is far better

than with sandpaper.

You take that.

Oh, look at that. See if you can do it.

-You have to press quite hard?

-Yes.

-You want to have a try?

-OK.

That's great.

The front plate is usually spruce

and is sandwiched to the back with the ribs which are the curved sides.

Then, once the neck has been added

and the complete form has been created, the violin is varnished.

What's important with the varnish is first of all, with transparency.

So it has to be as dark as possible.

Beautiful, yes.

And has to apply smoothly.

And has to be resistant to rubbing,

to sweat, to moisture.

Do you ever play any of these instruments?

Actually, I don't. It's a job in itself to play the violin.

The skill and satisfaction of this craft is to create an instrument

that will retain its excellence for generations.

But the real pleasure is listening to it being played.

Frederic has organised a trio from Montpellier's national orchestra

to give an exclusive performance of the aria

from Bach's Goldberg Variations in the small concert hall downstairs.

The next property lies in Magalas which will take our buyers

just a little further inland and so a bit further away from the sea.

And there's a good selection of essential amenities within

the small town of Magalas which is a short walk away from the house

we've lined up.

Let me introduce you to the next property.

Now that is a whole lot of house.

I think it's excellent.

Give me a high-five on that, Jill.

Lovely. Good reaction.

-How about you?

-Yes, I would agree.

It's very good looking from this aspect, yes.

How old do you think it is, Dave?

-1920s, '30s.

-Older.

I would say...1880.

-I don't want to take the sheen off it, but it's five years old.

-Is it?!

-It's a baby.

-We're the experts.

-It looks old.

-It does, doesn't it?

It's been designed

and built specifically by the owner who is a builder himself.

-Are you ready to go in?

-I'm looking forward to it.

-Definitely.

-Come on then, this way.

The requested checklist is all there from the outside, with a long

gravel driveway, shuttered windows and climbing vines.

But this property will really challenge Jill and Dave's

preconceptions of French style because although it is very French,

and very stylish, it certainly isn't rustic.

In you come.

Straight into this huge lounge, kitchen, dining area.

It's really hip. But how hip are you two?

I think the word hip is not what you would automatically describe me

-as being!

-And I say I'm not at all.

-No, definitely not, no.

-But, erm...

-What do you think?

We've got the old and the new within the same eyeline,

and it takes a bit of getting used to.

Jill, you're the one who does all the cooking,

so what do you think of that kitchen? Is that appealing to you?

No. Because Dave knows that I won't have stainless steel.

-No, we're not particularly keen on stainless steel, no.

-Why not?

I don't like it. We've never ever had anything quite like that, have we?

There is nothing English, nothing country cottage,

nothing old about this.

-That is a very modern, sleek...

-Yes.

As I said, it's hip.

I mean, look at the way, the floor, it's got a resin floor.

-It's lovely, it's beautiful.

-I like the floor, yeah.

-It's beautiful.

Yeah. This is about having lots of friends or family round, music on,

someone cooking over there, it's very chatty, it's very informal.

But again it's whether you're used to that style of living.

If we had the four children here that might be different,

but I don't think they're going to come every weekend.

Let's go and have a closer look at the living area.

A very different feel, and they've managed to cut it off

by putting the sofa the way it is.

But again it's about whether this is your way of living.

Well, we'll be spending a lot of time in this room, yes.

-It's our future, isn't it?

-Yes.

I mean, this area on its own, divided from the kitchen area,

I think would be fine.

But I can't really see myself sitting over there and Jill

cooking away with the noise, the clangs, the smells etc, etc.

-With my music on and you trying to watch television.

-Yes.

I had high hopes cos outside was...

It looked totally different

to what the inside is actually looking like, yes.

'Regrettably, it's clear that the beautiful through living

'and kitchen zones just aren't working for Jill or Dave,

'but there's plenty more to see on the ground floor, with walls

'and doors, including an office,

'separate utility room

'and a huge swanky bedroom en-suite.'

And in you come into, I think you have to agree,

quite a spectacular master bedroom.

Just look at the two French doors leading out onto that gorgeous,

gorgeous garden. Wake up in the morning

and dive straight into that pool.

-Straight in, yes.

-Yes! I have to agree, yes.

Fantastic high ceilings, it's got the beams.

I don't know if the beams are real or not

but I would like the wood to show.

This is beautiful, it's very nice.

It's just not to my taste.

This is a French house built by a Frenchman to a very French design.

Yes, but not OUR French design. Not an old French design.

It's too modern for us.

'It's really surprising that this property continues to disappoint,

'despite the very impressive style and dimensions.

'Upstairs, the polished finish continues,

'with four more en-suite bedrooms.

'One is being used as a gym and store room,

'and the other three are all great sized double rooms,

'creating bags of space for visiting family and guests.

'We're making our way back outside to the elegantly landscaped

'south-facing garden that has two paved terraces

'and a rather inviting pool.'

Now the property comes with just over half an acre of land

and this rather wonderful secluded garden,

cos you've got really mature trees all the way around.

-What do you think?

-Brilliant.

I don't think we could ask for any more for the garden or the pool.

So, Jill, how much do you think this house is priced at?

I'm going to pitch it at £570,000.

-Dave?

-I think we've got to push up from that figure.

I'll plump for £610,000.

-It's actually on at around £650,000.

-Oh, my.

Right.

Oh, I'm taken aback there, yes.

With all that in mind, go back in there,

have another look around, explore the upstairs.

-There's a huge double garage to look at.

-OK.

Thanks a lot. Okey-doke.

Right on budget, this immaculate, newly built property

is a whimsical combination of traditional charm

with a tres chic design.

It has a huge ground-floor reception with a modern kitchen

and living room, five en-suite bedrooms

and a private landscaped garden with a swimming pool.

When we arrived, we commented on the gravel drive

and when I saw the front of the house,

I thought it was a old typically French-styled home

and it was excellent, everything I could have wished for.

Once you come over the door,

your eyes cast around the room,

you've two separate bits of the downstairs -

the olde worlde, with the lovely fireplace,

and then your eyes swing to the right and you've got this

stainless-steel kitchen,

and to my mind, the two just do not gel.

All the bedrooms were a very good size.

The one that leads out onto the pool through the French doors,

that's like a five-star hotel.

The pool is like something Cleopatra could have jumped into.

It's bang on for a pool.

I'm not great on these kidney-shaped pools.

A rectangular one looks nicer, easier to maintain,

-and it was a good size.

-All in all,

there's very little I suppose you could say that doesn't please me,

except that I would say it's a bit too modern for me.

The intrepid house explorers.

-Return.

-Return! Exactly.

Are you done?

-Yes.

-We are indeed, yes.

-This way, then, please.

-Good.

Staying at the first property back in the village of Peret

for the duration of the search gives Jill and Dave

a chance to thoroughly explore the house as well as the land.

-Very quiet. Lovely oak tree behind you.

-Yes.

I did say that's the one thing I wasn't going to do.

I've done gardening all my life.

-This is a bit more than gardening. This is forest clearance.

-Yes.

You could get your own wood, couldn't you?

We can chop our own trees, I assume.

-You'd have to be careful, chop the right ones down.

-Yeah.

Away from the property, our buyers can also suss out the neighbourhood

and sample the local restaurants.

Is this the sort of thing you were expecting,

as a French resident, for want of a better term?

I feel very much at ease with it all.

-I hope you do, cos if you're happy, I am.

-Yes.

What do you think of what you've seen so far?

-From what I've seen, I think it's ideal.

-Yes.

With Languedoc's vast fertile plains of vineyards,

the hillside village of Saint-Pons-de-Mauchiens

rises majestically on the landscape.

Legend has it that this picturesque circular village

took its name from a local lord who lived here centuries ago

and was savaged by his guard dogs. As he lay dying,

it's said that his last words were, "Mauvais chiens!",

which translates to "bad dogs".

Today, it's a far more civilised place to reside

and is home to British expats Bob and Amanda,

who relocated here from Norfolk over a decade ago,

so we've arranged for them to share their experiences with Jill and Dave

over a very French pastime.

-Hello, there!

-Bonjour.

-Bonjour, bonjour.

Bob, Amanda, lovely to see you.

-Meet Jill and Dave.

-ALL: Hello.

Bonjour.

These two have lived here for 13 years.

I thought it'd be good for you two to spend some time together

-and maybe play a game of petanque. Are you competitive?

-Very.

-How about you guys?

-Indeed we are.

This should be interesting. Best of luck. I'll see you shortly.

Petanque is played all over France, and almost all towns and villages

have a bouledrome.

The modern game was created in the early 20th century,

and the first petanque tournament was held in France in 1945.

Since then, the game has become

one of the most-practised style of bowls in the world

but is a sport naturally dominated by the French.

What's the difference between boules and petanque?

The game is called petanque - or pet-ank as they say down here -

and it's played using boules

on a bouledrome,

but the actual game itself is called petanque.

We play it with boules and a cochon, or pig,

and, basically, the simple idea of the game

is to get the boule as close to the cochon as possible.

-Shall we have a go?

-Why not? Yes.

We want to throw the cochon itself,

so we want to get it between six and ten metres,

something like that,

and then the team that's thrown the cochon

then have the first go at throwing the boule.

OK. And now it's your turn.

Throw it again, a little less hard.

That's better. Oh, my goodness me.

JILL: Is that good or bad?

AMANDA: That was good, except the cochon has now moved.

And he's done it!

So what we do is, we look at who is the closest boule now.

Although they are similar, that one I'd say was closer.

So that one is ours, so that means it's one point.

-Un point!

-Un point! Absolutely.

You keep going until you get to 13.

Ohh!

Is it something you play often, Bob?

If you're looking for a way to get into the local community,

meet the locals, this is an excellent way doing it.

After some friendly competition, the two teams are rejoining me

on the terrace at Bob and Amanda's home,

where I've already made myself comfortable

with some coffee and croissants.

How was it?

-Lovely. Very good.

-Good.

-Who won?

-We did.

-We did!

Well, I think it's important that you dig a bit deeper

about the reality of living in France

so, Amanda, just tell us a bit about some of the pitfalls

that they should be looking out for when they get here.

There are pitfalls not everybody thinks about,

especially if you're retired,

and you're moving out here to your pension,

so you need to be very aware of exchange rates.

-Yeah.

-Because you can actually think,

"Oh, well, we've got enough money to live on,

"we can be comfortable,"

and then, suddenly, the exchange rate will go horribly wrong

and then you're thinking,

"Crumbs, I'm going to have some problems this month."

What about the cost of living once you're out here?

I find it rather expensive now.

Food bills are always quite frightening.

I do notice, on occasion, when I go back to England

and you go into the supermarkets,

the choice you have in English supermarkets

is very different to the choice you have here.

Here, it tends to be fruits and vegetables that are in season.

Meat's pretty expensive here.

What about cars? How are you finding the price of petrol

and obviously all the repairs and maintenance?

Car insurance here in France is considerably higher

than it is in England.

They will take into account your no-claims bonus from England.

What's it like, integrating into French culture? What's it like...

No matter how much you integrate, you're still the Brits.

Generally, one of the easiest ways is if have young children

who are at school, and then you get to meet parents,

and that's a great way.

But there are many other ways - by volunteering to do things

like work on the comite des fetes,

to maybe work in the village library for some time

and, as we've already seen, to play petanque

and to join in with the social activities of the village.

They are more than happy to welcome you with open arms.

We're lucky, insofar as we have been over here many times

and we've always talked with the locals,

go into the local bars...

But of course coming somewhere on holiday,

even if you have been 50-odd times,

is always going to be totally different to living here.

But the one thing we have done

is we haven't always come in summer.

We've spent Christmases here.

I think that's important, too.

The big difference when you live here

is when your furniture's all unpacked into the house

and you see the removal lorry pulling away

and you wave it goodbye

-and you look at each other...

-Panic.

..and you think, "We're on our own now."

It makes me feel I want to buy a house in the surrounding area

so that we can meet and beat them at petanque!

Bob and Amanda have given our buyers

a deeper insight into the day-to-day practicalities of life here,

but buying a house in France is fairly straightforward

as the country has strict property laws to protect both buyers

and sellers, though there are a number of things to watch out for.

The purchase price should include the estate agent's fees

but always check before you make your offer.

Expect to pay up to 10% of the property's value

in taxes and fees.

Remember that the exchange rate you transfer your pounds into euros

will have a direct impact on the final costs,

but you can fix an exchange rate for a later purchase,

which could potentially save you thousands of pounds.

And most important of all is to seek sound legal advice

before proceeding with any property sale.

But for now, it's time to get back to the house hunt

as we've got one more house to unveil.

It's the day of the mystery property.

They wanted something with character,

and this house has got it in buckets.

But I am a little bit worried

because it could challenge them.

It's very French, but maybe not in the way they're expecting.

The final property lies right in the town centre of Servian,

about 12 miles from the sea.

This small town is full of southern French charm

with an old but elegant architecture,

featuring signature wrought-iron balconies,

and residents of Servian are well served

with a good variety of facilities,

including a couple of boulangeries,

one of which is just around 300 metres from our last house.

And the mystery element of this central property

is that it offers our buyers the smallest plot of land,

so we're heading into the back entrance

to find out what type of house and garden

is hidden behind the very discreet exterior.

There we come, into this oasis of a property.

First impressions before I say anything. Dave?

Very different, yes, yes. Unexpected.

-Jill?

-Yes. Well, it's a townhouse, which is different, isn't it?

-It's supposed to be the mystery house so it's got to be...

-A mystery.

It is a mystery. It is a townhouse,

-which looks very modern, doesn't it?

-Yes.

-And behind you,

you have a studio flat.

In there, you've got a bed at the top. It's even got its own en suite.

Brilliant use of space. And they've got a sheltered garage and carport

-big enough for two cars. You can see the swimming pool.

-Yes.

-Which is just divine. Let's go in.

-OK.

Both Jill and Dave are keeping quite tight-lipped as I think

they're both fearing another uber-modern home.

But I've very high hopes that our couple will be pleasantly surprised

by this historic property,

which was completely renovated in 2005.

Come in.

Straight into the kitchen.

I think it's lovely.

I like beams. That's the first thing I've noticed.

-And I like the size.

-Yes.

-Yes.

And I like the stone. I like the flooring.

This property is an architecturally designed house

and everything within it has been designed

with the most modern, up-to-date, environmentally friendly

-bits and bobs that you can thinking.

-What I'm seeing already, I love.

That's all I need - a couple of walls to divide.

I think it's gorgeous.

-It is, isn't it?

-Hmm.

-Could you see yourself cooking here, though?

-Yes. I've seen the range.

-It's great.

-That's what I'm used to. I've seen the sink.

The sink is incredible.

-It's a stone sink.

-Yes, I can see.

-That is the business.

-Yes.

What do you think of this kitchen, Dave?

I find it very pleasant. I like the fact there's so much window in it,

glass, that it is light and airy.

-And it's very French.

-Yes.

Look at those beams.

They're absolutely gorgeous.

-Let me show you the rest of the house.

-OK.

-This way, please.

Through this gorgeous living room

into the original part of the house.

This part of the house dates back to the 19th century,

and you can see that it's done in keeping with the original style,

in that everything's been stripped back, exposed.

The original vaulted ceiling. You've got the steel girders exposed.

-We love those bricks.

-We like vaulted brick ceilings.

This is a very stylish house.

-Very stylish.

-Yes. I think it's gorgeous.

-Yes.

They have not a lot of furniture in here

-but they have quite large furniture in here.

-They do.

-And it still looks big.

-They've got a good expanse of glass.

-Could you see yourselves living here?

-Yes.

Take the furniture out and you've got a blank canvas to go on.

That's good.

It's very quiet.

-(It is, isn't it?)

-In here. Yes.

-You can't hear any sound from outside, no.

-Lots more to see.

This is house is full of surprises. This way.

Utility room, boiler, storage cupboards.

Downstairs toilet. Fantastic office.

And that front door was specially made, by hand, for this property.

Up we go.

Into the master bedroom.

-I like this.

-Dave, what do you think?

They've not tried to change it from downstairs,

which is a good thing. There's no great contrast.

Again, it's exceptionally well done out.

They've given it some thought, certainly.

There's your own private terrace there.

No door. Straight onto the bathroom.

It's the French way.

That's fine. This is our bedroom, this is the bedroom.

We're not bothered about having a door here, no.

-It is a proper en suite.

-It is indeed.

I think these doors for the storage are tasteful.

-I like the feature above the bed.

-Yeah. I am so pleased.

So am I! I think it's gorgeous.

I like the slanted ceiling

and I know that without even touching the beams that they are original.

There are two other bedrooms on this floor, and both come with their own

en suites, wet rooms,

done spectacularly.

Shall we go outside and talk money?

-Why not?

-Yes.

-Let's do it.

Thankfully, all the rooms in this remarkable mystery house

seem to be delivering in spades so far.

All that's left is to survey the courtyard garden

and find out what this mystery lot costs.

Watch your step, Jill.

Into the gorgeous garden. Just like the house, everything has been

thought through out here as well.

You've got this beautiful pathway that's covered in ivy.

There's a fountain. It's hard to believe that they've managed to

cram so much into this garden.

It's been done very professionally.

It's been done to our liking, for sure, hasn't it?

So, that just leaves us with this business.

-Hmm.

-The money, money, money.

So, why don't we start with you, Jill?

How much do you think this really rather special property is on at?

I'm going to put a figure of £700,000.

-Dave?

-Yes.

I don't think Jill's too far off the mark

but I'll hedge my bets and go slightly higher at 720,000.

It's actually on for less.

Ooh.

It's on for around £650,000.

Somewhat surprised, yes.

-Somewhat surprised?

-Yes.

At least it's edging in the right direction.

Why don't the two of you go back in,

really take your time, enjoy looking around this property,

-and I'll see you in a mo?

-OK. Thank you.

Bang on budget once again, the mystery proposition

is a striking 19th-century townhouse

that's been given a contemporary but sympathetic makeover.

It has an open-plan kitchen-diner,

three receptions, three en-suite bedrooms,

an attached one-bedroom studio

and a landscaped courtyard garden with pool.

As I entered the kitchen and diner,

I was so pleasantly surprised by what I saw.

In fact, I was bowled over.

I loved the style of the kitchen.

Even though it has a modern feel to it,

it was obvious from the word go that it was a very old building

which had been tastefully renovated.

First impressions were extremely favourable.

Love the stonework, love the brickwork, love the beams.

Basically love the lot.

The main downfall with the property is the garden

and the lack of size of it.

The location I'm afraid I don't particularly like.

I think we'd like to be just a little bit more on the outskirts.

Hello, my dears.

-Hi.

-And that is it.

The house tour's fini.

-Done.

-Yes.

Are you ready to go off somewhere and have an in-depth conversation?

-I think so, yes.

-Where you can tell me what you're really thinking!

-Yes.

-Come on, then, this way.

Between western Languedoc and Provence,

where the River Rhone meets the Mediterranean, is a vast swathe

of salt marsh land in an area known as the Camargue.

Here, nature's rich kaleidoscope is alive

with pink flamingos and black bulls alongside snowy-white horses,

and the Camargue's serene but barren landscape

also provides the backdrop to France's very own Wild West.

Cowboys are named "gardians" and are tough herders and horsemen

that tend long-horned cattle

on the backs of the beautiful white horses

who have cantered across this terrain for thousands of years.

The highly prized livestock is bred on ranches called "manades",

and Michel Gilles has invited me for a tour of his ranch

to see the horses and gardians in action.

Here you have the cattle.

And the gardians are there

and they will push the cattle into that special enclosure.

So these gardians, will they have been born into this tradition?

Normally, they are born here,

they are here in the region for a long time.

They are not professionals. That is not a job.

So they don't do this because they have to,

-they do it to keep the tradition alive?

-Yes.

They're people of the land. They work with the cows

and they sit on horses, but the difference here is that

-your horses are ancient...

-Special.

-Special, yes.

Yes, you have very special horses.

The Camargue horse is born dark brown or black in colour,

growing paler as it ages and turning grey around its fourth year.

Relatively small in stature but with a strong build,

they're hardy, wild and rustic animals,

considered to be one of the oldest breeds in the world

and prized for having a calm temperament,

forming strong bonds with their gardian riders.

Is it possible for me to maybe sit on one of these horses?

-I don't ride.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-But is it possible?

-Yes, it's possible.

Despite my inexperience and my nerves, may I add,

Michel is kindly allowing me to jump into the saddle

of his very own horse, Minousse.

-One...

-One.

-..two and three.

Wey!

-Maybe we could walk?

-As long as you stay with the horse, Michel.

-OK.

THEY LAUGH

I feel like a cowgirl. Yee-ha!

But before I ride off into the sunset,

we need to find out if our buyers Dave and Jill are any closer

to grabbing this French migration by the reins

and achieving their dream of buying a property here.

What are they thinking about all our houses?

Which is their favourite? Which is the one they could live in?

Right now, I couldn't tell you. So I'm going to go and ask them.

And we're finishing up back where we started -

in the heart of the Peret countryside

and on the terrace of the very first house,

which has been Jill and Dave's home for the past few days.

Hello, there.

I was going to say, "Are you really ready for this?"

but now I've seen you in the beret, pff!

-Well...

-Who am I kidding?!

-Naturellement.

Now, you have been here umpteen times. Could you live in this part

-of France?

-Without a doubt, yes.

I'd love to.

I haven't seen anything that I haven't really liked

in the way of the landscape and the scenery.

We've got fields, mountains, the sea's 20 minutes away,

-half an hour at the most.

-Vineyards.

What more could one want?

Any apprehension at this stage between the two of you?

No! We can't wait.

We've been ready for a while. We're here now and we're going for it.

So exciting.

It's the truth! It's the truth!

Let's talk about these properties, then.

What would be the dream for you?

-I...

-I think we've got it in a nutshell.

-Go on, then.

-The mystery house interior,

Magalas exterior...in the location we're in now,

in Peret.

I would agree 100%.

If we could shoehorn the three into one, we'd have it made to a T.

So what if I came to Milton Keynes in six months' time

to have a glass of wine with you, would I find you there?

-Hopefully not.

-No.

The property we want is out there somewhere

and now we've got a fairly small area to attack.

Previously, it was the south of France, then Languedoc-Roussillon

and now it's a portion of it.

As you say, the house for you is out there somewhere.

-So let's drink to that.

-Certainly.

-Good luck to the two of you.

-OK. Sante.

-Sante.

Sante.

BOTH: Sante.

Jill and Dave are poised and ready for their big move to France.

In fact, I think Jill was born ready.

But it's only through their time here with us

that they have managed to pinpoint exactly where they want to live

and they've truly fallen in love.

They have found the place that they want to spend

the rest of their lives.

Join me next time for another Escape To The Continent.

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