Germany - Mosel Valley Escape to the Continent

If you were going to paint a fairy-tale castle, this is exactly what it would look like.

And it's exactly what one of our most famous painters did

back in the 19th century.

Find out who HE was and where I am in just a moment.

On today's show, we're helping a couple form

Prestatyn, North Wales, who are looking to

transfer their working lives into the heart of the continent.

And they certainly aim to throw themselves into local life.

OK...

That's it.

CHEERING

But will they strike it lucky in our property search?

I'm speechless.

I can say that's the word that's come to my mind - speechless.

Welcome to Escape To The Continent.

Today, I'm in the Rhineland and behind me is

the extraordinary 850 year old Burg Eltz castle in the Mosel valley.

Burg Eltz was painted by William Turner in the 19th century

and it was one of the hundreds of castles

and landscapes that drew a horde of writers,

painters and poets to this area known as the Rhine romantics.

Their depictions so captivated the audience at home,

that the Rhineland changed from being just a thoroughfare to Italy on the grand tour

into an aspirational destination of its own -

something that it definitely remains to this day.

The state of Rhineland-Palatinate is situated to the west of Germany,

bordering Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

The majestic River Rhine dominates the landscape,

flowing from the region's north west to the south east.

One of it's tributaries - the River Mosel -

is set in some of the area's most stunning scenery.

The number of medieval towns, such as Cochem

and the abundance of dramatic castles along its course

are testament to the importance of the river through the ages.

The sheltered banks of the Mosel

and Rhine are perhaps best known for their vineyards.

The sun-drenched, steeply tiered hillsides

creating near perfect conditions for the world renowned Riesling grape.

To the north of the river lies the wooded Eiffel hills,

characterised by a panorama of magnificent lakes,

their distinctive circular shape formed in vast,

dormant craters in this ancient volcanic landscape.

Away from this rural setting lies the region's capital, Mainz.

It boasts a magnificent cathedral,

the imposing Kaiserdom, which rises high above the historic cityscape.

Whilst a stroll around the Kirschgarten reveals some

impressive half timbered buildings dating back to the 16th century.

The area's mix of lovely scenery and historic sites seems to offer

a magnetic appeal for British ex-pats,

with over 3,500 now calling the Rhineland-Palatinate their home.

Interestingly, the average price for a German house is pretty much

the same as in the UK at just over £200,000.

But if you're looking for a modern property,

German houses are on average 40% bigger,

so you get more for your money.

Here in the Rhineland-Palatinate, £85,000 can get you a very handsome,

rural detached house but if you want to be nearer the cities, then you're going to pay more.

For example, in Mainz, the regional capital,

you can pay three times that sum.

So lots of enticing houses,

are any of them going to be good enough to tempt today's buyers?

Let's meet them and find out.

Will and Suzie have been married for five years

and currently live in Prestatyn, Wales.

But they've unexpectedly set their hearts on a new

life in Germany following a visit to close friends in Mosel valley.

Is Germany a surprise in my thinking?

Well, yes, it is, it's a total surprise

but I was just captivated by the surroundings.

Germany just grew on us, didn't it?

The fact the country was so organised

and it was all the things that we value.

Relocating to Germany would be a significant move

but globe-trotting Suzie seems to be taking it in her stride.

I've already immigrated from Brazil,

all the way from South America to the UK.

You know, moving to Germany is not a big mountain for me.

She is very spontaneous and that was a shock to me

cos I'm quite a plodder or a stick in the mud, really.

But unlike my whole personality, I am utterly relaxed about this business

of going to Germany and if I could go tomorrow, I'd just, you know...

I'd just go.

So the move seems to feel right and this may be down to timing,

as their children have recently left home.

But would the Mosel be a practical location for visiting relatives?

We've got family in the south of England but I mean,

I look at it, we're 300 miles from them here,

if we're in Germany we'll be 300 miles from Calais, they can get

on the tunnel and come and see us, it's not that much further, is it?

Despite their laid back approach, Will and Suzie do have a plan.

They're both professional translators

and intend to continue their work from the continent.

I work from French to English

and Suzie works from English to Portuguese.

Germany made sense because a lot of our work is to do with Europe.

Belgium, places neighbouring Germany, France,

but neither of us speak a word of German.

It's going to be a little bit unsettling, I think, for me to start with,

so we know it's very important to be able to speak the language fluently.

Will and Suzie are convinced that their dog, Lula, will also love the

wide open spaces of the Mosel but in this family of linguists,

there's more to their Labrador than meets the eye.

He is bilingual.

You know, Portuguese is his first language,

he responds to commands in English as well

but Lula's going to have to learn some commands in German.

-Yes, got one already, sitzs.

-Which is?

Which means - I think - sit.

So it sounds like Lula won't have any problems fitting in

and Suzie hopes her passion for cooking will be

the key to getting to know the locals.

In Brazil we believe in hospitality.

The best way to get to know people is to offer them

something to eat and if it's something nice and tasty,

it's even better, so I enjoy that.

And they're definitely going to be in the right place to find

a decent bottle of wine to accompany Suzie's delicious cooking.

I feel a bit foolish because I didn't realise it was a wine growing area before we visited

but I've often had in my mind

that in some stage of my life I'd like to try growing a few vines.

And this looks as though it could be an opportunity.

So our buyers can certainly picture their new life abroad

and with their current home on the market, all that's left

is to find out how much they'll have to fund this dream German move.

I think we're thinking in terms of £150,000

but we'd be happy to go up to 180,000

should the property be absolutely perfect.

Will and Suzie would like to be within reach of the Mosel valley

and their close friends,

so have set a search area around the riverside town of Zell.

They're keen to get started and we're meeting in a vineyard in the

heart of the valley to discuss the finer points of their planned move.

Here we are in the Mosel valley, what a beautiful spot you've chosen.

-It is lovely.

-That's what we thought.

-It's how I remember it.

-Yeah.

-Perhaps even better.

I know that you came here on holiday and met some friends

and sort of fell in love with the area, I mean, is it that simple?

-It was just a sort of heart decision?

-No, we...

It was a decision that we made very gradually.

We didn't come here with any intention to moving to Germany.

-You say that, for me, it wasn't.

-Was it?

-I was just in their garden...

-That's a secret.

I was just in their garden one day and I just knew in myself, yeah.

Is it an opportunity, do you think,

for the two of you to change something in your life?

Or are you hoping to transplant your life to Germany?

I think things are really different these days with the internet

and international communications.

We can transplant a huge part of our existing life anywhere.

But obviously, we are open to change, we're open to learn

more about the local culture and to embrace what Germany's got to offer.

Let's talk about the specifics of the house,

what are the sort of absolute must haves?

Erm, four bedrooms,

two separate offices for us,

a place that we can use as a hobby room.

Anything else to add to that, Will?

Erm... Broadband, as we're always talking about,

is very important looking at it from the work aspect

and a garden quite attracts me.

I've been thinking about a line of vines as I'm standing here...

Well, it's certainly the right place for that. What about style?

Do you mind something very old or something more modern?

I don't like very old properties, I have to say.

A more modern property would be ideal for me.

-Do you mind where you're located?

-For me, ideally a village.

At this stage of our lives, we don't want to be too isolated.

Obviously, we need a little money to play with,

so what is our budget here in Germany?

Erm, I think we've agreed £150,000 is ideal

but we could go up to 180 for the absolutely right property in the right spot.

Well, we've to some lovely houses lined up

and I'm really excited to hear what you have to say about them.

-Let's do it.

-Thank you.

-Komm mit.

Will and Suzie are looking to spend up to £150,000

although they would stretch that budget by 30,000

for the perfect property.

They're seeking a modern house with at least four bedrooms,

two offices, and a good broadband connection.

Will would like enough space in which to grow some vines

and they'd like to be within a community,

preferably within a village location.

We've got four contrasting properties lined up

to tempt our buyers,

the last of which will be the mystery house,

which we have high hopes for,

but is definitely not one for the faint hearted.

And what they don't know yet is that they'll also be

staying in a house that we've rented for them,

which should give them a good flavour of German life.

Our first property is just over 20 miles from Zell,

in the rural community of Dommershausen.

This peaceful town is situated in the Rhine-Hunsruck district

and is a short drive from the meandering River Mosel,

while remaining within easy reach of our buyers' friends.

The centre offers up an interesting mix of traditional and modern property

with amenities which include a popular gasthaus and bank.

Our house is certainly in Will and Suzie's preferred location

but the style isn't exactly an obvious choice

for their modern architectural tastes.

-So, house number one.

-Wow, it looks nice on the outside, nice entrance.

-What do you think?

-It's older than I think would be in my time frame.

When you say your time frame, when does that start?

-'70s onwards, wasn't it? About that, really.

-OK.

It dates back to the 1930s, 1934 it was built.

-This is the property, but this is also yours.

-Wow.

So you have a very large outbuilding as well, which we can explore later.

-My goodness.

-Shall we have a look inside?

-Yeah.

'Despite Will's reservations about its age,

'Suzie seems intrigued by this timber framed property.

'I just hope it proves to be light enough for her,

'as we pass through the hall into our first room.'

Come on in.

-This is the main living space.

-Wow.

-OK.

Lovely fireplace in the corner.

And then this is also your dining area

with the windows looking out south.

Suzie, when you were talking this morning about being Brazilian,

liking lots of light, this is not a massively light property.

Is that going to be a problem for you?

No, I do like the French window and I like these windows on the

other side as well, the dining table.

So it's OK, it's fine. I like this.

I think for me, it's marginally dark, I have to say.

Not as light as I know is possible and I think we'd like.

Obviously, that's not the kind of thing that, erm, I'm used to.

But it wouldn't be here anyway.

And for proportions, is this going to be enough for you

-as a living-dining room?

-The size is very adequate, very good.

To me it's on the small side, but, erm...

What's happened? We're diverging here, but, erm...

First impressions of the interior seem reasonable,

although I'm surprised it's initially Will who seems the harder to please.

And if he found the living room tight,

the kitchen could well throw up concerns.

Come in. I'm interested to see what you think about the size of this.

Oh, dear - laughter.

Is that good laughter or bad laughter?

It's a laugh that says it is smaller than our current kitchen, isn't it?

-Yes, absolutely.

-Ours is slightly bigger.

But there is the possibility for knocking through this wall,

there's a bathroom downstairs which you'd sacrifice or there's a

utility room at the back of the house you could also redevelop.

That's difficult because we do a need a place, really,

we can move into, get life restarted as quickly as possible.

But you know, right location could alter things I suppose.

Time to move on swiftly, so we're heading straight upstairs.

The first floor feels more spacious with two good sized bedrooms,

the second of which could be split into two to create a third.

There's also a generous bathroom on offer,

although the yellow accessories might not be to their taste

but it's certainly flooded with light.

We're heading up to a second level

and the real selling point of this house.

How lovely. Oh, light.

Very spacious.

-So there is a second lounge.

-Wow, it's a cosy room.

-Plenty of dead animals again.

-Wow.

-But you could very easily turn this into work space, or...

-Yeah.

..make this a sort of joint office.

I like it, I think it's absolutely lovely.

I can also see us working - me working - in this room.

Even though they're not big fans of character features,

the loft seems to have gone down well.

The outside space is a large rectangular plot,

mainly laid to lawn.

The planting is currently fairly sparse

but the garden's big enough to take a row of vines or fruit trees,

should Will feel the urge to get gardening.

There's also a useful shaded area for al fresco dining

in this peaceful location.

Wow.

Nice, spacious.

-Yes. Room for Lula to run around in.

-Yeah.

Bit of mowing needing doing.

The other feature we haven't talked about is the massive outhouse.

-They used to have horses, so it's like a garage for a horse box.

-Oh, right.

-So you've got two garages on either side and a very tall central garage...

-Yeah.

..which would be very easy to convert into an office or to just have as storage.

And at the side of the house, here,

in this lean-to you've a sort of stable block.

All sorts of possibilities - you could push out, or convert that,

or, again, just have it as outside storage.

How much do you think this property is on the market for? In pounds?

In pounds?

My guess would be about £100,000.

Will?

I think I'd be a bit more generous - 110, 115, maybe.

So, this property is on the market for just over £133,000.

Ooh...!

Yeah, OK, interesting.

Why don't you go and look at the outbuildings,

because they are really substantial. And I'll meet you at the front.

Priced at £17,000 under Will and Susie's ideal budget,

our first property represents real value for money.

It's a detached, timber-framed house

currently offering two bedrooms

and a spacious loft/living room.

A large garage has plenty of conversion potential

and there's a generous garden with outdoor living space.

Realistically speaking, we're still very set on a modern property.

This house has challenged us a little bit

because it's so charming and has a lot of character.

I could see knocking a few walls down,

putting a few doors in,

changing things would make this property really, really stunning.

I'm surprised that Susie liked this house more than me,

because she's always said she wants modern, she likes modern.

But, I think, realistically, both of us would decide it is too much work.

-All done inside?

-All done inside.

-Yes.

That's the end of this house tour,

but I have a little surprise for you guys.

We have organised a house for you to stay in.

-A house?

-A house with a garden and fruit trees.

You'll be living next to the mayor of village.

-It is in the Mosel Valley.

-Wow.

It's not for sale, sadly, but it's an immersive taste of living in Germany.

-Absolutely.

-Fantastic. Thank you.

Will and Susie seem buoyed by the idea

of this authentic German living experience.

Their rental property is 20 miles south-west of Zell

in the village of Maring Noviand

And they don't take long to settle into their new surroundings.

Susie is cooking up some pasta with German bacon

and reflecting on their first day in the region.

The only challenge for me has been buying some food to cook tonight.

I am very, erm... keen to learn the language.

There'd be so many difficulties unless we do,

and learn as much as we can before we actually arrive.

People are friendly. They talk to you.

We had people stopping to talk, to ask questions.

Though we had no idea what they were talking about.

Anyway, we can start tonight, can't we? I've got my German book with me.

Yeah, but that's cheating -

it's your German dictionary that is German and Portuguese!

So, it sounds like it's going to be a tough night for Will,

as they sit down to a working dinner

and try to brush up on their language skills.

It's the second day of our German house hunt.

Before we show our buyers the next property offering, Will and Susie

are taking the opportunity to see the scenic Mosel Valley

from a different perspective,

as they board a river cruiser at Zell.

And these outdoor enthusiasts

soon spot a potential activity they hadn't considered.

Interesting to see the cyclists there on what must be cycle track.

-Yeah.

-That'd be good, wouldn't it?

-We've got the bikes.

-Be great, yeah.

-Just need a bike carrier for the car, I guess.

-Yeah. Yeah.

To get them down to the river.

And it's a leisurely thing that we could do.

This relaxing cruise seems to be creating a positive frame of mind,

as they reflect on the plus points of this stunning area.

To me, certainly, the pace of life, and the hospitality of the locals,

I think is what attracts me.

You get a feeling in your mind and your heart

that it's the right thing to do,

and you start looking for reasons why.

We found plenty of reasons that it is a good place to work as freelancers.

-Being central in Europe is very attractive.

-Absolutely.

Well, our buyers are looking increasingly at home here,

but we've yet to find them a property to cement this move.

So it's time to get back on track with the house-hunt.

Day two of our property search of the Rhineland,

and I'm getting ready to show them house number two.

I think they may be too fixated on the big, modern 1970s house

that their friends have here in the Mosel Valley,

but this area is so rich in history and character properties,

that I am reluctant to give them that just yet.

So, this house has a lot of history,

it has quirky features,

and I think it has a little splash of Brazil.

Our second property is right in the heart of the Mosel Valley

in the riverside community of Erden.

The village is set in an exquisite location

surrounded by steep-sided vineyards.

There are records of wine growing in the area

as far back as Roman times, and the industry still provides

one of the main sources of income locally.

This is a close-knit community with a good range of amenities

including a popular restaurant.

Our property is set in the heart of the village

but in a surprisingly quiet location.

It's a little slice of Brazil!

-It is, yeah!

-In the Mosel Valley.

-Wow!

-That is a surprise.

-Yes, we searched high and low for a banana palm here.

-Oh, my goodness.

-Doesn't matter about the house, it's got a banana.

Exactly. As you can see we've still kept you in the past.

We haven't quite given you the modern house yet.

Yes.

So, it is an interesting property - old, 1680s - but an interesting one.

Because this area obviously was very big in wine

and this has actually always been in the hands of wine dealers.

It was where they displayed the wine

and it still has a sort of wine bar which we can explore a bit later.

What do you think of the location - we are close to the river?

If someone could give us an idea of the flood risk

before we committed ourselves...

It is something to consider.

The Mosel has a very sophisticated flood defence now,

but it is something to bear in mind.

Despite being a period property and somewhat limited on outside space,

I'm sensing an air of excitement as we cross the courtyard

straight into a raised open-plan living area.

Very modern! Lovely place!

Also, I felt that it kind of had a Brazilian feel to it.

It definitely has a Brazilian feel to it.

The white colour does it.

-Absolutely.

-It's got the sort of kitchen you'd be happy with.

-Oh, boy!

-Definitely.

-I'd be happy with it, as well.

Through there there's a beautiful winter garden

with amazing tropical plants and cactuses. Great.

Surprisingly warm inside, isn't it?

It's quite a contrast - the old exterior and the modern interior.

How do you feel about it now you're inside?

For me, the outside's not a problem with an inside like this.

Our buyers seem to be blown away by this bright open space.

Across the hall from the kitchen is a large office with

plenty of room to accommodate the two of them

while providing the all-important broadband connection.

But we're heading upstairs to inspect the first-floor space.

-Here we have one of the two bedrooms on this floor.

-Yeah.

It's got a sort of dressing area then, on this floor, a bathroom,

and a second bedroom on the other side of the wall.

The size is the size of our bedroom now.

Pretty much, isn't it? Especially as the wardrobe's outside.

What are you thinking as you're walking upstairs?

Getting a bit more of an idea of the house.

-Let's say, I am annoyed.

-Annoyed?

-Yeah, it is such a nice house!

Why does that annoy you?

Well, there are one or two little things that have to work, in my mind.

It's not really suitable for our dog.

There's one other thing, I thought of, as well - car parking.

Any ideas about that?

You can park under the arch. It belongs to you, as well.

The house itself is so absolutely...

Nothing like I'd thought we'd look at. Nothing we've contemplated.

But absolutely special in my mind.

This beautiful house has really got to William.

Although the first floor only offers two bedrooms

there is further development potential in the loft,

should they need more space.

Outside, the sheltered courtyard may be compact,

but it has lovely feel with a mix of evergreen shrubs and climbers,

creating a green oasis.

And this peaceful haven leads through to the property's

unique selling point.

Through your tropical garden, into your own wine bar.

-I'm speechless!

-That's the word that came to my mind! Speechless!

-Oh!

-Especially when you look down that bit, as well!

-Yes!

-Is there more?

So, it's run as a business at the moment, is it?

Yes, it's run as a little wine bar.

But, you don't have to keep it as a wine bar.

-You said to me once, years ago, you fancied having a restaurant.

-Yes.

-Susie's.

-Exactly. That's my secret. I love cooking.

It'd be a good way to get yourself integrated into the community.

Oh, yes. A way to meet people. Isn't it?

Well, I'm glad that you like it.

I love it!

It was a little bit of a risk bringing you here.

-It doesn't quite fit your original wish list.

-Well, it has paid off.

Actually, I had envisaged this space as the perfect office,

but we seem to have unearthed a potential career change for Susie,

as we head outside to get their thoughts on the price.

OK, how much do you think it is on the market for?

Are we talking about buying it as a property,

or do you have to buy it as a business, or...?

You buy the whole thing. It's all one package.

My hunch is that it is well up to the top of our budget.

If not over the top, so...

I'd go for a £180,000.

And I think this house is worth a lot more.

£200,000. At least?

Well, this property - and that's the old house and the old business,

is on the market for just under £167,000.

That's amazing.

Wow. It's amazing value.

-Yeah.

-Why don't you go inside

Particularly take a look at the attic space

which has phenomenal potential.

Our second property comes in around £13,000 under

Will and Susie's maximum budget.

It's a 17th-century village house, currently offering two bedrooms,

but with scope to create more in the attic.

The downstairs features modern open plan living,

but its unique selling point has to be the traditional wine bar

set in the courtyard garden.

Oooh!

-Look at this!

-THEY LAUGH

Well, look at this. That's a proper boiler, isn't it?

I could have my office here.

Next to the boiler, keep me warm.

I know we're getting very excited...

167,000 is almost "have it and worry about it afterwards".

There is this conflict within me, in a way -

Yes, the house is very old,

I don't have a great enthusiasm for older property,

but inside it's new, it's very sleek

and it's very, very warm and very Brazilian.

There's old and old.

1680 is genuine, proper old,

and I really loved it as soon as I saw it.

It would need some thinking about,

but it's such a fabulous opportunity as far as I'M concerned,

and how I'd like to lead my life.

I'm afraid of going to have to tear you away

from your bistro, bossa nova bonanza.

Oh. Shame.

Well, it hit a nerve.

You certainly have.

The Rhineland Palatinate region

is responsible for around 65% of Germany's grape production,

on some 50 million vines.

Although it is a profitable business for the large vineyards,

small family producers can struggle.

For the last 80 years, the Kasel vineyard in Ruwer Valley

has countered these financial pressures

by running the business as a wine cooperative.

Local people who share a passion for the grape

pool their time and labour

to create their very own wine.

I know Will has aspirations to grow vines,

so I am sending him and Susie to meet cooperative member

Anya Brazell to find out more.

-Anja. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Hi.

So you all have other jobs, or is this a full-time occupation?

-No, it's a holiday.

-It's a hobby?

-It's a hobby, yeah.

We share all the jobs.

So everyone has a task to do.

Everyone has tasks to do, yes.

Over the year.

It starts in February-March, with the cutting of the vines.

If you are a group, it's fun to be outside

and we always go when the weather is good.

There are currently 20 members of the cooperative.

Although they rent their own strips of land off the owner,

they effectively club together to farm the whole vineyard.

Duties include binding the vines to the supporting wire

and keeping any grass and weeds cut back during the growing season.

Why is this valley so good for growing grapes?

The good thing is all the vineyard slopes are on the southern side.

We have a lot of sun here, which is necessary for the grapes.

Also, the ground, the soil, is quite good.

It's shale, which is black,

so during the day it heats up

and during the night it gives back the heat to the grapes.

These near-perfect growing conditions create bumper crops

of this region's world-renowned Riesling grape.

As harvest time approaches,

the critical sugar concentration of the grapes

is constantly monitored using a refraction meter.

Taking a grape...

doing some juice... on this.

Then you look through,

and on the middle scale,

you see how many sugar is already in the grapes.

So now we have...64.

You want to try it?

Thank you. So, what are you aiming for?

Well, last year we had around 90.

You have a way to go.

Still a way to go, isn't it?

Although this vineyard only measures seven acres,

it still produces six different varieties of wine.

The cooperative covers every stage of the process,

ending up at the labelling plant in the main cellar.

The finishing touches are all carried out by the oldest member Jupp.

He seems to be doing it all by hand.

How many bottles does the he have to do a year?

Well, around 20,000 bottles we have to do.

All the bottles of the wine manufacturer

are going through Jupp's hands.

-I think it's what we call a labour of love in English.

-Yeah!

Sounds like Jupp could do with a break.

So, Susie is getting into the corporate spirit

and lends a hand.

A bit higher.

Once everything's packaged the wine is sold to local supermarkets,

and directly to the public.

The profits are mainly ploughed back into the business

with a small surplus being distributed among cooperative members.

Yeah, wonderful.

-Morgen!

-Tomorrow you have to start here.

And with one bottle labelled up, it's time for a tasting...

-Prost.

-ALL: Prost!

..accompanied by a traditional toast from the multi-talented Jupp.

HE SINGS IN GERMAN

-ALL LAUGH

-Applause! Cheers!

What a fitting way to round off Will and Suzie's tour.

This impressive initiative could offer up a great opportunity to

integrate into the community, but first we need to find them a home,

so it is time to continue the property hunt.

For our third property,

we're heading northwest to the Vulkan Eifel district

and the community of Bongard.

A good range of shops and cafes are available in nearby Kelberg.

This peaceful town has an attractive mix of architecture

and has a genuinely friendly feel.

But the area is considerably further away from the Mosel

and Will and Suzie's friends.

Our property is a ten-minute drive away on the edge of Bongard.

I'm fascinated to see if Will and Suzie's new-found enthusiasm for period architecture will continue

or whether they will succumb to the more familiar qualities of our next property.

Here we are, house number three. What do you think?

-That's more like it for me.

-It's a normal, built in the '70s, house.

-Lots and lots of space.

-Mm!

Big private garden.

So it is a lot more what you had written down on your wish list.

What do you think, now that you're standing in front of it?

From the outside, it's a lovely place. Absolutely.

It's a bit far off perhaps where we had hoped for the location.

-For me, personally. But, no, it's all good.

-Shall we go inside?

-Let's.

Will seems to be sensing Suzie's excitement as she takes in

the open space around this large detached property.

I think we may have found her vision of a German home

as we pass through the hall into the front-facing kitchen.

-Off that lovely, big, sun-drenched hall into the kitchen.

-Wow!

-You look happy.

-I am happy.

-With a view through into the dining room.

Wow! Very nice.

The dining room continues into this very lovely kind of, well,

conservatory, I suppose we'd call it.

You don't think they're taking the kitchen with them?

Yes, that is a German habit, that when people move, they do take their kitchens with them.

I'll have to check that.

It's not one that I've totally understood, but if we can avoid that, it's moving in, settling quicker.

That's pretty serious talk for this early stage of the tour.

Let's hope it continues as we cross the hall to the living space.

-This is a very big room.

-Ooh!

-Lovely.

-Oh, wow.

-So much light coming in and so spacious.

-I love the floor. What do you think?

-Yeah, I like it.

-I like it too.

-Very much.

-Is the other house drifting from your memory?

-Yes, it is now.

I mean, not because I don't like it, but because I'm engaging here.

It's very nice.

As well as all this on this floor,

you have also got a complete basement -

a huge amount of space there.

You've got a laundry room, a great big walk-in larder,

and a huge space which could be a hobby room.

-Yeah.

-I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the house.

Well, you've got another two storeys on top.

There's no holding back these two as we head upstairs.

The first floor offers up two stylish bathrooms,

complete with sleek, built-in basins, as well as three bedrooms.

The first is a good size, with attractive views over the garden,

whilst the colossal master is dual-aspect,

offering up a light-filled space.

And I'm hoping the last bedroom will really appeal to this business-minded couple.'

There is a master bedroom, but I wanted to show you this room

because I thought this would make a lovely study.

-That's true.

-It is true, you know.

-It's true.

-What a lovely idea.

-And...

-Ooh!

-..step out here, have yourself a coffee

when you have finished a particularly difficult translation.

It's lovely. Outdoors living.

-Am I allowed to cry?

-Yes, please do. We love tears on this show!

Suzie has totally fallen for this place,

and there's even more on offer.

The loft has been converted into another light-filled bedroom

and also has a separate storage area.

But we're heading out into the gardens,

which are equally impressive.

They extend to well over half an acre

and incorporate lots of distinct areas including an ornate pond,

a seating area hidden among the quirky topiary garden,

and there's even a row of fruit trees for budding gardener Will.

I have a feeling this is more what you had in mind for a perfect German garden.

-Ohh!

-Ah, yes.

-This is really...

-This is a perfect garden.

-This is wonderful.

-Not only for us, but for Lula as well, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's very dog-friendly. You can shut the gates.

-Yeah.

I am very, very positive about this house. I cannot deny.

-I can't hide it.

-Can we afford it?

-Probably not!

-How much do we think it is?

-Oh, it is very, very difficult.

£200,000.

Um, well, I'm going to compare it with our friend's house - 175,000.

This house is on the market

for just under £165,000.

-SHE GASPS

-No!

-I would have never guessed.

-Go in, explore, make yourself at home.

Because, frankly, Suzie's already got bought in her head.

So Will will just have to catch up.

Our third property comes in at around £15,000

under Will and Suzie's maximum budget.

It is a 1970s detached house, offering up four bedrooms

and a spacious open-plan dining room/conservatory.

The large gardens extend to over half an acre, offering

a practical but peaceful space in this attractive village location.

This house is a real contender.

This house is so perfect and I am so in love with it.

If we're thinking of the downside,

the only thing I can think of is its distance from Zell

and that part of Mosel Valley where we have got contacts and friends.

Do we want to put ourselves that far away from people that we already know?

A more modern house is better suited

and confirms what is in my mind is what is in my heart.

Ooh, I was dozing off in the sun. It's lovely here.

THEY LAUGH

-Are you all done?

-We're all done.

-Yes, thank you.

-Your last house of the day, we can go find a place to rest and you can digest them all.

-OK.

Will and Suzie were originally drawn to the Mosel by its scenery

and an established friendship.

But they seem to appreciate the importance of integrating into the German community.

We have come to the attractive town of Kirchberg

to meet a British couple who have done just that.

'Peter and Norma Hudson relocated to the area two-and-a-half years ago

'to enjoy their newly-retired life in this beautiful part of Germany.'

-So, they are hoping to move to this part of the world.

-Super!

And one of the key questions is,

did you speak any German when you arrived?

Ooh, a smidgen. A very small amount!

That's very encouraging! There's hope for us.

Would you characterise your German knowledge as a smidgen now?

-Mine is less than a smidgen!

-Oh, mine is...

No, it isn't, really.

How easy has it been to integrate English into German culture?

-Oh, reasonably easily, I suppose.

-What's the trick?

THEY LAUGH

Attend all the festivals, because you're bound to meet somebody.

And this is how we met Heinie, our friends that we're hoping to see.

And he asked us if we had ever played bowls.

And we said, "No." So he said, "Why don't you come along?"

And so now, quite regularly,

there's eight Germans and just the two of us and we play bowls.

'And Norma and Peter have kindly arranged for us to experience

'this slice of German life at the back of a local pizzeria.

The sport of Kegeln, or ninepin bowling,

is actually a national obsession,

with over 90,000 Germans filling the alleys throughout the year.

Norma and Peter's bowling partners, Heinie and Hilda,

look pretty proficient.

So a demo is in order for our first-time Keglers.

-Right.

-Stand straight, you're more likely to get it straight.

-Watch me now put it in the gully.

-So you're going to show us...?

-I'll show you, yeah.

LAUGHTER

I suspect Norma's top of the local league.

Kegeln dates back to the 12th century,

the first club having been formed by a group of monks.

And there are a few differences to the game of tenpin bowling.

Ah, they've got no holes for the fingers!

-Oh, my goodness!

-Right, straight down the middle.

-OK.

-That's it.

YES!

LAUGHTER

I think Norma could be signing Suzie up for her local team.

Peter is convinced that the bowling nights are also a great way to pick up the local language.

It is very good for your German.

If you listen to the way they speak and if you practise what you're hearing, you pick it up.

-Yeah.

-For us, integrating is a very important thing.

We love it, because we feel that we've got German friends

but we've also got quite a few English friends out here too.

So it sounds like Norma and Peter have settled in well.

Time to get the lowdown on German life over a drink.

Health insurance is always an issue, coming from the UK with

the health service, and over here, we know you pay for it, so...

PETER: Yeah, I mean, it's very different here.

People we know that pay, they pay an average of between 200 and 300 euros per person, per month.

So here in Germany, it's different, isn't it,

because you insure yourself, don't you?

Once you have a Gesundheitskasse, which is a healthcare provider,

most things then are free.

All preventative medicine is free.

You will pay for prescriptions but there are circumstances in which you can claim that money back.

If you go to your GP, they will send you on to somebody else,

-to another clinic, to see a specialist.

-Mm-hmm.

-It is nearly all specialist-driven out here.

-Right.

And a lot of preventative, rather than cure.

If I went to see a GP but my German was very limited,

do you think they would be helpful?

I think it's trial and error.

Go and have a chat and if they don't speak English,

they will know somebody that does.

In the past, I've done all sorts of DIY myself.

I know the rules have been tightened up, you can't do electrical work

in the UK now because you need a certificate.

What's the dos and don'ts here in Germany?

Yeah, on electrical work, it is very similar. You should be certified.

I shouldn't say this, really, but it is a bit of a jobsworth culture here.

You can... You can find yourself having three or four different

tradesmen in doing a job that you would expect to have one for in the UK.

When we first moved out here, we wanted a new kitchen.

We had to have any plumbing work done, any electrical work done.

They arrived at our house at 8.30, they brought the cupboards out,

relevant, in order, finished, done, gone, four o'clock.

But a bit of plumbing, you're OK to do that yourself, are you?

- I've just fitted a bathroom. - Good enough!

Well, I am sure Peter's plumbing was up to German standards,

but DIY aside, there are also a few pointers to bear in mind

when purchasing a property in Germany.

The legal process is slightly different to that in the UK.

Rather than using individual solicitors,

an impartial notary acts for both the purchaser and the vendor,

drawing up the deed of sale and other relevant paperwork.

It's worth bearing in mind that in addition to the

cost of the house, you will need to put aside around 10% of the

purchase price to cover taxes, legal costs and agent fees.

And finally, buyers should note that if a house is sold within ten years,

the vendor will be liable for 25% capital gains tax.

So, a long-term investment may well be preferable.

It's the final day of our house hunt in Rhineland-Palatinate with Will and Suzie from Prestatyn.

Dankeschon.

Our buyers are immersing themselves in local life

and seem to be enjoying the genuine German experience of staying in their rental property.

But, above all, these linguists have a steely determination to

learn the language and are squeezing in a bit of practice

in a local cafe before we head to the mystery house.

Guten Morgen.

Ich mochte Kaffee Creme und...

WOMAN REPLIES IN GERMAN

Oh, no Kaffee? OK.

Not exactly a straightforward order, as Will steps in to pay.

-INAUDIBLE

-Oh, danke.

Four-something?

He's looking a tad bewildered. Time for a debrief over a doughnut.

-What do you think?

-It was a disaster.

I thought it was a disaster, too, I have to agree!

I know we came out with our cups of coffee, but it's ridiculous.

The one thing I needed, that I bought, I forgot my phrase book.

Oh, you can easily get yourself confused with

another language and then you hesitate so much.

It was a little bit of a disaster.

So, a frustrating experience,

but nothing that a few German lessons won't sort out.

It's the last day of our property search

here by the banks of the River Mosel, and let's talk mystery house.

So, from a purely property point of view, this is spun gold.

It is an amazing location and it has so much potential.

And I'm hoping that it might appeal to Will's romantic,

historic side that we saw in the second house.

But judging by Suzie's paroxysms of joys over the very modern 1970s

house, I think it might be a losing battle to get them both on side.

Let's find out.

Our mystery house is situated right in the middle of the search area,

in the coveted community of Alf.

The town sits on a particularly dramatic point in the Mosel.

This stunning natural setting inspired the artist Turner

and still captures the imagination of thousands of visitors every year.

The historic centre may be a focal point for outdoor enthusiasts,

but it still retains a strong feeling of community.

So the location of the mystery house should suit Will and Suzie, and

it is the only one of our properties that provides a river view.

And, as for the building itself,

it definitely gives them more than they bargained for.

But will it leave them feeling like they are biting off more than they can chew?

Welcome to Alf.

It is a very historic place and we have found a very historic -

I'm afraid, not modern - mystery house.

-It is...

-Which one?

-..this.

-SHE GASPS

Goodness!

-All of it.

-It is certainly very large.

-This is definitely a project.

You need to put your dream goggles on.

Oh, I see. Sounds good.

They seem a bit bewildered by this imposing 17th-century building.

It was formerly owned by a local winemaker

and is literally a piece of village history.

I just hope Suzie can detach herself from her modern clean-cut taste.

CHUCKLING

-Chuckles all round.

-Oh, my goodness. Look at that.

So, as with all these commercial buildings,

this would have been where they sold their products.

So the wine would've been sold here.

But it's also got all these lovely features,

like the bread oven as well as the beams.

-Spectacular.

-It really is, isn't it?

The actual house is incredibly sound,

even thought it's more than 400 years old.

That's very, very impressive place, I have to say.

This is just the beginning.

One of the most lovely features is the stairwell.

This...is part of the listing of this building -

extraordinary balustrade.

It's one single tree that goes all the way up.

-This is just astonishing.

-Yeah, absolutely.

The rest of the downstairs features an attractive rear hallway

with a stunning fire surround and a functional utility room.

Directly below, there's also some incredible potential on offer

with a spacious wine cellar,

but we're following the twisty trunk up to a first-floor dining space.

Traditionally, this would've been the floor where people lived.

Downstairs was the reception room. Lots of sun, so you're south-facing.

Next door is a room that is currently a bedroom.

There's a kitchen at the back, which is OK, but small.

The obvious thing to do, really,

is just take out the dividing wall and turn that side into a very

nice, long kitchen/diner and have this as a sitting room.

We're talking about a whole project.

Revamping everything, isn't it, here?

At the peril of completely blowing a fuse in your minds,

I'm going to show you something that is a real project,

cos this is child's play compared to what I want to show you.

-Really?

-Brace yourself.

The twisting stairs continue on up to the second floor and the

main sleeping quarters, featuring no less than five bedrooms.

They could do with a lick of paint

but all offer plenty of natural light and up-to-date heating.

There are also two shower rooms with plumbing in good working order.

Carrying on up the house, we're heading for the roof space.

Notice the tree continues.

-Wow.

-Wow. Sometimes English just fails us.

Oh, my goodness. Amazing place.

This is the ultimate project.

-I can see your point.

-Yes, I can see daylight in places.

But you've got three amazing picture windows with this incredible

view down the Moselle Valley.

Oh, yes.

This would be the most incredible office.

-I think we might get quite creative...

-But wow!

Whether that's a good or bad thing with translations, I don't know.

Well, if you want to talk about views, wait till you see the garden.

They may find this historic house a little overwhelming,

but the outside space does deliver Will's dream vineyard.

A covered suntrap at the back of the house leads round to a terraced

rear space, rustic stonewalling creating tier after

tier as the plot extends up the hill to an impressive vantage point.

This is a very big step, this last one. So give me your hand.

Oh, thank you.

Ooh!

-So what do you think?

-I'm just dazzled. It's so beautiful.

Who needs a house when you've got a view like this?

You could spend all your time up here.

Down the slope, as we walk past, there's a small vineyard,

which belongs to the property too.

-What can you say?

-One of your wishes.

It's just speechless, isn't it, really?

It would require quite a bit of money to do it up.

So how much do you think all of this is on the market for?

I'd say 250,000.

I would say...

..£210,000.

Originally, this property was on the market for just under £134,000.

They accepted an offer for £113,000, but the offer fell through.

There's the, sort of, scope.

It just doesn't make any sense at all, does it?

No, it's a magical kingdom here in the Moselle Valley.

My goodness.

There are a couple more features that I didn't have the chance to show you,

which you can explore at your leisure.

When you're exhausted from all that, I'll see you at the front.

The historic mystery house is currently on the market

at just over £126,000. Although the owners are open to an offer.

It's a stunning six-bedroom 17th-century townhouse with

a former wine merchant's room and a unique, twisting stair balustrade.

The outside features a terraced vineyard of around a third of an

acre, but the crowning glory is the spectacular outlook over the town.

The thought that we could have all this for this amount of money

is just amazing. The location is superb.

Beautiful Moselle on our doorstep is just unbelievable.

It's so spectacular. It's stunning.

The history, you can feel it, really, coming off the walls and through the floorboards.

I think it's just too much work for us, really.

Goodbye to all this history for the time being. Let's go and discuss.

Come with me.

The Rhineland-Palatinate's charming capital Mainz may be

the headquarters of the region's wine-growing industry,

but it's also the birthplace of a home-grown talent whose invention

proved to be the most important development in modern history.

I'm heading to the heart of the city to meet art historian Judith Kernich

to find out more about this great pioneer,

whose work was one of the building blocks of modern civilisation.

Now, this is the regional capital,

but we're not here because of its history in that sense

-but because of one man.

-Exactly.

That man is Johannes Gutenberg.

At the end of the 15th century,

he invented the mass production of books.

That's the same importance as the internet, in a way.

You are really selling him to me. So Mainz is on the map.

Oh, definitely.

-So show me the museum, that'd be great.

-Yes, let's have a look.

This great figure has an entire museum dedicated to his work.

Although a basic form of printing existed before Gutenberg,

he was the first to print en masse.

This was down to his groundbreaking system of moveable letters, and an

ingenious press that revolutionised the production of books.

Is this the original Gutenberg press?

This is a rebuilt one,

because unfortunately nothing has survived from Gutenberg times.

It reminds me of the wine presses in the region.

Is that part of the innovation?

Yes, that's actually right.

This Gutenberg press is 95% of a normal wine press.

They only changed this bit down here,

where he wanted the pressure to be applied on to his printings.

Gutenberg found renown through the mass printing of the Bible.

He could complete around 180 copies in the same time as a writer

could produce just one.

This incredible speed led to an explosion in publishing

on a wide range of subjects, including natural science

and even the brewing of beer.

Reading for pleasure, cosy tucked away, that didn't

exist before Gutenberg because books were incredibly expensive.

Only the very upper class and the Church had books.

He made it affordable for normal people, finally, to buy a book.

Judith has agreed to show me the process

of Gutenberg's groundbreaking technique,

starting with the master templates for each letter.

You can see there are very many letters, very little boxes.

In each box we keep a different kind of letter.

Then you set them into a little...

This is called the composing stick, where the

composer took the letters he needed to compose each line of text.

The letters they didn't use an awful lot went into the upper cases.

The other ones went into the lower cases.

This is where it comes from.

So the vowels and letters like S and T and R,

they were all in the lower cases.

The capital letters came into the upper cases.

Oh, that's interesting.

The casting of the individual letters was originally done

with a lead-based alloy, but for safety reasons,

the museum now uses molten tin.

So, now, look. This is 300 degrees hot, fluid metal. I pour it out.

It hardens within seconds.

Careful.

It's still quite hot.

Now, it starts to harden, so... Which way round?

-This way round.

-Look at that.

This rapid rate of cooling allowed Gutenberg to form a diverse

range of characters at great speed.

They would then be laid out in the desired order,

ready for the ink to be applied.

Any red text would be inserted at the end to create the page header,

before laying over the paper and sliding it into the printing press.

So you have to pull this to provide half a ton of pressure.

Very good.

Now, open it again, in the other direction.

We can hear before we see if it's a good print, because

if you've done it nicely, then we will hear the printer's kiss.

-STICKING

-Wow.

-That was it.

-That was a big kiss. Mind your hand.

-Look at that.

-Oh.

Oh, wow. This is really nice.

-That is beautiful.

-That's what you've just printed.

I don't know if my work's up to scratch, but it's been fascinating

to look at how this local man from Mainz rewrote history.

For now, I have another pressing appointment - to see whether Will

and Suzie are closer to the dream of relocating in this lovely region.

It's been a full-on week for Will and Suzie here,

what with skittles and vineyards and getting their tongues

around German, and also looking at all our houses.

So let's find out what they're thinking.

We started the week by the Moselle

and we're ending the week higher up the banks of the Moselle.

When we started off, you were talking about the anxiety of not really knowing German,

not having ever lived here before. How are you feeling about that now?

One thing I've learned in a week is that it is doable,

we can learn the language. That's what we plan to do.

What about you, Will? Have you felt that you're going to have

a good stab at integrating, will it be too difficult?

No, I don't think it's going to be.

We've seen this week how friendly German people were, or are.

I think that's been a great eye-opener to us, hasn't it?

I've committed myself internally to really integrating

and almost becoming German.

-Were you surprised by the prices?

-Yes!

-We were. I was.

-Yes and no.

We had a pretty good idea of what prices were, except the sort of

properties you showed us, cos we've not looked at anything like that.

That was a complete eye-opener, the wine cellar one.

Then the big property up in Alf that we've just seen. That's unbelievable.

You said that you wanted to be near your friends, obviously.

But, I mean, we gave you some properties that were pretty close to the Zell.

Alf is only half-an-hour away from your friends.

In terms of location, it is

a location that we would be very happy with.

I'm reading between the lines that none of our houses quite met the mark, even the modern one.

I loved the modern one.

We just think it's a little bit far from our friends.

And I think it would be a help having them around,

especially as the husband's German,

administratively when we get stuck in here.

Along the way, apart from the houses, what have you learnt? What's become clear for you?

Coming here has just confirmed that the decision to move to

Germany is right for us.

Yes, it's only got better and better.

I'm much more positive now than when I first arrived.

It's been a joy showing you around, cos you're both very enthusiastic.

I really do believe that you're committed and you'll come here

and you'll find that perfect house. I can wish you viel gluck.

-Oh, danke schon. Thank you very much.

-We've really enjoyed it.

It's been great, hasn't it? Really enjoyable time.

We've shown Will and Suzie a varied mix of properties.

Modern architecture remains their true love,

but I hope we've focused their search as to where

they really want to be - the heart of the Moselle Valley.

And I think because the market is quite sprightly here, they will

find the house in the perfect location and in the perfect style.

I hope that you join us next time for more Escape To The Continent.

Will and Suzie are still determined to make the move.

Whilst they've had lots of interest in their house,

they're still waiting for a formal offer.

In the meantime, German lessons are in full swing,

and they're hoping to visit the Moselle Valley

in the next couple of months to clinch the home of their dreams.

If you too are looking to escape to the continent

and would like our help, you can apply online...