Making A Life In France

For fifteen years Peter Mayle worked as an advertising executive and then he quit, desiring another type of life. He resigned to become a writer in the mid 1970s. No, his early books were not about going to France to live in an idyllic village somewhere in Provence. These early books were pitched for children and were educational in content.

It was not until 1989 that his bestseller, the armchair travel guide 'A Year in Provence' appeared in the bookshops and paved the way for a lifestyle revolution. It quickly attracted the attention of people who lived in grey and damp northern climes; individuals who spent the winter dreaming of summer sunshine. It enthused them to go to southern France in the summer because it introduced those folks to a dream. A dream of going to France where skies were blue, the days were lazy; the food was mouth watering and the wine out of this world. They saw themselves sit on a terrace where the stones were still warm as the sun set. The dinner had been delicious and the glass of wine rounded off a dreamy day.

In 'A Year in Provence' Mayle describes a year of his life as an ex-pat in a small village in rural France. His story opens with the 'Foie Gras' season that happens as the New Year dawns and gradually takes us towards the magical summer. Then the village prepares to welcome the influx of visitors who go to France for their holidays. This is interspersed with the events surrounding the visit of the 'Tour de France' cycle race that swept through the area. After that had gone the year wends into September and preparations are made for 'La vendage' when the grapes are harvested so that another year's worth of wine can be made. Next comes the autumn which is the beginning of the hunting season and time to pick the mushrooms. The time, moreover, to find the star prize the truffle. The year wends on towards the gastronomic extravaganza, which is Christmas and then draws to an end.

In 1993 a television series was launched on Television featuring the book, and John Thaw played the lead role of Peter Mayle, himself. This really caught the attention of the public. They went to France and they still go to France to find and share this dream first brought home to them by Mayle's revelations.

Many simply visited, and from these visits they began to look for houses to buy. They bought properties in towns and villages all over Provence. The book was translated into other languages and other nationalities came, too. As the influx increased houses came more scarce and property prices in the area began to increase and those people began to seek other regions that shared the warm summers and mild winters.

South Western France then became a new focus and now many live and own properties in Aquitaine. There are still bargains to be had in that region which comprises the 'Departments' of Dordogne, Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne. For the price of a two bedroomed flat in Kensington and Chelsea it is still possible to go to France and find a chateau or if your needs are more modest, simple village houses can be had for very modest prices. If you would like to share this dream and go to France, it is still very much within your reach!