Why Choosing Where to Live in France Is About More Than the View
It sounds like an easy question: If you have decided that you are retiring in France, what do you want to see when you look out your window every morning?
After traveling from Paris to the coast to the Canal du Midi in the past few weeks, I’ve learned it’s one of the hardest questions to answer — because it’s not really about scenery. It’s about the kind of life you want to live once the excitement of moving to France turns into an everyday routine.
The View Is a Clue
If you love the pulse of a city, your window might open onto rooftops, church bells, and café chatter. It’s energizing and full of life. But it’s also noisy, expensive, and fast-paced.
If you imagine sea and sunlight, you’ll find beauty — and crowds, especially in summer. Life near the coast can feel open and free, but it’s also transient; many people come and go.
If you picture vineyards, canals, or open countryside, you’ll find calm and community. But that often comes with distance — from services, transportation, and sometimes from a busy social life.
The view, in the end, reflects your priorities. But it also tests your trade-offs.
When the Dream Becomes Daily Life
Many people picture retirement in France as a blur of markets, long lunches, and rosé under the trees. And it can be that — but not every day, and not everywhere.
In smaller towns, life truly slows down. Shops close midday. Buses stop early. Winters are quiet, and conversations with locals take time and patience, especially in another language.
Those aren’t negatives. They’re part of the rhythm. Once you accept that, you stop comparing life here to somewhere else — and start living it on its own terms.
Finding My Window in Uzès
When I first arrived in Uzès, it was intended to be a brief stop on a longer journey. I had visited after the royal wedding in London, wandered through the South of France, and found myself here by chance.
But Uzès had something I hadn’t found anywhere else — balance. I could walk to the market, meet friends for a coffee, and still hear the town bells and birds in the same hour. There’s culture, but not chaos. Community, but not intrusion.
Out my window, I see stone walls and tiled rooftops — reminders of history and permanence. And yet, every day feels open-ended. That’s the balance I didn’t know I was looking for until I found it.
Your View, Your Life
So when you imagine retiring in France, start with what you want to see out your window — but think beyond the postcard.
Ask yourself:
What kind of pace feels right?
How much connection do I want with neighbors or other expats?
Do I need quiet, or do I need company?
It’s easy to picture sunlit markets and café terraces, but real life is built around your everyday habits, not holidays. The places that feel most rewarding are the ones that match how you truly live — not how you travel. Finding that fit takes time, but once you do, the view out your window feels less like a scene and more like home.
So when you imagine retiring in France, start with what you want to see out your window — but think beyond the postcard. Because in the end, choosing a view is really about choosing a way of life.
If you’re still searching for that “just right” balance — between bustle and calm, adventure and belonging — I can tell you this: when you find the view that fits, you’ll know.
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4 Responses
Bonjour, Deborah! I saw where you and your friend Paula met at the NYC Chorale Society. I’m hoping to convince my husband to move to France. He sings in various chorales here in California and I’m hoping he would quickly be able to find similar groups in France to join. Any thoughts on this? I’m planning to venture over in February alone to visit areas for possible retirement, including Uzes. It looks lovely! Thank you.
Hi Anne, thanks for your note. Yes, Paula and I met through the NYC Chorale Society. Actually, we were both guests of members of the choir on their visit to China. We’ve been good friends since, and now neighbors in France! Interesting you should mention this because I am more and more tempted to seek out a choral group in Uzès to join. I think it would do wonders for my French. There are similar groups in most of the towns near here. Surely your husband would find a group he loves. Let me know if you’re in Uzés. Best wishes on your travels.
Great post. I must be get to Uzès one of these days.
Thank you so much, Denise. I am happy you are enjoying BFB. Please stay tuned for more!