Angoulême - any opinions?
Discussion
I'm once again looking at French houses, this time as a permanent residence rather than as a holiday home, as permanent remote working may well be a possibility post Covid.
The region around Angoulême seems on paper/internet to offer a lot for the money. It is on the TGV to Paris when we have to be back in London. You can get good decent houses for not much and it isn't far from Bordeaux which as a wine lover is a real bonus. As a petrolhead the Circuit de Remparts is a huge attraction as well, and I understand the whole area is popular with cycle tourists, etc. (These things are considerations both for living there and if we need to return to the UK and rent the house out as a Gite or AirBnB.)
Does anyone have any experience of the area and any tips to share?
Which direction is better to be looking at? South of Angoulême or north? Does it matter?
Should we aim for Dordogne?
Is there decent internet in the villages and towns yet?
Is it full of expats or still mostly French?
What's the weather like?
The region around Angoulême seems on paper/internet to offer a lot for the money. It is on the TGV to Paris when we have to be back in London. You can get good decent houses for not much and it isn't far from Bordeaux which as a wine lover is a real bonus. As a petrolhead the Circuit de Remparts is a huge attraction as well, and I understand the whole area is popular with cycle tourists, etc. (These things are considerations both for living there and if we need to return to the UK and rent the house out as a Gite or AirBnB.)
Does anyone have any experience of the area and any tips to share?
Which direction is better to be looking at? South of Angoulême or north? Does it matter?
Should we aim for Dordogne?
Is there decent internet in the villages and towns yet?
Is it full of expats or still mostly French?
What's the weather like?
As it happens I was about 20 miles south of Angouleme, towards Riberac this morning.
Angouleme is a good size town. Alot of it is a dump, with some nice bits. Train is good to Paris and direct to Lille to catch Eurostar.
Bordeaux is a good 2 hours away, which can be a pain if you have a morning flight, as I did today.
I would say look south, but am biased as that is what I did.
Weather good, very hot in summer, get a pool.
Interntet access good, with Orange Livebox giving good speeds, even in small places.
Far too many expats for me, although you do not have to mingle with them. If you speak French, and make friends with your mayor it is possible to get in with locals.
Oh, and in the winter a lot of it shuts down.
Do not choose a village without at least some local amenities just because it looks twee. Going 5km for bread and milk is a pain, especially given that France shuts down fairly frequently for bank holidays etc...
Angouleme is a good size town. Alot of it is a dump, with some nice bits. Train is good to Paris and direct to Lille to catch Eurostar.
Bordeaux is a good 2 hours away, which can be a pain if you have a morning flight, as I did today.
I would say look south, but am biased as that is what I did.
Weather good, very hot in summer, get a pool.
Interntet access good, with Orange Livebox giving good speeds, even in small places.
Far too many expats for me, although you do not have to mingle with them. If you speak French, and make friends with your mayor it is possible to get in with locals.
Oh, and in the winter a lot of it shuts down.
Do not choose a village without at least some local amenities just because it looks twee. Going 5km for bread and milk is a pain, especially given that France shuts down fairly frequently for bank holidays etc...
Edited by psgcarey on Wednesday 17th June 14:03
I live about 30 minutes south of Angouleme and can confirm what has been said above.
Whilst the Circuit des Remparts is a great event, I wouldn't move into Angouleme just for that.
Air travel is the biggest bugbear as, when we moved, Ryanair had frequent flights from Bergerac to Bristol from March to October, now it's just July and August. Limoges has slightly more flights back to Bristol but it's a 2 hour drive. Bordeaux is also a 2 hour drive with the ringroad being a particular nightmare !!
The TGV from Angouleme to Paris is easy and comfortable with frequent running.
Angouleme is also about 2 hours from the coast, 3-4 hours from the Auvergne mountains for skiing and about 5 hours to the Spanish border.
So, all in all, I would say south of Angouleme towards Riberac is a good starting point. And don't dismiss the ex-UK residents because they can become a lifeline if things get difficult and you need help. I have found the French (rural) friendly but not too easy to form friendships due to the language and cultural differences and, it's a big and, if you don't speak at least some French, take lessons.
Whilst the Circuit des Remparts is a great event, I wouldn't move into Angouleme just for that.
Air travel is the biggest bugbear as, when we moved, Ryanair had frequent flights from Bergerac to Bristol from March to October, now it's just July and August. Limoges has slightly more flights back to Bristol but it's a 2 hour drive. Bordeaux is also a 2 hour drive with the ringroad being a particular nightmare !!
The TGV from Angouleme to Paris is easy and comfortable with frequent running.
Angouleme is also about 2 hours from the coast, 3-4 hours from the Auvergne mountains for skiing and about 5 hours to the Spanish border.
So, all in all, I would say south of Angouleme towards Riberac is a good starting point. And don't dismiss the ex-UK residents because they can become a lifeline if things get difficult and you need help. I have found the French (rural) friendly but not too easy to form friendships due to the language and cultural differences and, it's a big and, if you don't speak at least some French, take lessons.
We have been here 6 years after saying for 30 years " when I retire, I can see us living in France "
Well, circumstances in the UK changed, several loved ones did not live long enough to see retirement so my wife and I decided, do it while we can.
There are big challenges such as language ( I spoke some German and my wife some French), the culture which is very different to Britain, the paperwork and governmental systems etc, but we love it here.
The biggest challenge ? Missing family back in the UK.
Whilst they are keen to visit for a few years, they want to see other parts of the world and gradually don't come so often or for so long. And women who miss their grandchildren seems to be the biggest reason many return to the UK.
Well, circumstances in the UK changed, several loved ones did not live long enough to see retirement so my wife and I decided, do it while we can.
There are big challenges such as language ( I spoke some German and my wife some French), the culture which is very different to Britain, the paperwork and governmental systems etc, but we love it here.
The biggest challenge ? Missing family back in the UK.
Whilst they are keen to visit for a few years, they want to see other parts of the world and gradually don't come so often or for so long. And women who miss their grandchildren seems to be the biggest reason many return to the UK.
same here Paul trying for over 25 years first ,children, then parents getting older, now it's grandchildren we have been doing classic runs for over 25 years in the EU and now do 2 runs a year to France and members of a French motor club and attend their National every May but we had to cancel this year it was in Saint Affrique we also attended Angouleme Circuit de Remparts for over 8 years and now it's all passed by. We are booked up for September to Normandie for 2 weeks and hoping we will still be able to travel 
Ralley de ramparts is still on this year at the moment.
Expat's are all over the Anguleme region but easy to avoid if that's what one wants.
Not a bad town for commerce etc.
Strangely I don't like the south of the city. Apart from the circuit de saintonge.
House prices are on the floor in the whole region but you will see higher prices across to Cognac and into the 17.
Expat's are all over the Anguleme region but easy to avoid if that's what one wants.
Not a bad town for commerce etc.
Strangely I don't like the south of the city. Apart from the circuit de saintonge.
House prices are on the floor in the whole region but you will see higher prices across to Cognac and into the 17.
Magooagain said:
Ralley de ramparts is still on this year at the moment.
Expat's are all over the Anguleme region but easy to avoid if that's what one wants.
Not a bad town for commerce etc.
Strangely I don't like the south of the city. Apart from the circuit de saintonge.
House prices are on the floor in the whole region but you will see higher prices across to Cognac and into the 17.
Can you recommend and websites beyond French Property and Leggett for looking at property? Expat's are all over the Anguleme region but easy to avoid if that's what one wants.
Not a bad town for commerce etc.
Strangely I don't like the south of the city. Apart from the circuit de saintonge.
House prices are on the floor in the whole region but you will see higher prices across to Cognac and into the 17.
Thanks
Paul
There are two online 'papers' that are worth swotting up, one is called MonOc and the other is French Connexion. You won't find many houses on either but you might get a steer into immobilieres who may be in the Angouleme area, they are also full of useful info, ads etc. I have been to the Circuit several times and have very much enjoyed those weekends but beyond that I remember more how hilly the town is which becomes quite tiring after several hours clambering around the place!
Paul-427 said:
I live about 30 minutes south of Angouleme and can confirm what has been said above.
Whilst the Circuit des Remparts is a great event, I wouldn't move into Angouleme just for that.
Air travel is the biggest bugbear as, when we moved, Ryanair had frequent flights from Bergerac to Bristol from March to October, now it's just July and August. Limoges has slightly more flights back to Bristol but it's a 2 hour drive. Bordeaux is also a 2 hour drive with the ringroad being a particular nightmare !!
The TGV from Angouleme to Paris is easy and comfortable with frequent running.
Angouleme is also about 2 hours from the coast, 3-4 hours from the Auvergne mountains for skiing and about 5 hours to the Spanish border.
So, all in all, I would say south of Angouleme towards Riberac is a good starting point. And don't dismiss the ex-UK residents because they can become a lifeline if things get difficult and you need help. I have found the French (rural) friendly but not too easy to form friendships due to the language and cultural differences and, it's a big and, if you don't speak at least some French, take lessons.
SWhilst the Circuit des Remparts is a great event, I wouldn't move into Angouleme just for that.
Air travel is the biggest bugbear as, when we moved, Ryanair had frequent flights from Bergerac to Bristol from March to October, now it's just July and August. Limoges has slightly more flights back to Bristol but it's a 2 hour drive. Bordeaux is also a 2 hour drive with the ringroad being a particular nightmare !!
The TGV from Angouleme to Paris is easy and comfortable with frequent running.
Angouleme is also about 2 hours from the coast, 3-4 hours from the Auvergne mountains for skiing and about 5 hours to the Spanish border.
So, all in all, I would say south of Angouleme towards Riberac is a good starting point. And don't dismiss the ex-UK residents because they can become a lifeline if things get difficult and you need help. I have found the French (rural) friendly but not too easy to form friendships due to the language and cultural differences and, it's a big and, if you don't speak at least some French, take lessons.
I'd second Paul and PSG.... perhaps a little further south, when things are normalised easy access (1 hour-ish) to Bordeaux for Airport connections, Paris TGV, sophisticated quality retail and restaurants would be a good idea.
You will find without question a very beautiful place to live, very reasonably. Try the app Bien' Ici which is the best app I have found so far.. Also the website https://www.green-acres.fr
As outlined a pool is absolutely essential. I have the French wreck and restored T-shirt, if I was doing it all again I would try and find properties restored by the English, Dutch or Germans.
Brilliant quality of life down there.. best of luck with it.
StonedRollin said:
Magooagain said:
Ralley de ramparts is still on this year at the moment.
Expat's are all over the Anguleme region but easy to avoid if that's what one wants.
Not a bad town for commerce etc.
Strangely I don't like the south of the city. Apart from the circuit de saintonge.
House prices are on the floor in the whole region but you will see higher prices across to Cognac and into the 17.
Can you recommend and websites beyond French Property and Leggett for looking at property? Expat's are all over the Anguleme region but easy to avoid if that's what one wants.
Not a bad town for commerce etc.
Strangely I don't like the south of the city. Apart from the circuit de saintonge.
House prices are on the floor in the whole region but you will see higher prices across to Cognac and into the 17.
Thanks
Paul
One is called" French houses for sale under €50,000" and another called the same but under €100,000 it's almost endless the amount of pages there are.
Good bargins also,even in the high priced places.
Rent somewhere for six months or longer , preferably over the winter months and use it as a holiday house and visit as often as you possibly can , try and do a longer stay if possible, it may open your eyes . If your still intent on buying choose your preferred place and ask who's selling in your mayors office , you'll be better thought of and get something cheaper .
You can always visit London when you get bored !
That last bit is me having a joke with a previous poster .
You can always visit London when you get bored !
That last bit is me having a joke with a previous poster .
Matthew Barry at https://charente-immobilier.com/ always has a good selection of properties for sale.
Good hunting
Good hunting
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