The Rail Trail Lavalanet to Mirepoix

A place in France

I think I may have found it. in Belesta, near the Mountains, and the Canal du Midi, and a
Rail Trail, and to Spain

View from the 3rd floor 

The 3rd floor

The Kitchen

House hunting in Mirepoix

It occurred to me that it is possible for several families to buy into a 12 bedroom chateau. I’ve seen one! Euro 250k between a consortium of say 10 ~ 12 families is only Euro 25K each max. Bit like a share in a ski lodge. And 12 shareholders each to  ‘own’ and redecorate their own room, and working bees to renovate the common areas – including ballroom!

How do you go about something like that?

A question I was at pains to ask the Agent Immobilier was about any local English Community. Most place I have been they have kept a very low profile if there at all.

Here in Mirepoix apparently, on Monday’s (for some reason), most of what you hear round the cafes in the church square is English and Spanish. And English speaking social groups abound. Which is great if you like that sort of thing or in desperate need for some company -  English speaking or otherwise. Hey – there might even be a resident Australian exile lurking!

My visit to the local Supermarket to buy a blackpudding (of all things) and wine (of course) for dinner revealed a woman in the check out quueue behind me who is Englsih and live here and 'vouches' for the very active Englishs community.

Buying a ‘maison de vacance’ in France 101

Have enough spare cash at least for something habitable. If you want to restore a ruin you are probably certifiable. There are plenty of places available that just need a makeover. If you have enough money for a chateau you don’t need to be reading this.

Choose somewhere you already know and like: closer to Spain, England, Switzerland elsewhere? France is quite big, even measured by Australian standards (or lack of).

Decide first on ze size of the village: Isolated houses limit engagement with the locals. So can an apartment in a large town. Do you really want to live on a main road?

Courtyards, gardens, or other outside areas and views are all nice to have. Proximity to local attractions like rivers canals or lakes are also nice to have (for waterbabies anyway)

Find and contact all the local Agences Immobiliers,  And the local Notaires (basically public conveyancers with lists of properties for sale). The typical English language websites on the subject don’t even scratch ze surface of what the local Real Estate Agents list on their websites.

Have a car and comfortable place to use as a base – with internet access. And have a few weeks to spare. Doing it on a bike with a tent as you pedal through doesn’t work - trust me.

Choose somewhere that is easy to find late in the day: Inviting friends to use a place they still can’t find at 1am after travelling all day is no fun for them - even if they do have a GPS. I know - tried it once.

Maybe shortlist several then take a break while you make your offers – the buyers prerogative to decide how low. Houses are like buses – they’ll always be another one along in a moment (unless you live on the outskirts of London). Trade secrets tell me a place that’s been on the market for a year is likely to consider dropping the price by 20% at least.

If you are really lucky (as I was) you might stumble on a English (or good English speaking Notaire) – they only charge minimal fees compared ot immobiliers and a useful fount of info easy to convey.

Also if you are lucky you find a French Immobilier who's French is so clear its no problem. and you ger the odd French lssson thrown in: apporter vs emporter.

And lastly, why do you want to own a ‘maison de vacance’ when you can probably lease a different one for a few weeks / months each year, with less trouble and probably expense.

But today I found a place that won my heart. At Belesta near Mirepoix of all places.

Canal Du Midi

As I returned to from Millau to Mirepoix I realised I would cross the Canal Du Midi somehwere between Carcassone and Toulouse. A real estate agent's window in Castelnaudery caught my eye with promising properties.

When I asked if the Canal Du Midi was somewhere in the area the nice lady agent said the main port was 50 meters down the road so off I set.
The first person I chanced upon as I gazed on the beautuful canal was a fellow of a similar difficult age as myself. I asked him in polite French if here knew where the 'Basin' was. His quizzical look marked him immediately as an Englishman.

Ian  (a Mecahnical Englineer) and wife Ros had their canalboat berthed nearby and invited me to stay for dinne: And convinced of the advantages of canal boats over houses and introduced me to the european waterway network. Interestingly their modest size boat packs a car on the back deck. Ian designed and built the boat with wife Ros or course.

I wonder why four out of five men I have met in my travels are Professinal Engineers of one sort or another. I think I know.

Millau, Pinet and Montjaux

Montjaux, along with several  dozen villages I have seen can only be described as 'Medievil Central.' But the area was not for me, in spite of the famous new Millau Viaduct.

Nigels house above the River Tarm

So cosy by night

And so convenient for washing day

Medieval Central

Assorted photos I'm too lazy to set in place

Next door to Nigels place in Pinet (on Tarn)

Now this is a bridge - actually (a bit of) the Millau Viaduct