Monthly Archive for June, 2009

One of the many French properties lived in by Picasso is being opened up to the public this summer.

For the first time this year the Chateau de Vauvenargues, near Aix, is being opened up to the public, according to Nick Trend from the Telegraph.

Picasso lived there with his family in 1959 when he was 80-years-old.

The home is still owned by his stepdaughter Catherine Hutin and visitors can expect to see an amateur film made by the painter from when the artist and his family moved into the French property.

Mr Trend says the Picasso Museum in Antibes is also a must-see show - the chateau was used as a studio by the artist in 1946 and is, according to Mr Trend, one of the most beautifully located museums in the world.

In addition, there are four more exhibitions available to the public this summer in Provence about Picasso.

These include the Cezanne Picasso Exhibition in Aix-en-Provence, the Catherdral of Images sound and light show in Baux-de-Provence, the Musee Reattu in Arles and the Museum of Photography in Mougins.

Picasso is famous for developing the Cubist movement in art in the first part of the 20th-century.

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French property in the Burgundy wine region has been resisting the downturn in the property market.

Houses in the Cote d’Or do not often appear on the market but when they do, they rarely stay available for long.

As the area is dedicated to vineyards, development opportunities also do not appear very often. But the natural beauty of existing property means it can be a canny investment for those quick enough to snatch one up.

Su Bishop of Arena Park France, specialists in high-quality conversions in the area, said houses usually pass between family members instead of reaching the open market.

"In the rarity a house becomes publicly available it’ll invariably be relatively expensive and the owner will never have to contemplate reducing the price simply because they can afford to wait for that hungry buyer," she added.

Arena Park France is run by Su and her husband. They employ a team of French and English-speaking craftsmen to design and renovate old stone buildings in the region.

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French property created by architect Le Corbusier has been nominated as a Unesco World Heritage site.

The World Heritage Committee is meeting this week in Seville to decide which areas will make it onto the list.

Most sites have a cultural significance but others include natural areas of beauty that include both countryside and culture.

Already there are 878 properties on the list which are considered to be significant beyond the borders of the country and to the world at large.

The first places to become World Heritage sites when the list was created in 1978 were the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador and the city of Quito.

Since then, areas such as the Palace of Versailles in France and the Angkor Wat temple complex of Cambodia have been added.

Currently, 30 of the listed areas are in danger from threats such as poorly managed tourism, pollution and urban development.

The UK is a member of the National Commission for Unesco and aims to promote mutual understanding, peace and sustainable human development.

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The English owners of Edith Piaf’s former home in the south of France are returning to England.

Rupert and Sophie Scott moved into Les Parretts six years ago, reports the Telegraph.co.uk.

Mr Scott said: "We decided to take a year off and came out here. But we started to have such a nice time that we decided to stay."

Their three children attended an international school in Mougins.

"It’s been a life-changing experience," Mr Scott adds.

"At the end of the day, the tax is still cheaper and you get more house and land for your money."

Stuart Baldock, from Property Vision, says it is important to get the right kind of house when moving to France. Families have different requirements of a permanent home than a holiday home.

Things like near-by schools and proper, non-tourist shops are a must.

The life of Edith Piaf was recently captured on the film La Vie en Rose, starring Marion Cotillard who won an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of the singer.

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Many French properties are currently being sold by British expats to their fellow countrymen, it has been stated.

In a feature on the subject, the Daily Telegraph has noted that some expats are looking to cash in on the high value of the euro against the pound.

However, estate agency Winkworth revealed that most of these properties are being bought by Britons seeking to make the opposite move.

Speaking of the British sellers, representative of the agency Roddy Aris said: "The advantage is that they can take lower offers than their French counterparts. They can take a bigger hit."

Such a situation could mean buyers of French property are able to negotiate greater discounts from Britons than others.

One reason many UK buyers are still keen on French property is the lifestyle benefits the country offers.

A poll of expats by NatWest found that France was the top country in Europe for quality of life.

Visit Rightmove Overseas for the best selection of French property. Stop dreaming, start searching!