Every year more than 12,000 Americans make the move to live in France. For many, the attraction lies in the unparalleled charm of French cities and towns, the slower pace of life, the excellent food and wine, and the friendship shown by the French towards Americans.
Certainly, of all the cities in France, Paris stands out as the number one place chosen by Americans to more to, because of its high quality of life, vibrant culture, fine arts, a large international community, and, well… being Paris.
However, if you’re in search of a more relaxed pace of life in a place with a strong community feel and a unique French character, there are a number of towns that have proven to be very popular among Americans and are home to significant US expat communities.
Where to live in France as an American? Here are our towns of choice:
1. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence – A quaint artistic town with an intimate rural feel
The beautiful region of Provence has long been popular with Americans and this lovely town is proving quite a draw. Surrounded by pretty countryside, vineyards and olive groves, the town is just 20 minutes south of Avignon and sits close to the Apilles mountains.
Saint-Rémy has a great selection of shops, that are all within easy walking distance in its pedestrian center of pretty cobbled streets. The town is large enough to offer good amenities, but small enough to feel intimate and to make friends easily.
Saint-Remy has a rich history that can be traced from medieval times and the monastery of Saint Paul de Mausole is where the artist Van Gogh lived and was treated for his mental illness. There is a twice-weekly market.
Close to the town there is a nature reserve which is perfect for hikers and mountain bikers. The calendar is dotted with special events including the abrivados for all the local horse riders who use horses for their work.
The streets are lined with coffee shops and restaurants to enjoy. We recommend Château des Alpilles, where diners enjoy their meal outdoors under the tall trees. Clubs include ones for rock climbing in the Alpilles, hiking, gliding (St Remy has its own tiny airfield) and tennis.
A number of Americans have settled in the town, including Californian, Keith Van Sickle, author of the best-selling books ‘One Sip at a Time – Learning to Live in Provence’ and ‘Are We French Yet?’
Local tip: Check out these Meetup groups for expats living in or near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
2. Eymet – A tight-knit expat community in Brittany
The Dordogne as a region is really popular with American expats, as well as British and Dutch who love its picture postcard vistas and lovely châteaux. Eymet is a particularly attractive beautiful 13th century bastide town, situated in the south-east of the beautiful region.
Its popularity is evident in its sizeable and welcoming expat community – equal to 20% of the local population. The architecture in the town square is particularly stunning with medieval arcades, carvings and paintings.
Eymet has a relaxed and welcoming vibe particularly on market day (Thursday). There are plenty of shops where English is spoken and non-French foods plus newspapers and magazines are stocked.
There are several different clubs to enjoy, including an international ladies club, Eymet cricket club and a hiking club. There is also an Anglican church service every Sunday in Le Temple. All the shops and amenities are within easy walking reach as are the coffee shops and restaurants.
Local tip: Connect with others like you at one of these expat clubs in Dordogne and surrounding areas and church services at Eymet Temple.
3. Sarlat-la-Canéda – Well-known for its local food specialties
This lovely town very popular with Americans is situated in the Périgord area in western Dordogne and is known for its medieval architecture, cobbled streets, history and particularly good range of local foods.
It is interesting that after playing an important role in the country’s history, the town was largely abandoned by the mid-1800s and work did not begin on restoring its buildings for 200 years. Since then, the streets and buildings have been carefully restored to their former glory – many of them by expats who enjoy the challenge of a building project!
Since medieval times, a twice-weekly market has been held in the main street and seasonal temptations include foie-gras, truffles, local walnut-based specialities including Le Croquant de Sarlat, local liqueurs and wines from Bergerac. There is plenty of fresh produce, which in the early summer includes fraises du Périgord, plus local cheeses, fruits and vegetables.
What is important to mention is that although Sarlat gets really busy in the summer months with tourists, it never loses its authenticity or its slower pace of life.
Local tip: Join a Facebook group for Americans living in the Dordogne region
4. Villefranche-sur Mer – All the delights of the French Riviera
This delightful seaside town on the Cote d’Azur near Nice, has brightly painted houses and is gaining more American residents who find its views over the Mediterranean, mild climate and relaxed lifestyle so appealing.
The town has a rich history because in the 13th century the Rue Obscure – meaning ‘hidden street’– was built by the villagers so that they could be protected from pirates and they could also hide their wines.
The harbor area is pretty and in the summer months is filled with snazzy yachts. It is one of the deepest harbors in the Mediterranean, so it is popular with cruise ships too. The harbor is lined by many little restaurants and bars making it a good place to while away the hours.
The town is built on a hillside so everything is either up or downhill! If you can’t find what you want locally, the bus takes just five minutes to reach Nice, which is a good access hub with an international airport and large railway station with services including the TGV.
Villefranche has plenty to offer everyone with beautiful beaches near Cap Ferrat, hiking country and golf courses. For those who enjoy exploring, the town is just 30 minutes from Monaco and 45 minutes from the Italian border. There are several local social groups including a thriving international ladies’ club that meets every week.
Local tip: Expat women can connect with other expats in town via Villefranche sur Mer Ladies Facebook group.
5. Castelnau-de-Montmiral – Offers the perfect light for artists
Situated in the Tarn countryside is this exceptionally well-preserved bastide town that once had the reputation of being impregnable. Its hilltop position offers superb views over the Forest of Grésigne and the countryside and lies not far from the Gaillac wine-growing area.
The central square is called Place des Arcades as it is surrounded by medieval arcades and this is where the weekly market takes place, the three-day music festival – Musicales de Montmiral – in July and the Honey Fair every August.
The town is ideal for those who enjoy gentle walks or strenuous rambles – on foot, mountain bike or horseback and the Vère Valley is particularly popular.
In recent years, the town has attracted a number of American residents who are artists as it has been found that the light is particularly clear and bright and excellent for those wanting to capture everything from landscapes to architectural details on canvas.
Local tip: There is always plenty going on in Castelnau-de-Montmiral and much of it is organized by the Hello Association.
6. Cahors – With its 700-year-old market dubbed “best in France”
Cahors is well-known for its beautiful setting, charming old town and its close proximity to the Pont du Gard (the impressive Roman aqueduct). Cahors is situated not too far from the city of Toulouse, overlooking the River Lot and stands in a big ‘u’ in the river in the Occitane Region – not too far from the Spanish border.
The town is a warren of narrow squares and pretty plazas and stands not far from the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. The main entrance to the town is the pretty 14th century Valentré Bridge, with its six arches, which spans the river. The town is perfect for wandering around as there are so many historical buildings and 25 Jardins Secret (Secret Gardens).
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings its market – listed as one of the best in France – is held outside St Etienne Cathedral.
Cahors has a growing expat population, including Americans who enjoy its restaurants, markets and history. For wine lovers, there is “the black wine of Cahors” to discover which is made from the Malbec grape.
For those who enjoy walking, mountain bike riding or horse riding, the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park, is not far from Cahors and has more than 1,000km of pathways.
Local tip: The town also has a fun bilingual social club for that organizes regular meals, trips and both French and English lessons.
7. Uzès – Perfect for those who love sunshine
Perched on a hill and surrounded by rocky greenery is the town of Uzès. This small town lies in the Gard department of Languedoc Rousillon and its blend of historical charm, modern amenities and friendly residents make it an increasingly popular choice with American expatriates – as well as its surrounding villages.
There is plenty to do there all year round and much to explore within a radius of 80 miles – including Provence and the ornithological park at Pont du Gau. The beautiful south coast is just a one-hour car drive away. Life in the town does take on a more leisurely pace during the summer months as the temperatures often reach 104F (40C) making leisurely lunchtime siestas essential.
The centre of the town is charming with mellow limestone buildings and a lively market held every Saturday in the circular road La Place Aux Herbes. The market features stalls selling local honey, nougat and lavender soap as well a number of excellent organic stalls and is fringed by several friendly little coffee shops.
Uzès has great shopping including a number of food and chocolate shops that have earned it the title ‘Gastronomic Centre of the Gard’. It even has several art galleries and artisan jewellery shops.
Local tips: French classes are available at the town’s L’Universitié Populaire and are always in high demand, while other activities include a cooking school, walking club and reading group. There is an Anglican church situated about 30 minutes from Uzès called St Michael in the Gard. Connect with other expats with via this website.
8. Cotignac – With a multinational expat community
Situated In the heart of ‘Provence Verte’ –‘Green Provence’- in the Var department in southern France, Cotignac is a small town known popular among Americans for its beautiful setting which has the cliffs known as ‘Rocher’ with a tumbling waterfall as its backdrop.
The center of Cotignac is pedestrianized, showcasing numerous honey-colored stone buildings and a lively cultural scene that has captured the hearts of American, Canadian, British, German and Norwegian expatriates that today make up 15% of the town’s population.
The summers in Cotognac are hot and the winters mild, so much of daily life is spent outdoors. There is great countryside to explore; including the amazing canyon of Gorges du Verdon and endless vineyards for making the region’s famous rosé wines. The coast is just one hour away. Popular outdoor activities include cycling and hiking as there are more than 40 routes in the vicinity. The area is perfect for those seeking a gourmet lifestyle as there are numerous little bistros and 10 Michelin-starred restaurants in the area.
Cotignac is certainly a warm and welcoming town and with over 30 different nationalities living there makes settling into a new life in France very easy.
Local tip: For socializing, check out this popular Anglo-American Group in Provence
Paris may be a very special place to live, but for many, it has its own distinct lifestyle which is more cosmopolitan than classically French. On the other hand, smaller towns certainly provide a unique opportunity to experience the authentic way of French life, while being part of a warm and welcoming expatriate community.
Apart from being more friendly and intimate, living in a French town is also more affordable with a greater choice of affordable housing and this too makes them more attractive to many Americans planning to settle in France.
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