Uzès often casts a magical spell on market day. Visitors fall under its charm when greeted with a bustling Provencal market, an endless supply of street cafes and a backdrop of local bands and singers performing on the streets. As you get to know the area the villages of the Uzège invite you in and slowly open up their secrets. But what inhabitants and visitors truly fall for is the beautiful surrounding countryside with its rolling hills, clipped vineyards and orchards and its dramatic gorges.

The Auvergne region is probably best known for its stunning scenery and wide open spaces so it may come as a bit of a surprise that there is also plenty for those who prefer a more bustling lifestyle.

Far from it! Just recently I received a comment along the lines of “these estate agents are all the same.” Said in jest I must admit, but it did however make me think how we at VEF could be perceived.

It’s that time of year again! With the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix in quick succession, Provence is the place to be. With Cannes only a 25 minute drive from our office and Monaco just over the hour, what better location could there be than Provence Var?

It just got easier to get to your new holiday home in the Hérault and the Minervois.

One of the things I thought I'd miss most when coming to live in France was the cinema. I'm not a movie buff but I'd always tried to keep up with the latest releases. So it was with great joy that I discovered the cinema in Uzès, "La Capitole".

Dear Trisha,

Juliet Harris in the Brittany office was extremely helpful and simply there at every turn to provide advice and guidance.

Our buying experience in France ran smoothly and we were confident in the knowledge that VEF had matters in

Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves to realise we’re not dreaming!

I am looking through the programme of concerts for the famous season of "Nuits Musicales d'Uzès", trying to decide which to attend. As I do so my mind goes back to one of the wonderful events from last year's programme.

One of the most common views as you travel around the region is the acres and acres of vineyards. However, knowing about the different types of wines that are produced in this region can be a challenge.

Where can you enjoy a Provencal lifestyle in a Tuscan landscape, and experience vibrant, sophisticated French big-town life while living in the intimacy of a small, perfectly preserved medieval country town?

This weekend is Eurovision weekend, and Ireland will be watching with baited breath as our much anticipated entrant, Dustin, belts out his “Irlande Douze Pointe” and hopes to ruffle a few feathers in the process! Dustin by the way is a “fowl” mouthed turkey and hopes to knock Terry Wogan off his slot as the most interesting character in the show!

1)France is the most visited country in the world, receiving over 79 million visitors annually (including business visitors, but excluding people staying less than 24 hours.) [1]

2)There is a short supply of properties. It is estimated that Franc

Having just opened the Languedoc-Provence VEF Partner Office in Uzès, one of the most important tasks is helping clients to picture the types of properties that are available and what they might have to pay for them.

Dear Ms Mason,

All we can say is wow! Everyone at VEF has been brilliant and we cannot thank you enough. All the staff in London have been great and the VEF office in the Languedoc was very professional.

Regards, Peter Johnson

I’m not sure any music was played, but I do know that Franz Liszt visited Navarrenx during 1828 with his protégée Caroline de Saint-Cricq as there is a plaque commemorating their visit at the Porte Saint Antoine, the huge stone gateway in the ramparts giving access into the cobbled square beyond.

There is no doubt that things are hotting up in the Vendée. As summer is fast approaching the temperatures are up and so are the numbers of serious house buyers.

The recent market slump has resulted in many investors looking to purchase in France so as to spread the risk of their UK portfolios. Trisha Mason, our managing director, recently stressed the importance of a well balanced property portfolio. She believes that it is essential to have some “stable” property assets to counter the balance of riskier investments. And, at the moment, it looks like UK property is a risky investment!

Jessica and I had a wonderful time last week and actually stayed in the flat on Friday night. Eating out on the balcony with the view of the Duke's castle was a stunning moment and we still feel like we're in a dream over it!

I can only say thank

The Charente is growing in popularity amongst British property buyers due in no small measure to the climate and rolling countryside, but also because there are beautiful, affordable traditional properties still to be found.

Food prices across the globe have been rising substantially over the last year, most notably rice and wheat. Gordon Brown, who is pushing for the issue to be on the agenda for the G8 summit in Japan, explained that food prices are up 45% and food reserves are at a 30 year low. These food price rises are pinching the pockets of the UK consumer.

If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into the property market in France but aren’t quite sure where to go, perhaps this might help.

As a young family living in France, we wholeheartedly love our new life here, away from the long commute to work in England, the grey skies and the long hours and stress our jobs brought.

We are extremely happy customers of VEF and have nothing but praise for the efficient, professional and courteous approach of the joint Tarn team of Gillie and Anthony Pearce who guided us though each stage of the selling process with tact, discretio

As the UK mortgage market toughens up and becomes more and more restrictive, the French mortgage market is becoming more liberal. A good comment on the reliability and stability of the French property market. At a time when other countries are reducing their mortgage products, the French mortgage industry is offering better deals to buyers.

The variety of this region always astounds me. In many ways, the land is controlled with neat olive groves and strict lines of vines and lavender, but one of my favourite walks is to go to the gorges of the Gardon.

A Year in Provence, Toujours Provence, Encore Provence….just some of the titles by Peter Mayle that captured the imagination of thousands of readers and had many looking to recapture the “art-de-vivre” so masterfully portrayed in these chronicles of daily life for an Englishman in Provence.

A Year in Provence, Toujours Provence, Encore Provence….just some of the titles by Peter Mayle that captured the imagination of thousands of readers and had many looking to recapture the “art-de-vivre” so masterfully portrayed in these chronicles of daily life for an Englishman in Provence.

A Year in Provence, Toujours Provence, Encore Provence….just some of the titles by Peter Mayle that captured the imagination of thousands of readers and had many looking to recapture the “art-de-vivre” so masterfully portrayed in these chronicles of daily life for an Englishman in Provence.

According to the official website for Dijon airport, the regional council for Burgundy has now found the money to begin work on consolidating the runway, and is committed to re-establishing low cost flights from Dijon into London Stansted.

The French Property market is shrugging off the effects of the much talked about “credit crunch”. In fact, the latest figures from FNAIM, the largest federation of French estate agents, show that prices across France rose by 3.3% in the first quarter of 2008.

Dear Sophie,

Thank you very much for translating the letter from GE bank. We would also like to thank you for all your hard work and support over the past 6 months. Both you and Alan have been fantastic and we are very grateful that VEF have been

Dear Michel,

Thank you so much for all the work you and Stephanie have done over the past 6 months. It has been very reassuring knowing that you have been there for us. We are looking forward to many happy years in our new home.

With kind rega

In the past, the majority of UK and Irish clients looking for property in the Charente were mainly searching for holiday homes, a little pied-à-terre in the sunny climate where they could enjoy their summer break.

Here's something to cheer you up if you are feeling that your French property spending power has been reduced by the ongoing problems in the UK property and mortgage markets and the strength of the euro.

…spring and summer arrived all at once. It’s been like waiting forever for a bus, and then two come along at once!

For one thing, the sun shone! In fact, according to Meteo France, Burgundy was the warmest region of France this weekend, with temperatures reaching 29 degrees.

With the current economic and exchange rate issues causing concern for UK-based French property hunters, it is important to remember a few key factors that can help you make your search a successful one:

Pau has a unique place in the history of motor racing as the name Grand Prix was first used here to describe the race run through its streets in 1900.

Now that the spring has arrived there is much more house hunting activity in the coastal areas of Pyrenees Orientales. French people from outside the region are securing future investments here in the south by buying property for their own summer use and to rent when not being used. Not only does their home here pay, but they have secured their future home in the sun.

Everyone we have had dealings with in the team has been very helpful – thank you so much.

Anna Wells

We have just returned from France and although we did not find our dream property on this occasion, we will be back in a couple of months to look again. We were very impressed with the service we received.

Regards, T Jones

Driving along the quiet country lanes this week, with the radio on, my attention was caught by a discussion about the property market.

Part of my work looking for houses is spent trawling through property websites and sometimes I go to the ‘English’ version just to see what is happening…

Summer has finally arrived, though given the recent cold spell here in Ireland you would be forgiven for breaking in to “a winter’s tale” rather than Sam Cooke’s classic but as a nation of eternal optimists, we have been stocking up on parasols, rosé and sun screen, ready to make the most of May’s sun when it finally appears for half an hour!

Just in case you were all holding your breath to hear news of our new arrivals you can breathe easy now!

Last week the village we live in on the Vendée coast played host to the 2008 World Surfing Championships. The place was awash with people from all corners of the globe who will follow and compete in the event in places such as Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Hawaii, California, the Maldives, Newquay and Scotland!

The VEF partner office in the Drôme now shares its office space with Connie Perkins who heads the company Drôme Ardèche Property Services or DAPS as she prefers to call it!

‘Rustic chic and utterly unique’ is the name we have given to property reference 140700, which we have for sale in the Tarn et Garonne. What, I wonder, does that name conjure up to anyone looking to buy their dream property in France?

I have just blown out the candles of 21 years, unfortunately not birthday ones, but 21 years of living in France and most amazingly I am still getting used to it!

A recent article in the Financial Times suggests that the UK is likely to escape a repeat of the negative equity crisis of the 1990’s.

Dear Ms Mason,

I would like to thank you for the wonderful service that your company provides. Every member of the team, whether in France or the London has been great. We will certainly recommend you to our friends.

Many thanks, Mr and Mrs I

As the sun shines brightly, café terraces fill up and jumpers are shed, it’s time to catch up with all the spring jobs.

Angouleme-Cognac airport has been open for just 3 weeks now, and is set to increase property prices in the Charente.

For some weeks now my biggest problem by far has been finding houses to suit my clients. Normally I have lots of vendors contacting me asking me to sell their properties but there are several reasons why at the moment this is not happening.

In the towns and villages the pavement cafés buzz with locals and visitors, basking in the early summer sun.

“Now I am not in the habit of repeating myself”– (or quoting characters from Kilnascully for that matter!) – but as the month of May fast approaches and the French buyers emerge from their long sleepy winter, prices in France look set to continue their upward trend as recorded in the first quarter of 2008.

There can be only a handful of places in the world where one can surf the finest beaches in the morning before skiing the pistes in the afternoon and this epitomises the contrasting landscapes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

We have spent last weekend living the dream of life in France. First of all we were invited to lunch with some friends who manage a very successful vineyard on the outskirts of Beaune.

Suddenly the ‘feel good factor’ has gone, people are worried whether they need to be or not, the news is always glum.

Never has there been a better time to hang on to your dreams and turn them into reality. Put the problems of the UK and Ireland behind you and make that move to France. Whether it’s a holiday home or a full time move, give yourself something to look forward. But proceed with caution.

Over the last few weeks those of you that are Daily Mail readers in the UK and even in Spain have been able to collect vouchers for a pretty 3 bedroom Neo Breton cottage near La Gacilly. This property has actually been purchased through our VEF Brittany office. We are looking forward to meeting the lucky winners and handing over the keys in June but not before our legal team in London has advised on your inheritance which is all part of our VEF service.

Already famous for being known as the “cradle of mankind” and as the place where some of the world’s most important prehistoric remains have been discovered, the Dordogne is pleased to break the news surrounding a different type of missing link!

The International Living magazine has just produced its quality of life index report of 2008. It ranks 192 countries on the basis of certain criteria such as culture, environment, climate and health care. It has come as no surprise to me that France has been voted number 1, whereas the UK came in at 37th. Why? For me in Provence Var, having made the move 3 years ago I can sum it up in one word- “lifestyle”.

Dear Ms Mason

I feel I must write in the strongest terms to express my utter and complete astonishment at the standard of service provided by Mr Banks from the VEF partner office in the Drome Ardeche.

I have never in my life experienced such

France is the most visited country in the world so good holiday let investments are made by many investors year after year but although we all know what we like when it comes to our holiday rental accommodation, underrating local market trends can be a crucial and unfortunately a common mistake.

We’re very excited as this week sees the launch of one of four new routes from the UK to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

With the arrival of Spring the Vendée has well and truly blossomed. The early Mimosa blossoms have given way to the fruit blossoms and the trees are heavy with flower. The Vendée is known throughout France as being one of the most strikingly green departments and its charming inland stretches have been compared to typically rural England.

To quote Addison, “swift and resolute action leads to success; self-doubt is a prelude to disaster”

Is the pound over valued? If you were to pose this question to any manufacturer in this country there would be a unanimous, “YES!” The truth is that the pound has been over valued for too long and it is now, at last, falling back to realistic levels.

FNAIM, the largest federation of Estate Agents in France have just issued their figures for house price rises for the first 3 months of the year. An average of 3.1% is the increase across all of France with the South East (Provence and the Alps) showing a massive increase of 5.3%.

Dear Trisha,

I just wanted you to know how helpful my conversation with Charlie on your sales team was. I have begun to think that I would not be able to buy a house in France but he gave me lots of ideas and made me think really seriously and now

For many people the idea of moving to France is a truly appealing one. The prosect of living in your dream home in the perfect rural idyll whilst enjoying all that the French lifestyle has to offer seems ideal.

A rare half an hour in control of the remote led to me to watch an innovative programme by comedian Des Bishop entitled “In the Name of the Fada”.

The report of a poll published in the Telegraph today indicates that the French take more holidays than any other nation. A grand total of 37 per year.

I understand you are thinking about putting your search for a property in France on hold due to the weakness of sterling against the euro at the moment. It is always sad when something you have been planning has to be ditched because of circumstances outside your control, especially when it comes to buying in France.

With all the bad news around concerning the UK property market it is good to know that the figures for 1st quarter 2008 have just been published in France, and guess what, property prices have risen by 3.3%.

It was with a wry smile that I read of track closures, engineering works and commuter chaos in London yet again.

One of the inevitable facts about city living is the traffic. All central and local governments are trying to encourage people to get out of their cars and use public transport - the next stage is for people to get out of public transport and to use bicycles which are much more environmentally friendly, as well as healthy.

It seems that the French have finally given in and accepted that English is the language of the winners.

One thing that never ceases to surprise me is why does everyone always invest during a bull market?

Dear Sophie

Thank you very much for all your hard work and professionalism to get us a very good mortgage in these difficult times. It was so easy and you have guided us every step of the way. Not that we have come to expect any less from VEF and

This weekend was very pleasant but not too unusual.

We all know that French property is a lot better value for money than property in the UK, especially at this time of uncertainty with the UK property market. This makes it all the more worthwhile to invest in France and we’ve found you a few of bargains to whet your appetite.

As once a working mum in the UK I know that child care is expensive and often not easy to come by just for the holidays, but here is Brittany everything is much easier and cheaper!

Isn't that what people with little taste do in Spain? Aren't they modern, single storey, rendered and lacking those important features that UK and Irish buyers have traditionally looked for in their French property?

Hi Charlie

I thought I'd let you know that we met with James today as planned and had a thoroughly enjoyable time with him.

He is professional, very well informed and his enthusiasm for life in France comes across and is very encouraging and in

Dear Sir / Madam

As a long time resident of the south east of France, notably the famous region called “Provence”, I would like to make a complaint.

Always a popular destination for foreign, and in particular, British visitors, the Dordogne has always been influenced by the English in particular since the days of Richard the Lionheart and the 100 years war.

Denis, Alan and Anna,

Thank you all very much for helping us get to completion. It has been a long process, but Janet and I are really happy to be the proud owners of a new house in France! We both greatly appreciated all your hard work and assi

The VEF Vendée partner office has only been open for a matter of months but already we have sourced, viewed, photographed, measured and mandated almost 200 properties.

It’s rare to find such a beautiful, stone character property in one of the most popular and sought after villages in the Charente, with land and a river running through it, at such a great price!

We bought our house in the Loire Valley through VEF in November 2007. A property exactly fitting our specifications was found by Tony Wells in the VEF Loire Partner office on our first visit to the Loire in August 2007. There was no "time-wasting" on

Over the past five months, VEF has been warning clients that the pound was likely to weaken against the Euro during 2008. In fact, just last month, on the 4th March 2008, I wrote, “The GBP/EUR exchange rate is likely to remain around its current level, €1.3079 to the £1 at the time of writing, or worsen during 2008.” I was right!

Lakes, rivers, waterfalls and mills…..if you are looking for a property with water nearby then we have just taken on 2 beautiful properties that just might tickle your fancy.

We are so pleased with our new holiday home in France. We contacted VEF at a French property show where we were introduced to Peter from the Pas de Calais. From there we made a booking to view some homes in our price bracket. John very kindly showed

FNAIM, the largest federation of Estate Agents in France have just issued their figures for house price rises for the first 3 months of the year. An average of 3.3% is the increase across all of France with the South East (Provence and the Alps) showing a massive increase of 5.9%.

Standing proudly overlooking the Loire river, this department, the capital of Indre-et-Loire has historic links going back to the Roman Empire in 1BC, then called “Caesarodunum" ("hill of Cesar").

One of my favourite places in the Charente is the Charente leisure lakes, with lovely sandy beaches, cafes and playgrounds for my lively daughter!

Hi Tanya and Allan,

Now that the house is ours, we just wanted to drop you a line or two to express our thanks for all the work you have put in above and beyond the call of duty. We are very pleased with the property that we have purchased, it me

Thought you couldn’t afford a house in France? Well think again!