As a busy real estate agent working with a lot of overseas clients, I get to see many properties in France, but now and then I come across one that really stands out for buyers coming in from abroad. This property I’ve just visited in Sainte-Croix, in the heart of Aquitaine, is just one of those. With 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, spread over about 185 square meters, it’s a stone house that people here call a “Petit Manoir.” It’s not everyday you find a place in France that ticks so many boxes for people relocating, buying a second home, or just wanting a bit of that French lifestyle.
Let me start by giving you a bit of the local flavour. Sainte-Croix is a really nice village, mostly known to people who have been coming to this part of France for years. It sits in Aquitaine, which is a region famous for wine, sunflower fields, and that slow rhythm of village life you don’t always get elsewhere. The climate is, I’ll say, one of the highlights—mild winters and summers that are usually warm but not as punishing as in the far south. You can expect to spend a lot of time outside, making it good for anyone wanting to enjoy their garden or the pool during long afternoons. You’ll meet plenty of locals here, but also a good mix of expats and holiday home owners, so you don’t feel like the odd one out if you’re coming from overseas.
If you’re thinking day-to-day life, the basics are all covered. There’s a bakery not too far off, a small supermarket, pharmacy and a couple of restaurants and cafés where you can actually get a seat without the tourist crowds you get closer to the coast. Bergerac and its airport is about 40mins’ drive, so getting here from the UK or the Netherlands isn’t too difficult, to be honest. The surrounding ... click here to read more
