Evianers Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 After nearly 11 glorious years here in the Haute Savoie, the winters are beginning to take their toll. Neither of us ski, raquette, or participate in other winter sports which means that the six months of winter are very long.We are therefore toying with the idea of moving further south. For those who live in the Sarlat area [though which we passed two years ago and loved] could we please ask that you give us the benefit of your advice regarding living there.How long are the winters?Is there any snow, or much rain or frost?Which supermarkets are there in the town centre/outskirts?We hear that there is a thriving expat community. Are they all ex-UK residents?If anyone is thinking of selling up, please let us know! We are looking for a house/townhouse [without too many charges] with 3 beds/study, closed kitchen, integral garage on land of less than 750m2 [seems rather difficult to find in that area, as most have hectares]!For all responses, many thanks in advance and meanwhile, we continue to peruse Leboncoin and GreenAcres for properties that are for sale.Greetings from cold Evian Sheila Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alittlebitfrench Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 I quite liked Sarlat when we visited....but I would never want to live there. Boring as hell after 2hrs.We went in May and it was cold.The Loire Valley/Touraine wins hands down for climate. Not too hot and not too cold. Why do you think all the kings of France built Chateaux in the area. Yes, it was for the climate !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 [quote user="alittlebitfrench"]The Loire Valley/Touraine wins hands down for climate. Not too hot and not too cold. Why do you think all the kings of France built Chateaux in the area. Yes, it was for the climate !!!![/quote]Sshhhhh don't let on. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 Rubbish ALBF, it was because it was almost the only bit of the country that they actually held and from whence the6 could scarper pdq.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoddy Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 Sarlat supermarkets : LeClerc, Carrefour, Lidl, Casino, LeaderPrice.It can be very cold in winter it even snows sometimes, but the snow doesn’t really lie for days as it does in colder climes. Rainfall is about the same as the UK - it’s just that it rains on fewer days and we have spectacular thunderstorms.Be aware that it is quite a poor area - something that tourists tend to miss. There are very few jobs and I believe unemployment is high which makes prices high at the end of July/beginning of August. The local markets are excellent. When I first went I used to go early and follow older ladies who had shopping bags at the ready. I don’t believe you will find better strawberries anywhere in the world.In my commune a few miles south of Sarlat I am only aware of one other Englishwoman and she has been in France so long that it is easier for me to speak to her in French because she’s sort of forgotten her English. I think you need to be further west to find some English associations.I avoid Sarlat itself during the height of the tourist season because it is so busy. At other times it is quite wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 Great first-hand information Hoddy [:D]This site may give some useful other information:http://www.linternaute.com/ville/sarlat-la-caneda/ville-24520 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritinBretagne Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 A tourist town.Too busy in the season, too quiet in the winter.Beautiful town centre architecture. A better climate than the Loire Valley and better chateaux nearby. I would be surprised if you would find the winters shorter than those in Evian. I’ve often stayed in Thonon during the winter and found it pleasant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard51 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Bnb - do you mean Thenon?Hoddy does give a very fair description. Our house is about an hour and a bit north of Sarlat and we always make an effort to visit the place at least once per trip.Very subjective but would argue that the winter is about 4 months rather than the 6 months as in Evians area. Spring and autumn are superb (best time for Sarlat town) and summer can be hot. Definitely not as wet and miserable weather as in north of the Watford gap.Depending how rural you are it can be very quiet outside tourist season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evianers Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 Thank you for the replies so far - definitely makes interesting reading.No, Thonon is correct - next town along Lac Leman towards Geneva.One thing is for certain..... prices are half what they are around here!!Thank you Switzerland for offering such HUGE salaries and low tax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard51 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Ok I read it the wrong way round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Only visited ever as a tourist, but would agree with much that has been said. Have been in 47 in the winter, usually damp, but Sarlat is slightly more continental, so would expect slightly cooler / colder / drier winters, than slightly more the to the west which is under the atlantic influence, but not for so long, and less that on the Swiss borders, even given the influence of Lac Leman. Can be warm to very hot in summer, damp and cool in winter (done both). But given the variablity of the climate these days, and this year certainly being an exception, who can say for the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 The problem round Lake Lemon is a nasty wind called the bise, isn’t it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pip24 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 We have a house 25 min South west of Sarlat. To try to answer some of your questions. The temperatures that we have had are a low of -17 about 5 years ago. Highs of over 40. Mostly the temperature between June and September is in the 20 to early 30s . The good days seem to end about mid November starting again late Feb (this week it touched 15 on one day) the rain has been covered by other posters. How many UK people? 1 Welsh couple (who are leaving) 1 Irish couple who i have never met, a Scottish couple and 2 english couples. If you need to meet British people the best place to go is the golf club. I think there is also an expat group in Le Bugue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evianers Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 [quote user="woolybanana"]The problem round Lake Lemon is a nasty wind called the bise, isn’t it?[/quote]Absolutely correct! Perishing cold and has been for the last two days whilst the Bise worked its magic. Brings down the wind-chill factor by another 5 degrees I would say. But the area is absolutely stunningly beautiful so we are wavering. Spoilt for choice I would say [before anyone else does]! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 NormanH wrote : http://www.linternaute.com/ville/sarlat-la-caneda/ville-24520As you say Norman the unemployment rate (at 19.2%) was almost double the already-high national rate of 10.8% in 2014 - which is quite dreadful. So the area is poorer in general than would be thought on first viewing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard51 Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Not sure how important a metric the unemployment rate is for OP or people not looking for a job- especially in a touristy and rural area.Lifestyle in rural areas for locals with poor qualifications (or perhaps very high qualifications without a job) will indeed be low, but that could mean that for those who had high previous income elsewhere it is cheaper to live.For those seeking employment, then yes, it's definitely a problem and would make the area a non-starter.Other threads also illustrate how difficult it is to make a living if relying on gites or other tourist pursuits - its very competitive and such a short season to make the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 The "bise" cannot be that bad compared with the tramontane down here, but that is not Sarlat area! Here, possibly like the bise, it is a lazy wind as my sister says, it doesn't bother going round, it goes straight through!Dare I say, as has been said before, it does depend on what you are really looking for! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now