Hesdin

[IfNotNowWhen]

Very new to this forum, but after many years of visiting France we have decided to give it a go and hope to move next year (from Kent), probably to Hesdin (but still considering options). Retirement visa, so not starting a business, converting a gite or anything like that. Apart from improving our rusty language skills (which we are determined to do), we would welcome some insights. Any views on Hesdin specifically or that part of France more generally that you'd like to share please? Our specs are still quite rose-tinted, but we're pretty realistic about moving, and have done our research in to costs, bureacracy and so on, so it's more the character of the place and any unexpected elements that would be useful - in fact the question is, what was the most unexpected thing YOU found on moving to France (and Hesdin specifically, if any of you are nearby, perhaps!). Thanks, Mark.

[anotherbanana]

Country round is lovely but Hesdin is the pits, IMNVHO. It has been dying for a long longggg time. Most of the Brits seem to have gone.

I live 20 mins away, love the little valleys but need beach access, so am closer to Montreuil sur Mer.

 

[Lehaut]

I do not know the area, but I would make an effort to find out what the medical situation is.  Rural parts of France are suffering from Medical Desertification.

https://www.vie-publique.fr/en-bref/284823-acces-aux-soins-quelle-equite-territoriale-face-aux-deserts-medicaux

Dentists, Doctors, Hospitals etc are not equally spread about in France and can be a real problem in some areas to get easy medical attention.