Toulouse & the Dordogne—A Richer, Affordable Life in France

International Living‘s France Correspondent Tuula Rampont tells Dan Prescher about a recent trip, during which she sampled France’s second-largest university city…and explored village life in what may be the country’s most affordable region.

Tuula spent a day-and-a-half in the city of Toulouse, and five days in the Dordogne region and the village of Sarlat-la-Canéda.

With almost 500,000 residents, Toulouse is a remarkably walkable city. It’s vibrant and international, hosting visiting scholars and exhibitions, with a big Spanish influence since it’s not far from the border—and an active scene of U.S. expats too. Tuula remarks that the French have a (sometimes justified) reputation for being stuffy…but Toulouse is a place where they let their hair down. It’s down-to-earth and welcoming. Tune into your podcast to hear why Tuula finds this “a very attractive place to live.”

The Dordogne shows a different side to French life…sweeping valleys, golden farmsteads, and hilltop castles. The restored medieval town of Sarlat-la-Canéda (population 9,000) is a surprising hub for expat life. But perhaps it isn’t a surprise that more and more North Americans are settling here… Once you hear about how low costs are, you might want to move, too. “Are these numbers real?” was Tuula’s first response.

Tune in to find out…

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2. There are around 160 parks and green spaces around Toulouse. It's France's second largest university city, after Paris, and students account for one-fourth of the population. This youthful spirit is felt throughout town, as well as a passion for the arts that is seen through Toulouse's numerous museums, theaters, and concert halls. It's a "very international" city, Tuula says, hosting visiting scholars and artists. With this prestige, Toulouse is not the cheapest place in France. Many expats choose to live in the surrounding villages, lowering their costs while keeping metropolitan amenities close at hand. © Tuula Rampont