moving to Auvergne

[sophiezest]

Hello all,

We are considering whether to move to France in the next few years and are starting to look into the area around Clermont Ferrand as a possibility. We have a little boy and both speak French.

If anyone could answer a few questions based on their experience, I would be very grateful:

What's the weather like?
Is the area really as inaccessible as they say, i.e. how are the train links in particular?
Is it very hard to find a job?
Have you found it easy to make friends? Are the locals friendly?

I would be interested to hear from anyone living in a village outside Clermont Ferrand. I'm concerned about feeling isolated in a village, but perhaps it's actually easier to meet people.

Any other comments and experience gratefully received.

[Bevdeforges]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I'm assuming you're coming from the UK, so you don't have the visa issues some of us had. I only know the Clermont Ferrand area kind of indirectly. We had a customer there, and my husband (who is French) spent some considerable time down there on a project. We've been back a couple times just to visit.

The weather in the area can be cold (in winter, anyhow), especially if you're at the higher altitudes. (On the other hand, there is some great skiing in the area, if you're into that.)

Finding a job can be a challenge - but that is the case all over France. In and around Clermont, the big employer is Michelin - and they have been letting people go in recent years. It can depend on what line of work you're in - and for foreigners (even from within the EU) just how good your French is.

As far as making friends, you'll probably find that you really need to make an effort. French society is largely based on family, and if you don't have family in France, that makes it just that much more difficult. Take a look around for a group called AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises), which is a welcome group for new arrivals. AVF -- Accueil

Each AVF group is a little different, but usually it's a great way to integrate yourself into the community when you're new in town. France is a country full of small villages, and like small towns and villages all over the world, they don't always take to new comers right away. Being part of a group like AVF or just realizing that you have to make the extra effort can really help.
Cheers,
Bev

[haricotvert]

We are hoping to go and live in the Auvergne in the next couple of years. Getting work and perfecting the lingo are our primary hurdles, it's difficult but anything is possible. We have somewhere to live and we are doing our homework and researching to make sure that we have an income to pay the bills and live a simple life. (which we are already doing now)

My mother already lives there in a tiny village in the Auvergne, she's the only Brit, lives by herself and has integrated in very well. Her French is improving slowly.....she's been in France for about 5 years now! The locals have been the most welcoming, generous and helpful people you could wish for, but it's necessary to go out and join in at the fetes, community events etc.

The weather is quite extreme, as she resides up in the hills. It snows, it's windy and there are massive storms, but the Summers are hot and the Spring is lovely too. Get a good woodburner!

It is difficult to get there, but it's worth it. A car is vital for getting about in rural areas.