FRANCE is a hugely popular country to visit but in many areas there can be an oversupply of gîte accommodation.
This coupled with a relatively short summer season can make it difficult for many rental property owners to sustain a viable business, writes Ross Husband of Rent a place in France.
IF you have bought a property in France through an estate agent, how much can you ask of them post-sale?
Having never bought a place myself, this question was running around my mind after receiving a couple of emails.
The Saône et Loire department of Burgundy consists of six district areas the Autunois Morvan, Bresse Bourguignonne, Chalonnais, Charolais Brionnais, Le Creusot Montceau and Mâconnais Clunisois.
Each of these areas has their own particular attractions, so wherever you visit in the department there is something for everyone.
Southern Burgundy was identified as a prime habitable area 400,000 years ago when cave dwelling animals that were prey to our prehistoric ancestors inhabited the area that was to become the Saône et Loire.
The European continent was being roamed by major Celtic tribes 
and some decided to settle in the area; the Eduens in the Morvan and the Ambarres in the Bresse. The ancient city of Bibracte, which sits atop Mont Beuvray, was the birthplace of Vercingétorix who united the Gaul tribes in the battle against Caesar’s legions.
Following his victory over the Gauls at Alésia, Caesar showed lenience toward the Eduens with his construction of Augustodunum, the present day Autun, which was labelled ‘sister city and replica of Rome’ and was destined to become one of the principal capitals of the Gallo-Roman provinces of Gaul.
MOTORSPORT journalist Joe Saward normally spends his time covering Grand Prix races around the world.
But when as a junior reporter he looked to tell the story of three racing drivers from the 20s and 30s who went on to help the Resistance in France, he had little idea of the challenges ahead.
ALTHOUGH Johnny Halliday may have fled to Switzerland to dodge the French tax authorities, it is not an option open to many.
So issues concerning tax are likely to be high up on many people’s agendas when they are thinking about a move to France.
The Nièvre, by the sheer fact that it is the department with the largest proportion of the Morvan, is less populated than the other departments in Burgundy.
Morvan is a Celtic word and it means Black Mountain. But don’t be put off, because it is the sparsely inhabitated plateau of granite and woodland which appear from hills and farmland that give it such an appeal.
The highest point in the Morvan, for you cannot talk about the Nièvre without mentioning the Morvan, is Haut-Folin; standing at 901 metres (2,928 ft.) on the slopes of Mont-Beuvray.
Burgundy is one of the largest regions of France and covers four departments l’Yonne, Nievre, Cote d’Or and Saone et Loire.
Burgundy is also a rich region historically, cuturally, gastronomically and economically with each department having something different to offer visitors.
Once Burgundy was France’s most powerful rival with territory extending well beyond its present boundaries.
For today’s visitor there is something for everyone, centres of medieval religious faith at Vézelay, Fontenay and Cluny, the massive Morvan National Regional Park that covers all four departments, and Dijon, the capital of Burgundy as well as the Cote d’Or with its wealth of art and splendid grat palaces relating to the old Burgundian nobility, to name but a few.
Burgundy is well know for it’s extremes. We get cold winters, hot summers and spectacular thunderstorms.
Summer can see temperatures up to around 40 degrees while winter can get down to about minus 15 degrees and when a thunderstorm is forecast people unplug computers and televisions.
This week we had the first snow, about six inches of white, powdery stuff, which seems to emphasize things you don’t usually notice.
Our large fir tree in the courtyard would have looked beautiful over Christmas, but with the smaller bushes it looks clean and fresh out there.
A LIFE in the countryside, where manners and respect hold sway, are the main reasons people are keen to live in France.
Often people will say that they moved to France because they felt it was like 1950s Britain, where neighbours have time for each other and that there is a real quality to life.
Our first house in France. At one and the same time it was exciting and scary.
There was work to be done without doubt. The house needed total decoration and a kitchen! We had a sink but nothing to cook on so it was a girl’s dream, retail therapy!
We sat and wrote a list then planned our shopping trip. To start with we bought a kitchen table, a table top cooker, a microwave and fridge freezer.
We needed to investigate the area and get to know our neighbours and the first thing we found was that rural Burgundy was like going back 40 years in England.