Go North to Enjoy the South! Australians are being drawn to the lifestyle of the South of France. The preserved, friendly and authentic region features cities and towns that are historic and lively. They offer a unique art of living: shady sidewalk cafés where people sit chatting for hours on end year round, lazy strolls through a maze of narrow, winding streets to places in the heart of town that rushing tourists never get to see, and shopping in welcoming boutiques that welcome you like a friend. People enjoy cities and towns more in sunny Languedoc-Roussillon, where something in the Mediterranean air makes the people here very friendly.

The region of Languedoc-Roussillon is charming and spectacular with lush surrounds, vineyards and steeped in history. From the region you are thirty minutes to the Mediterranean and three hours away from Paris and the ski fields in the Alps and the Pyrénées.

Aigues Mortes, in the heart of the Camargue is an old fortified city. It represents a prestigious heritage, once a royal port, right in the midst of marshlands, in one of the most beautiful spots of Provence, the Camargue. The city marked by the crusades and the Templar Knights, prides itself on its bullfighting culture, gastronomy, wine and landscape.

The heart of Roman France, lies in the city of Nîmes. The city is on the border between Provence and Languedoc and features some of the most extensive Roman remains in Europe. Relics include the Pont du Gard; an extraordinary roman aqueduct and the Nîmes' Amphitheatre is the best-preserved in the Roman Empire, used in many films including Russell Crowe’s Gladiator.

Near Nîmes and Avignon, the discreet but elegant town of Uzes has preserved in its centre much evidence of its rich past. It was once the administrative capital of France when the Pope sat at Avignon. The town is a maze of small streets and shaded squares lined with 17th and 18th century private residences. The markets at Uzes have a reputation that is stretched beyond the region. Every Saturday you will find a profusion of regional products, in the warm and colorful atmosphere of provincial markets.

Why are Australians being drawn to a life in the South of France?

Australians are chasing a complete change in lifestyle with cultural indulgence. Aussies are immersing themselves in the history, the rich places to experience, the food and wine.

Bordering Spain and Italy with direct flights to the UK, the South is the perfect location for Australians to base themselves as they visit the rest of Europe.

Mostly we see professionals retreating to France to spend some or all of their time abroad in their French quarters. These individuals have the flexibility to take time away, can work from a remote office or escape to their vacation home. These aspects coupled with the ease of purchasing property in France and the mortgage facilities available are seen to be attracting Aussies to the lifestyle they dream of.

How do you set up life in the South of France?

The Russell Crowe film ‘A Good Year’ featured a number of properties typical of the region for sale. Quaint homes, villas, country houses, apartments, vineyards and chateaux are the many types of properties that are available.

The opportunity for Australians to purchase with 100% finance (subject to bank approval) their own piece of the sun-belt in southern France and retreat to their own residence is easier than you think. Principals, Stuart and Lidia Darlow from Pierres au Soleil, a real estate agency from the Languedoc- Roussillon region, will bring to Australian shores this winter a property showcase, providing information to Australians on how they can buy a piece of the lifestyle. Guest speakers will feature during the showcase discussing their experiences in owning property and the lifestyle in the south. Financial commentators will also discuss the tax implications and legalities involved.

Event: Pierres au Soleil Lifestyle and Property Showcase of the South of France
Melbourne: 18 – 20 July 2008, Bayview on the Park, 52 Queens Road, Melbourne
Sydney: 25 – 27 July 2008, The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 169 Castlereagh Street, Sydney
Brisbane: 1 – 3 August 2008, Seasalt at Armstrongs Restaurant, Inchcolm Hotel, 73 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill
Showcase hours: Friday 1pm - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday - 9am - 6pm.