Q & A

Subject: Where to live for 6 months?

Question: Hi! I'm planning to spend about 6 months (March - October) writing in France next year. I'm trying to figure out where to base myself. I'm looking for a city/town that is affordable (so Paris is out), beautiful, easy to access by rail, but is a decent size or has access to cities with active culture. Any recommendations? Thanks!

Answer:

I live in Strasbourg and it is right in the center of Western Europe. You would have easy access to Germany and be an hour away from Switzerland and two from Luxembourg. The one draw back is that Strasbourg is four hours from Paris by train. The TGV (High speed train) is coming in 2006, or so the government said. Strasbourg is very different from the rest of France as it is in Alsace. You can still hear people speaking Alsacien now and then and the food and architecture are very distinct.
Another suggestion would be Bordeaux; it is actually closer to Paris time wise, three hours, than Strasbourg. It is a very French city, I lived there for two years and loved it. It is not that close to other large cities but it is very much a cultural center and the weather is much better than Strasbourg. Bordeaux is also about an hour from the beach.
I don't find Strasbourg nor did I find Bordeaux to be that expensive. Both would be wonderful places to live. I have to say that wherever you live, you will not be disappointed, France is a wonderful country to live in!

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