My France
Joanna Leggett , Marketing Director of
Leggett Immobillier lives in Dordogne and has lived in France for around 20 years . We asked her what she loves most about France …
Since the very first time I crossed the Channel as a teenager , I ’ ve always loved France . Now I couldn ’ t imagine living anywhere else ! I could write a book about my favourite things – I may yet – in the meantime , here ’ s my top 20 !
1 . Luscious , sweeping landscapes , breath-taking scented fields of Lavender in Provence ; fields of sunflowers in the Charente ; magnificent lakes below the French Alps .
2 . Long relaxed summer meals in the garden as the sun goes down - or seated around long tables beside a large open fire at lunchtime in the winter .
3 . The joy of dining in France is taking the time to talk as well as eat .
4 . It ’ s also about adopting the idea of living to eat , not eating to live . The French eat smaller courses , then sit and digest properly .
5 . Expanding my culinary repertoire ! Neighbours have promised to show me how to prepare Foie Gras following a long discussion about exactly how many minutes it should be cooked à vapeur !
6 . I adore Paris – it ’ s a compact city and just so beautiful . I love visiting its food and flower markets and discovering new things around every corner .
7 . The glorious ocean beaches of the South West Atlantic coast . My absolute favourite is St . Jean-de-Cap-Ferret , a beautiful bay opposite Arcachon not far from Bordeaux – Arcachon , of course , is famed for oysters !
8 . While on the subject of seafood , the sheer joy of sharing a freshly caught plateau of Fruits de Mer while overlooking the sea in a quaint old port in Brittany – heaven !
9 . The beautiful gardens everywhere in France – my favourite time is May when gardens are full of an early summer bloom and heady with the scent of roses .
10 . Beautiful buildings , châteaux with fairy-tale pointed towers , ancient churches , old stone houses – mine dates back to the 13th century - the