IN TODAY'S ISSUE #6
(See past issues here)
📍 Hidden Gem: Cholet — Where textiles meet vineyards in western France.
🏡 Affordable Find: A charming 3-bedroom stone barn renovation for €125,000. And a cozy studio next to Cholet train station.
🎓 Workshops + Webinars: Two sessions coming in September — my TMB hike stories and an expert session on running a gîte.
📺 France Must-Watch: From the medieval magic of Puy du Fou to the zen beauty of Maulévrier’s Oriental Park.
👋 Personal Update
Today is my wife's birthday!
After hiking over the Fenetre d'Arpette (highest point on the TMB), we're staying at the Peuty yurt in the Swiss town of Trient.
Beverages will be had to celebrate! 🥳
We've been married for almost 27 years. I met her at UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Tarheels!) where she was on a full scholarship to play volleyball.
Let's just say I know where my daughter, who's on a swimming scholarship at UGA, gets her athletic talent. I love you honey!
Let’s get into it –
📍HIDDEN GEM - Cholet, Maine-et-Loire
Located in Maine-et-Loire, Cholet is a lively town known historically as the textile capital of France, and today it balances industry with a warm, small-town feel.
Its mix of cultural life, proximity to vineyards, and affordability makes it a great option for retirees seeking an authentic French lifestyle.
Cholet boasts a rich heritage with the Textile Museum, Gothic churches, and plenty of green spaces, including Parc de Moine. Outdoor lovers will enjoy the nearby Loire vineyards and easy access to hiking trails.
Situated about an hour from Nantes and Angers, Cholet is well-connected by train and road, making travel across western France a breeze.
The town itself has everything you need — shops, restaurants, cafés, and a weekly market buzzing with life.
Best of all, property prices in Cholet are far lower than in major cities. That means your euro stretches further, whether you’re looking for a lock-and-leave pied-à-terre or a family home with garden space.
📍 Fast Facts: Cholet
🚉 Train Station: Gare de Cholet — ~1 hour to Nantes
✈️ Nearest Airport: Nantes Atlantique — 1 hr 15 min drive
🏥 Nearest Hospital: Centre Hospitalier de Cholet — Cholet
🛍️ Amenities: 🛒 Grocery 🥖 Bakery 🍷 Bars/Restaurants 🌳 Greenways 🎭 Culture
👣 Walkability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Flat, compact center with most daily needs nearby
🧺 Weekly Market: Yes — every Saturday morning
🌦️ Climate: Mild oceanic — cool winters, warm summers, comfortable year-round
*Anything underlined is clickable 🔗
🏠 AFFORDABLE FINDS
✨ Stone Barn Renovation in Nueil-sur-Layon – €125,000 ($137,000)
This beautifully restored stone-built village home offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open-plan living and dining space — all move-in ready.
The enclosed walled garden is private and large enough to add a hot tub or even a small pool.
Nestled in a vibrant village near Montreuil-Bellay and Doué-la-Fontaine, this property combines rustic charm with modern comfort. A rare gem at this price point.
✨ Le Cocon Airbnb in Cholet – $1,223 (month)
Just 250m from Cholet station, this 28m² studio has been beautifully renovated by an interior designer.
With a mezzanine bedroom, equipped kitchen, cozy lounge, modern bathroom, and access to WiFi and Netflix, it’s designed for comfort.
Perfect for exploring Cholet and nearby attractions like Puy du Fou or Parc Oriental de Maulévrier.
⁉️ DID YOU KNOW?
Cholet is famous for its red-and-white checked handkerchiefs — “mouchoirs de Cholet” — which became a symbol of the Vendée uprising during the French Revolution.
🎓 Workshops + Webinars
🏔️ Tour du Mont Blanc Stories & Photos (with Tommy!)
Fresh from the trail! Join me as I share photos, stories, and lessons learned from hiking the legendary Tour du Mont Blanc.
📅 Sept. 17th
🕖 7pm EST
No registration required
🏡 How to Find & Run a Profitable Gîte in France (with Rupert Springfield, from The Gîte Guru)
Dreaming of running a gîte? Rupert Springfield, known as the Gîte Guru, will share insider tips on choosing the right property, attracting guests, and making it profitable.
📅 Sept. 29th
🕛 12pm EST
No registration required
📺 France Must-Watch
Enjoy these beautiful, free videos I found!👇
🎥 The Insane Historical Theme Park With No Rides
The Puy Du Fou theme park in France is perhaps the craziest, most insane historical theme park in the world. With gladiators, knights, vikings, and many more massive stunt shows this park is unlike anything else I've seen. Originally inspired by the likes of Disneyland, Disney World, and Universal, this park decided to take things in a completely different direction, and the results are stunning.
👉 Watch it here
🎥 Cholet - confinée déconfinée
Great street and drone footage of life in Cholet, France.
👉 Watch it here
🇫🇷 One Step Closer to France
That’s it for this week. Whether you’re dreaming, planning, or already packing—we’re in this together.
Until next time,
Tommy
PS - Have you been to Puy de Fou? It looks amazing, but I can't tell if it's a tourist trap or legitimately the best them park I've seen.