IN TODAY'S ISSUE #12
(See past issues here)
📍 Hidden Gem: Poitiers — a university city with heart, history, and affordable charm.
🏡 Affordable Find: Spacious downtown apartment steps from cafés for €277,000 or a central furnished rental for €995/mo.
📜 Tax Treaty Tip: “Do I have to file in France if my income is only taxable in the U.S.?” Yes, you do, and here's why.
🎓 Workshops + Webinars: French inheritance taxes and estate planning, Nov. 12th at 12pm EST.
📺 France Must-Watch: Walking Through 1000 Years of History in Poitiers.
👋 Personal Update
Lately, I’ve been trading my desk chair for a road bike. 🚴♂️
I’m training here in the U.S. to get ready for a ride along the Loire à Vélo later this month — from Tours to Amboise, with a well-earned train ride back.
The idea is simple: slow down, get outside the tourist zones, and take in the scenery the way it’s meant to be seen — from the saddle.
And this may just be a warm-up. I’m already toying with the idea of a ride across France in the next year or two, connecting those off-the-beaten-path towns and villages that rarely make it into guidebooks.
Naturally, I’ll document every twist, hill, and croissant stop for you along the way. 🇫🇷
Let’s get into it –
📍HIDDEN GEM - Poitiers, Vienne (86)
Tucked between the Loire Valley and Bordeaux, Poitiers is a city that wears its 2,000 years of history beautifully. Roman ruins meet Renaissance façades, and its medieval streets wind past half-timbered houses, bustling cafés, and one of France’s oldest universities.
It’s big enough to have energy — students keep the city lively year-round — yet small enough to feel local. The town’s centerpiece, Église Notre-Dame la Grande, glows at night with a light show that brings its carved façade to life.
Just outside town, you’ll find leafy cycling routes, vineyards, and the famous Futuroscope, a tech-meets-fantasy theme park unlike anything else in France.
Poitiers is also exceptionally well-connected — fast trains whisk you to Paris in about 1 hour 20 minutes, and the Atlantic coast is just a short drive away. You can zip from Poitiers to Bordeaux in just about 1 hour by TGV — fast enough for a long lunch and back before dinner.
Add in its affordability and friendly pace of life, and you can see why it’s quietly beloved by retirees and expats alike.
📍 Fast Facts: POITIERS
🚉 Train Station: Gare de Poitiers — 1h20 to Paris
✈️ Nearest Airport: Poitiers–Biard (10 min drive)
🏥 Nearest Hospital: CHU de Poitiers — in town
🛍️ Amenities: 🛒 Grocery 🥖 Bakery 🍷 Bars/Restaurants 🌳 Parks 🎭 Opera House & Museums
👣 Walkability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Mostly flat center; daily needs within minutes
🧺 Weekly Market: Yes — Tuesday to Saturday in the covered market, open-air market Saturday morning at Place Charles de Gaulle
🌦️ Climate: Mild winters, warm summers, plenty of sunshine
*Anything underlined is clickable 🔗
🏠 AFFORDABLE FINDS
✨ Elegant Downtown Apartment – €277,000 ($320,689)
Located on Rue Gambetta in the heart of Poitiers, this 100 m² apartment offers a spacious living/dining area, a fitted kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom — all on the 3rd floor with an elevator.
There’s even an option to purchase a nearby garage (a rarity downtown). Well-kept building with only 10 units.
✨ Central Furnished Rental – €995/month ($1,152)
If you’d rather try before you buy, this T3 apartment (70 m²) between the Town Hall and Parc de Blossac is fully furnished — complete with parking, modern kitchen, laundry room, double-glazed windows, and high-speed fiber internet.
Charges include maintenance, water, and building electricity — you just cover your own power and internet.
Available April 1, but worth planning ahead — Poitiers rentals like this go quickly.
📜 TAX TREATY Tips
Reader Question:
“Do I have to file in France if my income is only taxable in the U.S.?”
In short: yes, you do.
Even if your income is solely taxable in the U.S., you’re still required to file a French tax return once you become a French tax resident. The French system isn’t necessarily taxing you twice — it’s about declaring worldwide income to determine your household’s tax situation and apply the U.S.–France Tax Treaty properly.
Here’s how it typically works:
- File in France between April and June each year (dates vary slightly by department).
- Declare all worldwide income — even if it’s already taxed in the U.S.
- Claim treaty benefits and credits for taxes already paid to the U.S., preventing double taxation.
- U.S. sources like Social Security or IRA distributions are only taxed in the U.S., but France still wants the information for calculating your rate for any income that is taxable.
So, while it may feel redundant, filing in France is part of maintaining transparency — and ensures you’re covered under the treaty’s protections. 🇫🇷🇺🇸
⁉️ DID YOU KNOW?
Poitiers was once home to Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of medieval Europe’s most powerful women — and Queen of both France and England. Her court was known for poetry, politics, and progressive ideas that still echo through French culture today.
🎓 Workshops + Webinars
Inheritance Taxes In France For Americans
🗓️ Date: Nov. 12th
⏰ Time: 12 noon EST
Join me and a French estate attorney as we discuss the challenges and planning opportunities around inheritance taxes in France as an American.
More details and Zoom link coming soon!
Mark your calendars... 🗓️
📺 France Must-Watch
🎥 Walking Through 1000 Years of History in Poitiers
A serene, high-definition walking tour through Poitiers’ historic center — from the ancient baptistery to Romanesque gems like Notre-Dame la Grande. Perfect if you love slow travel and visual storytelling.
👉 Watch it here
🎥 Poitiers, France – Best Things to Do, History & Hidden Gems
An engaging travel vlog that highlights Poitiers’ blend of student life, architecture, and local culture. It’s a great all-around introduction for anyone considering a scouting trip.
👉 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 - Are you a cyclist? Would you be interested in a France cycling tour with me? 🚴🏾♂️🚴♀️🚴