🇫🇷 Don't Retire in France Until You See This Town

IN TODAY'S ISSUE

📍HIDDEN GEM: Thiviers, Dordogne — A low-key Périgord Vert market town where foie gras, forests, and French “real life” show up on time (especially Saturday morning).

🏡 AFFORDABLE FINDS: First, a 73m², 2-bedroom apartment in the heart of Thiviers for just $71,130—leaving plenty of budget to modernize the kitchen, refresh the walls, and make it your own.

Next, just outside Thiviers, this 11-room country home on close to 5 acres for $536,000 offers a pool, huge living spaces, and plenty of room for family, guests, or a serious France dream upgrade.

📜 TAX, VISA, HEALTHCARE: Your 1099s are the same bread-and-butter documents you’ll share with your French tax pro—keep them organized and easy to forward.

📺 FRANCE MUST-WATCH: Thiviers was a national finalist for France's most beautiful market — and it's not hard to see why.

QUICK FAVOR 🙏

I’m planning future Retirement Retreats in France and would love your input — this quick 60-second survey will help shape them.

✅ Take the 60-Second Survey

Results will determine the format of future retreats.

👋 Personal Update

If the news lately has you feeling a little rattled, you’re not alone.

When unexpected events hit the headlines, it reminds me of two things:

None of us are getting any younger — so yes, carpe diem.
The world is unpredictable — so plan boldly, but stay flexible.

That’s especially true with a move to France.

You can (and should) make a solid plan… but it’s wise to leave room for reality to do what it always does: rewrite the script.

And when your brain starts spinning worst-case scenarios at 2:00 a.m., I love Mark Twain’s reminder: “I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.”

Translation: stay informed, but don’t let the news drag you into a mental rabbit hole of despair. Keep moving forward—one practical step at a time.

Alright, on to the newsletter...

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📍HIDDEN GEM - Thiviers, Dordogne

Tucked into the Périgord Vert (the greener, quieter side of Dordogne), Thiviers is the kind of town that doesn’t try to impress you… and somehow does anyway.

It’s a true working market town—good food, friendly rhythms, and countryside in every direction.

What you’ll love first: the feeling that you’ve landed in everyday France. You’ve got a handsome old church in town, bits of medieval character, and a local pride that’s refreshingly un-touristy.

Now let’s talk about what Thiviers is famous for: it’s widely known as a foie gras hub, and in season you’ll also see dedicated “fat markets” (Marché au Gras) in the region.

Even if foie gras isn’t your thing, the market culture absolutely is.

Get outside: Thiviers is a great launch point for La Flow Vélo, the long-distance cycling route that runs from Thiviers all the way to the Atlantic coast at Fouras, threading through the Charente and finishing with that “we made it to the ocean” payoff.

And for a more playful outing (no Lycra required), you’re also close to the Vélorail du Périgord Vert in Corgnac-sur-l’Isle—a pedal-powered railbike adventure on an old railway line (about 14 km round trip, roughly 2 hours), with electric assistance on the uphill so it stays fun instead of punishing.

The vibe + access: Thiviers has its own station with rail connections in the region, and you can reach bigger hubs like Bordeaux or Paris with a manageable train day (often with a connection).

You’re also close to Limoges, which can be surprisingly handy for services and travel.

Why it’s appealing for buyers/retirees: If you want Dordogne charm without Dordogne crowds, Thiviers delivers.

You’re buying into greenery, markets, and a calmer pace—while still being connected enough to live comfortably, not “off-grid.”

And yes: this is one of those places where a car makes life easier, even if you can walk to plenty in the center.

📍FAST FACTS: Thiviers
👫 Population: 2,876 (commune, 2023) and 7,488 (Thiviers "area" 2021)
🚄 Train: Gare de Thiviers — fastest about 3h 56m to Paris
✈️ Airport: Limoges (LIG) — about 53 min drive
🏥 Hostpital: Centre Hospitalier de Périgueux — Périgueux
👣 Walkability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (Compact center; doable daily errands in town, but a car helps for countryside life)
🧺 Market: Yes — Saturday mornings
🌦️ Climate: Mild, green, and ocean-influenced (warm summers, generally moderate winters typical of southwest France)

AFFORDABLE FINDS 🏠

€61,325 (~$71,130) Bright 2-bedroom Apartment with Terrace + Cellar in Thiviers Center

Right in the heart of Thiviers, this 2-bedroom apartment offers 73m² of space and plenty of potential at a price that leaves room in the budget for updates.

Inside, you’ll find an entryway, a living room, a fitted kitchen with access to a terrace, two bedrooms, a bathroom, a separate WC, and a cellar.

The big appeal here is simple: because the purchase price is so approachable, you’d still have money left over to refresh the interior—think new cabinet fronts, updated paint, and saying goodbye to any stubborn old wallpaper.

In other words, it’s an affordable foothold in town with room to make it feel like your own.

🏠 Property Details

€462,000 (~$536,000) Near Thiviers: 11-Room Country Home on Almost 5 Acres with Pool

Set in the countryside just 10 minutes from Thiviers, this spacious 11-room family home sits on nearly five acres and offers the kind of peace, comfort, and elbow room that’s getting harder to find.

The ground floor centers around a stunning 70m² open-plan living space, where the kitchen flows into the dining area and truly feels like the heart of the home.

There’s also a primary suite on the ground level, which makes daily living easier and more practical.

Upstairs, the house keeps unfolding.

A dramatic 50m² salon with a cathedral ceiling creates a cozy-but-impressive second living area, and there are three more bedrooms plus a shower room on this floor.

The top level is a large 65m² space currently used as children’s sleeping quarters, but it could just as easily become a guest dorm, studio, hobby room, or all-three-because-why-choose.

The comforts are solid, too: central heating with a pellet boiler fed by a silo, a wood stove for extra warmth, updated insulation, double glazing, and other improvement work already completed.

Outside, there’s a 9x4 saltwater pool with a sliding dome, a 100m² garage, a woodshed, and a small stone outbuilding.

Add in the natural setting—with no real nuisances to speak of—and this is a property that feels built for a full, relaxed life in France rather than just a pretty postcard moment.

At €462,000, this is obviously a different category from a town apartment—but for buyers looking for a forever home, multi-generational living, or a place where visiting family and friends can spread out comfortably, it offers a lot of space and character for the price.

🏠 Property Details

TAX, VISA, OR HEALTHCARE TIP 💡

Since it’s the height of tax season, here’s a simple reminder that saves a lot of back-and-forth later:

When you work with a French tax professional, the most common U.S. tax documents you already receive are often the exact same documents you’ll share with them to help classify and report your income correctly in France.

A few usual suspects:

1099-R (pensions, IRA distributions)
1099-INT (interest)
1099-DIV (dividends)
1099-B (capital gains)
(Plus any broker summaries you receive for taxable accounts)

Two practical tips:

Create one “2025 Tax Year” folder now (digital is fine) and drop every tax form into it as it arrives.
Keep the year-end statements from your retirement accounts, pension provider, and broker—those are often easier for a French pro to interpret than scattered monthly PDFs.

Important note (as always): I am not a tax professional and rules depend on your residency status and income types.

This is just about staying organized so your pro can do their job faster (and you keep your stress levels lower).

FRANCE MUST-WATCH 📺

Election of the most beautiful market in France - Thiviers

Thiviers, in the heart of the Dordogne, was a national finalist for France's most beautiful market — and honestly, it's not hard to see why. Watch this short video.

Then try to tell me you're not already imagining yourself there on a Saturday morning with a café crème in hand.

📺 Watch Now

📚 FRANCE RESOURCE LIBRARY

Q: Where do you find affordable properties?!?

🏠 Wonder where I source the property listings in each newsletter?

Here are the sites I browse (yes, it's a rabbit hole 😂):

Seloger - An aggregate site with tons of listings. Photos may be mediocre for some listings. Both for sale or rent.
Leboncoin - The "Craigs List" of France. Lots of listing from both agents and individuals. Both for sale or rent.
Leggett - Agency founded by a UK expat. Excellent photos. Check out their Reduced and Low Priced (< €150k) sections.
Green Acres - Good photos, pretty wide coverage. Only sales, not rentals.