Mariska SMOLDERS's selection of French property for sale

About my area

Central in France, in the extreme northwest of the Massif Central, is the department of the Creuse. Together with the Corrèze and Haute Vienne the Creuse is part of the Limousin. The department owes its name to the river Creuse which crosses the area. The western and also flattest part of the region has been an important source of inspiration for impressionist painters such as Monet. Creuse is famous for the tradition of weaving tapestries, a 600 years old tradition, mainly in the town of Aubusson. The Creuse contains many castles, ruins and churches from the Middle Ages. The Creuse has no refined gastronomy and the traditional meals are mainly highly nutritious. Think of potato pie or cheese fondue. A specialty is the Creusois, a cake with butter and nuts. The region is also known for the Limousiner cattle. The Creuse has a varied landscape of rolling hills, moorland and vast (pine) forests. In the southern part of Creuse finds plateaus such as the plateau of Millevaches Monedières that also extends across the adjacent department of Corrèze. The highest point is 932m. Creuse is also very rich in rivers, including the eponymous Creuse, streams and lakes. Popular places in the region are Aubusson, Bourganeuf, Evaux les Bains, Gueret and La Souterraine. The region focuses on small-scale tourism; mass tourism is therefore hard to find. Nevertheless there are plenty activities to do especially in the spring and summer. Think of the many brocantes, (street)theater festivals, exhibitions and music performances held during this period.

About me

During pregnancy of my oldest son my husband Rob and I made plans to emigrate. We had a nice life in the Netherlands and we both had a good and steady job. Rob in refrigeration and I myself worked as a communications consultant and journalist. We lived nearby Utrecht, in the busy center of the Netherlands, and we found it simply too full and busy. We longed for more space and nature around us, another, simpler way of life with more freedom. We decided to continue our life in France. A well known country for me as I spend many holidays in France during my childhood, I studied French during two years and had summer jobs in France as a student. For two years we searched for our French dream home, in different areas. Eventually we found our place in the Creuse. In the southeast, on the border with the Puy de Dome (Auvergne) we came to see an old farmhouse in the spring of 2011 with several outbuildings and a few acres of land, a place that made our hearts beat faster and where we could realize our plans. Since March 2012 we live here with our sons Viggo (5) and Manu (2,5). Although it was not easy for the oldest in the beginning to find his way in the French school, he has now integrated. Rob has started a company in electricity, plumbing and refrigeration. Now that our youngest son goes to school, I have started as a freelance journalist/copywriter for Dutch media. But I missed local contacts and wanted more dynamics in my life. Working now as agent commercial for LEGGETT these needs are fully satisfied. I have extend my network enormously, speak with many different people from different countries, learn a lot about French society and take advantage of my language skills. I like to help other people find their dream home, so if you are also looking for another life, a quieter life in a beautiful area, please feel free to contact me and maybe I can help you to find a new place.