Charlie ELLIS's selection of French property for sale

About my area

From wonderful beaches for surfing, swimming and family picnics on the Atlantic coast to numerous ski resorts in the Pyrénées, the beautiful Pyrénées-Atlantiques in south-west France has everything! The magical Béarn and Basque Country have been relatively unknown until recently, but both areas have a huge variety of properties to choose from, whether you want to live in the mountains, on the coast or in the countryside near Navarrenx, Salies-de-Béarn, Sauveterre-de-Béarn, St-Jean-Pied-de-Port or Pau. From lush green valleys to more mountainous locations, living here is a real pleasure. The climate is mild throughout the year and the locals are the most friendly and helpful you could wish for. Come and join us!

About me

We moved from a seaside town in Devon, England, to a tiny village near St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Basque Country over 30 years ago in search of an adventure before we had children… and we certainly found it! We spent 12 months renovating an 18th-century Basque farmhouse and created three gîtes, which we ran as a business for seven years. With one toddler and another baby on the way, we decided to head back to the coast and moved to St-Jean-de-Luz on the Côte Basque, where we set up a website design agency. More than 20 years later and with two children at university, the countryside has beckoned once more. We’re now living in an 18th-century watermill with a glorious riverside garden on the Béarn-Basque border. We’re back to doing what we originally moved to France for, which is doing up a dream property bursting with “potential”! I love working in l’immobilier and find the many different styles of properties on offer in each area of the Béarn and Basque Country a constant delight. My clients are also a joy - and there’s seldom a dull moment! So, having converted one French property and now renovating another, setting up three businesses and putting two children through the French education system, I’d be more than delighted to share what we’ve learnt (often the hard way!) with anyone wishing to start a new life in this gorgeous corner of France - the stunning Béarn and Basque Country!