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La Chtelaine In The Dordogne

Volume II, Issue 31

I finally took a long weekend and trained down to the Prigord Vert…that part of the Dordogne which includes the Natural Park Regional Prigord-Limousin. There are kilometers and kilometers of rolling hills, fields of sunflowers and corn, trees and meadows, rivers and streams and “petits villages” from many ages past, each anchored by a medieval Romanesque church. It’s GORGEOUS with a capital G.

Lucky for me to be invited down by Audrey Friedman, now known in the area as “La Chatelaine” (chteau inhabitant) — the American woman who bought the chteau La Cellette about five years ago and restored it from top to bottom with impeccable taste, every detail attended to.
Audrey only spends a part of her year there, but she’s come to know everyone and everyone has come to know her. She’s easily settled into an active social life there…dinners with friends, art gallery openings, concerts and a variety of cultural events you’d never dream existed in such a rural environment.
But this is France…and this is the Dordogne. It’s spotted with transplanted British, Dutch and Americans who all share their love for the region, their struggles with French and the usual cultural clashes. She claims it’s a very special part of France, much for that reason, as the Expats have formed an energetic and fluid community that makes everyone feel so welcome. I saw it in action.
Musicians from many parts of the globe gathered last weekend to participate in the Baroque music festival. Artists from the region, also a mix of nationalities, exhibited their works in a gallery over a restaurant owned by Brits. I was surrounded by English speakers at one point and became confused…wasn’t I supposed to be in France this weekend and London the next? Or was it the other way around?
Property prices in the Dordogne have climbed over the years and good properties are more scarce than ever, but there are still good bargains to be had. Audrey’s chteau cost her the same price as my 70 square-meter apartment in Paris! Of course, she invested five times more to restore it…but when you compare price per square-meter, the Dordogne still comes up as an amazing deal.
In today’s issue, we’re taking a much closer look at the Dordogne and Audrey’s 15th-century masterpiece as well as some interesting properties on the market today.
We also are offering two new Leaseback properties — one in the Alps the other in Burgundy — and answering more of the questions you’ve posed about the Leaseback program.

A bientt,

 
Adrian Leeds
Editor, French Property Insider
Email: [email protected]


 
P.S. Space for the Living and Investing in Franc Conference has begun filling quickly since registration began. Don’t wait until it’s too late to sign up! Contact Schuyler Hoffman today at [email protected] or toll-free at 1-877-IL PARIS (1-877-457-2747). See the conference information below for details!

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Volume II, Issue 31, July 29, 2004
In this issue:
* Your Questions, Our Answers…About Leasebacks
* Living the Life of a Chatelaine in the Dordogne
* Going for Baroque in the Dordogne
* What’s to Love About the Dordogne
* Claim Your Space for LIF D.C.
* Currency Exchange Update
* Hot Property: Leaseback Properties in South-Central France and the French Alps
* Property For Sale: Fabulous Homes in the Dordogne
* Classified Advertising: Vacation Spots
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FPI Subscribers: To read the issue in its entirety go to
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To access this password protected page: username: fpiuser and the password: paris1802.
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LEASEBACK PROPERTIES… YOU HAVE THE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE THE ANSWERS
By Adrian Leeds
In spite of an emergency chez Miranda Junowicz and Jocelyn Carnegie’s timing of landing by ferry at Calais on the stroke of 8 p.m., we persevered and held the last conference call for FPI subscribers with the theme of THE FRENCH LEASEBACK: A HASSLE-FREE INVESTMENT WITH A GUARANTEED RETURN.
A recording of the call is at: https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/subscribersonly/confcallinstr.cfm
The questions were mostly centered around financing issues and if these properties would eventually make good residences. Some questions required a bit more research to answer in full. Miranda Junowicz answers them:
(1) Is there a problem for a 65 year-old to get a mortgage for a Leaseback property?
This is not an inherent roadblock, as long as the source of income is
not from a paycheck. That is, banks are going to be concerned about default if the income level will not be maintained after retirement. However, if the source(s) of income are from investments or other revenue, this will be less of a concern. Of course, one bank or another might decide that they want to loan less than the they normally would. But there is no hard and fast rule that says they wont make the loan.

(2) Can a property be owned by a US partnership — US LLC or INC, and how does this change the calculation versus holding as an SCI?
There is nothing inherently preventing this, though we have not seen an attempt to utilize such structures yet. Obviously the banks would want to have income and credit information for all the owners in the partnership, which might logistically make the loan more difficult to manage. Higher taxes are also paid by a US. entity vs an SCI.
(3) Has a management company ever gone bankrupt? What would happen if so?
This has not happened! Nor is it likely to since the income works out quite well for these companies in light of the strong demand for residences in the areas where the Leasebacks are being developed. Moreover, the management companies that are involved in the properties we work with are reputable companies that have been in the business a long time. In the unlikely event that they did go bankrupt, like such any property, the owners association would have to come together and decide if they wanted to find another management company collectively. In any case, each owner would have the right to do what it wanted. Alternatively, the management company could assign its management rights to a third party. Plus, management firms have the appropriate financial backing and/or insurance policies in place, thereby allowing them to register with the state as Leaseback property managers.
(4) Is the income from the property included in the banks assessment of your “net rental income” for purposes of assessing the amount they will loan you (30% of your income)?
It is best to go with the rule that the annual mortgage repayments for the property do not exceed one-third of your net annual income after tax and other mortgage/loan payments. Some banks do take the rental income into account, but this can not be guaranteed.

(5) Whats the story with the life insurance on the loan — how does that work?
Every borrower must take out a life insurance policy so that, in the case of death, the loan will be paid off, out of the insurance policy proceeds. It amounts to approximately .3% of the loan amount/year (but it also depends on your medical condition. For example, if you have had major operations in the past 5 years, or have diabetes, or are grossly overweight…).
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BUYING A LEASEBACK IN FRANCE

Q’s by Miranda Junowicz, A’s by Sam Okoshken, Attorney at Law

Q: The purchase of Leasebacks through IRA’s is increasingly of great interest. What restrictions are there on their use and how would one qualify for a loan?

A: The IRA is certainly a possible and attractive vehicle, all things being equal. It equates the capital gains result in the U.S. to the French result (when the 15-year holding period requirement is met). There are some complications with respect to “debt acquisition financing” that can almost certainly be solved if the IRA is a rollover from an employer or self-employed retirement plan. I plan to offer an opinion concerning that aspect, with request to the client to have his or her own tax advisor sign off on it. I am still looking at the IRA rules, to see if perhaps a non-rollover IRA might also escape adverse tax consequences under the acquisition indebtedness rules.
Q: In what situations (or not) should a client be looking at setting up an SCI to hold the properties? We had one inquiry regarding whether two or three people could set up a partnership in the US that would hold properties, rather than a French entity (which has costs and other formalities not associated with a US partnership).
A: The when-to-use-SCI question comes up almost every time. There can be no standard or pat answer, as it may involve forced heirship rules, multiple purchases, partnership-type sharing, as well as the SCI holding serving as a first layer in a multi-layered estate plan. The use of a partnership is possible, as is an LLC. Each has to be analyzed in terms of the clients needs as well as possible adverse French tax consequences. A limited partnership is clearly ill-advised, as limited partners are treated under French law as corporate shareholders (i.e., dividends rather than pass-through tax attributes), but a general partnership is possible.
Editor’s Notes: Miranda Junowicz is part of the IL team of property professionals. For more information on Leasebacks and other properties, contact her at [email protected].
Samuel H. Okoshken, an American, is a U.S.-educated tax lawyer, and has been practicing law in Paris since 1974. His practice is devoted to the various legal and tax problems of Americans and other foreign “Expats,” and to the issues that non-residents of France encounter when contemplating buying property or setting up business in France. He will be speaking at the upcoming Living and Working in France Conference in Washington, D.C. this September (https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/liveinfrance/LIF_DC/LIF_DC_home.html) His website is: http://www.okoshken.com.

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BEHIND 15TH-CENTURY DORDOGNE WALLS

By Adrian Leeds

Five years ago Audrey Friedman bought a shell of a chteau named Chteau la Cellette, in the heart of the Dordogne (postal code 24600) — centered in “un petit village” (population 597) called Celles, next to the church whose bells toll on the hour. The cost of the house in ruins, the grounds and the outer buildings was, at the time, about the same price as my 70 square-meter apartment in the Marais in Paris. I was shocked at the stark comparison — even knowing how much time, effort, care and expense it would take to restore the ruin to proper habitation.

The family who built the chteau was Dulau d’Allemans, whose name is identified in the letterpress edition of the papers of George Washington. With a master architect from the region who fully understood the character of the house and whose inves
tigative powers led him to find the hidden massive stone fireplaces and secret stairwells, he and Audrey, who invested five times the price she paid, restored the 15th-century manor into a 21st-century splendor.
It took a mere year to complete, an amazing pace considering the breadth of the project and the perfection to which each detail was paid attention. Audrey is clear in her conclusion that if she had attempted to renovate the house on her own, as many new Expat landowners do, it would have taken her eons more time and wouldn’t have been so true to form and style. She values her architect as one would any great artist.
The entrance to the chteau was originally next to the church on the main street through a small garden, but Audrey reverted the entrance to the back side of the house and added a circular pebble driveway you enter through electronic iron gates from a small road. The full length of the house is visible from this vantage point along with a detached “orangerie” and a tool shed at a right angle on the left, a large pool and grassy plane on the right several steps lower.
Behind the ecru gauze drapes added to the orangerie arches lies a long dining table and cane chairs for cool repasts sheltered from summer showers. The tool shed was transformed into a detached cottage and now comprises a living room, kitchenette, bath and three bedrooms on two levels. Between the main house and these two structures is a small courtyard grounded by round stone table and curved stone benches, protected by an ivy-covered wall and the towers of the chteau — a perfect corner for reflection, meals or casual conversation.
While the main entrance is on the same level as the driveway on the left side of the house, most visitors seem to want to climb the few steps to the inviting and spacious kitchen behind the glass French doors. This is the room where everyone gathers. A square table for eight is the center of activity, and along with the warm golden cabinetry (“antiqued” with a touch of burnt sienna) makes you feel right at home. The black iron six-burner French stove/oven just begs to be lit and utilized and the black “Subzero” refrigerator with ice maker begs to be filled with fresh produce from a local market.
An adjacent formal dining room is absolutely elegant and fitting for the finest of parties. Further on, across the entry foyer and down a few steps, is a cozy living room filled with overstuffed sofas and chairs. The focal point is a massive stone fireplace fit for a king — and several roasting pigs. In the corner sits a large armoire that a “trompe l’oeil” artist created for the room in a hand painted motif, using objects symbolic for Audrey and the names of her friends.

On that side of the house, a stone spiral staircase leads to three suites. One is Audrey’s master suite consisting of bedroom with large stone fireplace, bathroom with footed tub next to a table of bath oils and scents, a separate shower room with toilet and bidet and a closet/dressing room. In the corner of the room within the round tower sits a small reading nook furnished by two silk brocade arm chairs and table. It speaks of an era long ago.

The highest bedroom was introduced to us as “la chambre la plus belle dans le chteau” by Audrey’s caretaker — under the eaves of the house, with high ceilings, wood beams fully exposed — the room is masculine, spacious and charming. In one corner, there is a round tower with a gaming table and two chairs. A full bath and dressing room is hidden by a wall with no doors, entrances at both the right and the left.
There are another three bedrooms on the opposite side of the house, each stacked over the other, off a wooden staircase, each with its own private bath. Fitted with either a double bed or twin beds, each is decorated sweetly in traditional decor, each with a fireplace. The baths are all contemporary and tastefully appointed.
Throughout the house, the furniture style is harmonious and in perfect keeping with the rustic period of the chteau. Every corner has some beautiful “objet d’art” and the walls have interesting original paintings. I was certain, just from the pristine appearance, Audrey had decorating help to have so skillfully found the perfect pieces, but she claims to be the “author” of the work. We commended her on her good taste and sharp eye for creating such a sumptuous environment for herself, her friends and family.
When Audrey is Stateside, the house is left to the care of the “gardienne,” who lives just opposite the chteau, and a rental agent who rents it to small families in its entirety. If you’re seriously interested in having La Cellette for yourself, write me at [email protected]

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GOING FOR… BAROQUE

By Adrian Leeds

It takes an old friend with an old friend who has a chteau in the Dordogne to pry me out of Paris for a long summer weekend. To reach the little town of Celles, we took the TGV (Train Grande Vitesse) to Angoulmes (about 2.5 hours), then Texan Audrey Friedman, also known as “la chtelaine” (chteau inhabitant), picked us up at the station for the 45 minute drive down tiny departmental roads to Celles. The fields lining the route are filled with sunflowers and corn. There is no question why the inhabitants of the Dordogne think it is such a special corner of the earth — its beauty is overwhelming with rolling hills, solid fields of agricultural life and quaint stone villages reminiscent of centuries long past.

Audrey invited us to spend the weekend with her long ago, not realizing that the same weekend would be a reunion with her New York resident daughter, her two teenage granddaughters, a traveling companion of one granddaughter and the companion’s father. A French friend from Paris joined us and we filled almost all of the nine bedrooms.
The timing was in perfect coordination with a weekend-long music festival entitled “Itinraire Baroque en Prigord Vert” (http://www.itinerairebaroque.com/). Under the artistic direction of Ton Koopman, organist, harpsichordist and conductor of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, a professor in the Royal Conservatory of the Hague and an Honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in
London, this third edition offered a series of Baroque concerts graced by the “castles, ancient villages, peaceful valleys and wonderful quality of life” in the Dordogne performed in Romanesque churches by renowned musicians.
An ensemble of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra opened the festival on Friday evening with a concert at the Eglise de Cercles with Ton Koopman on harpsichord and other musicians on baroque violin, traverso, viola de gamba with a soprano singing three arias. The ancient church had been beautifully restored to a clean, white stone and all sides were filled with patrons of the musical arts from the area and beyond.
On Saturday, one could attend six consecutive concerts in six churches not far from one another. Each concert lasted approximately 30 minutes. We chose to attend only one other at the Eglise de Grand-Brassac with four musicians on cornetto, trombone, dulcian and harpsichord. Again, the church was splendidly restored Romanesque and the setting perfect for the soft harmonious sounds of these rarely heard instruments.
Saturday evening we attended an art opening at Galerie Verticalle, on the upper level above the Bistrot Verticalle in the center of Verteillac of works by local artists, mostly British living in the Dordogne. Little French could be heard among those perusing the art — clearly their compatriot friends who have transplanted themselves in this part of France. Following that, we were invited to the home of the President of the organization, Robert-Nicolas Huet, whose large centuries-old estate afforded more than a dozen round tables set outside on the lawn for a sit-down dinner. During dinner, an aria was sung from an upper window and an attempt to light fireworks topped off dessert.
We had time on Sunday over a copious brunch to talk with Audrey about her time spent in the Dordogne. She feels very special about this “petit coin” of France — totally at home among both the French and the Expats who have settled there. She is not wont for things to do — there are endless invitations to people’s homes for dinners and other events keeping her hopping from one tiny town to the next. Sitting there at the large square table in the center of her spacious kitchen with a view on the chteau gardens, we could understand her contentment with her life there.

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DISCOVERING THE DELIGHTFUL DORDOGNE

A compilation of information from guides to the Dordogne

The Dordogne is where Sir Lancelot was exiled from the court of King Arthur, where the Hundred Years’ War was fought, and where human pre-history seems more present than past in the stunning cave galleries of Lascaux (dating back 400,000 years). A visitor can peel back the layers of history, walk forested paths and country lanes and discover that every path reveals a fantastic scene from traditional France — timeless villages of golden stone, hilltop castles shining like visions from a medieval tale, towering oak forests where a knight on a white horse might not look out of place.

There are 557 communes in the department of the Dordogne and the region is divided geographically in four parts:
* Black Prigord: Earth of oaks and forest, a town develops around the Grande Abbey Benedictine in the 9th century
Actually it is not named for its truffles. In fact, black is the color of the abundant live oaks which cover the high hills around Sarlat and whose dark silhouettes can be seen from miles away. It is the best-known part of the Prigords thanks to its prehistoric and historic remains such as its painted or sculpted caves (Lascaux, Font-de-Gaume…), its medieval castles (Beynac, Castelnaud, Montfort…) and its picturesque towns (Sarlat, Domme, Les Eyzies…).
* White Prigord: Earth of the chalky stone, capital of the Gallic Pretocores, seat of the Roman city and after of the Means Age.

It cuts the Dordogne in two from East to West following the course of the river Isle. Centrally situated, it is a region of limestone plateaux rich in quarries which produced the noble white stonework of which the ancient buildings of Prigueux are made. We can also find wide valleys, rolling meadows and forests. From Hautefort to Montpon including Prigueux, the region also features towns of interest such as Savignac-les-Eglises, Sorges (with its truffles), Saint-Astier, Neuvic and Mussidan.
* Green Prigord: Earth of agriculture
To the north, this area is aptly named. Indeed included in the Natural Park Regional Prigord-Limousin, the Nontron region and the Dronne valley offer a landscape of trees and meadows crossed by a myriad of rivers and streams. It is also the least known to tourists. Yet, interesting places are worth visiting such as Brantme, the “Venice of the Prigord” or Bourdeilles and Mareuil castles, two of the ancient Prigords four baronies.
* Purple Prigord: Wine Earth, known also for the redoubtable Cyrano.
This new “appellation” strictly “contrle” of course is the name given to the area around Bergerac and its bastides or fortified villages. It is the main wine-growing area. The wines of Bergerac, Pcharmant, Montbazillac, Saussignac are kings. The French and English bastides built in the 13th century, all on the same pattern surrounding a central market place, recall an important page of our history: the Hundred Yearss War.

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Mark your calendar for the exciting upcoming conferences sponsored by the International Living Paris Office! 


Living and Investing in France
September 10 – 12, 2004
Washington, D.C.

LIF_DC Details
Plus…
Dinner and Virtual Tour of Paris with Thirza
LIF_DC Dinner/Tour
Plus…
Walking Tour of French-Speaking DC
LIF_DC Walking Tour
Plus…
Single in the City of Light
(And Loving It!) with Adrian Leeds                                      The Westin Grand – Conference Site
LIF_DC Single in the City
** Read what our past participants have to say about our Paris Office
Conferences and Tours…
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/liveinfrance/conference_comments.html
Reservations and information:

If you’d like to join us at any of these, drop us an email at [email protected]/parlerparis and we’ll be sure to email you as soon as we have more information. Visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/liveinfrance/index.html

U.S. OFFICE
Schuyler Hoffman, Special Projects Manager
Toll Free in the U.S. 1-877-IL PARIS (1-877-457-2747)
Email: [email protected]/parlerparis

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TODAY’S CURRENCY UPDATE
A service of http://www.xe.com/
Subscribe for free at: http://www.xe.com/cus/

Rates as of   2004.07.29 16:02:44 GMT.
1 U.S. Dollar equals 0.828391 Euros (0.831833 Euros last week)
1 Euros equals 1.20716 U.S. Dollars (1.20216 Dollars last week)
1 U.K. Pound equals 1.50551 Euros (1.52300 Euros last week)
1 Euro equals 0.664228 U.K. Pounds (0.656597 Pounds last week)
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SEEKING A MORTGAGE IN FRANCE?
The International Living Paris Office can help you secure a mortgage
in France with interest rates as low as 3.35%.

Visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/loan for more
information or contact us
================================
FOR SALE: FPI HOT PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
Each week French Property Insider features a range of properties which we believe are on the market at the time of writing. These properties are featured in order to give readers a sample of what is currently available and a working example of prices being asked in various regions of France and districts of Paris.
We are not a real estate agency. These properties do not constitute a sales listing. For those readers seriously interested in finding property in Paris or France, you can retain our services to assist you. For more information, visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/propertyconsultation.html or contact Jocelyn Carnegie at [email protected]

***
LEASEBACK IN THE SOUTH/CENTER FRANCE – BURGUNDY/BEAUNE-LEVERNOIS – RESIDENCE GOLF GARDEN
 
One Bedroom Apartments
28m2 to 39m2
Priced 73000 Euros to 102000 Euros
Two Bedroom Apartments
47m2
Priced 125000 Euros
Guaranteed Rental Income of Up to 5.7%
Delivery First Quarter 2006
This enviable residence, situated directly in the heart of the Golf de Beaune Levernois (Beaune/Levernois Golf Course), takes full advantage of a truly exceptional environment. Rare are the developments built in the surrounding wall of one of these 18 holes ! Discover a region recognized all over the world for its sumptuous culinary traditions, where cultural heritage and a plethora of activities are certain to seduce you. Everything here has been conceived for your relaxation: swimming pool, fitness center and weight room, sauna, designated pedestrian paths …
The Beaune Levernois golf course was designed to host international tournaments and welcome beginners in the best conditions. Located in the heart of the Burgundy wine region, its nine lakes intersperse the fairways of this demanding, 18-hole course, which lies within sight of the vineyards amidst soothing greenery. This course can be both tec
hnical
for confirmed players and easy for beginners, thanks to a variety of starting-tees, enabling players to custom-design the length of their course.
If there is one town in Burgundy whose infinite charm can be summed up in the harmonious blend of two colors, that town is Beaune. Gold and ruby are the characteristic shimmering colors of the great wines of Burgundy of which Beaune is the undisputed capital. The same colors are to be found on the rooftops of the Hotel-Dieu, the most eloquent example of that Flemish and Flamboyant architecture to which the term Burgundian was added in the midst of the turmoil of the Hundred Years War. In addition to the pleasure to be derived from the contemplation of monuments and works of art, wine lovers will find countless occasions to indulge in the pleasures of the palate as they explore the vaulted cellars stretching out beneath the streets of a town set like a jewel in the ring of its mediaeval ramparts, surrounded by the maze of little streets making up the old town. Many a surprise lies in store for the visitor as he strolls through the delightful streets of mediaeval Beaune.
But no visit to Beaune would be complete without a visit to the towns wine cellars. These are in many cases very impressive affairs, for the wine houses of Beaune, having bought up countless former convents and monasteries, jealously guard millions of bottles of fabled Burgundy wine beneath the surface of the town. Burgundy’s most famous vineyards run south from Dijon through Beaune to Macon along what has become known as the Cote d’Or. Here you can go from vineyard to vineyard, tasting the various samples (both the powerfully tannic aged reds and the less tannic younger ones). Purists will remind you that you’re not supposed to drink them but simply taste them, then spit them into the little buckets discreetly provided. But who wants to be a purist? Beaune is sometimes considered the wine capital of Burgundy because it is at the heart of the region’s vineyards, with the Cote de Nuits to the north and the Cote de Beaune to the south. In late November the famous wine auction at the Hospices de Beaune pulls in connoisseurs and the curious from France and abroad. Despite the hordes, Beaune remains one of France’s most attractive provincial towns, bedecked as it is with art on its surface and wine cellars on its underside.
Although you may often fall under the influence of extraordinary wine during a sojourn in Burgundy, the beauty surrounding you will be no boozy illusion. Passed over by revolutions, both political and industrial, left unscarred by world wars, and relatively inaccessible thanks to circuitous country roads, the region still reflects the pastoral prosperity it enjoyed under the Capetian dukes and kings. Those were the glory days — when self-sufficient Burgundy held its own against the creeping spread of France and the fading of the Holy Roman Empire — a period characterized by the expanding role of the dukes of Bourgogne. Consider the Capetians, history-book celebrities all: there was Philippe the Bold, with his power-brokered marriage to Marguerite of Flanders. There was Jean sans Peur, who murdered Louis d’Orleans in a cloak-and-dagger affair in 1407 and was in turn murdered, in 1419, on a dark bridge while negotiating a secret treaty with the future Charles VII. There was Philippe le Bon, who threw in with the English against Joan of Arc, and of course Charles the Bold, whose temerity stretched the boundaries of Bourgogne to include most of Holland, Lorraine, Alsace, and even French Switzerland.
chteau de Savigny les Beaune: Presents an exceptional collection of old motorbikes (500 motorbikes from 1903 to 1960), 22 “Abarth ” cars and in the park of the castle, 60 aircraft jets. Visit the splendid castle and taste the wine of Michel Pond, owner of this castle and wine producer.
chteau de la Rochepot: Visit the ruins of the castle which originally occupied the site, built in the 11th century by Alexander of Burgundy. In the 15th century, the chteau was home to Lords Rgnier and Philippe Pot, Knights of the Golden Fleece and counselors to the Dukes of Burgundy.
The basilicas at Autun, Vezelay, and Paray le Monial: Manifesting some of the finest Romanesque sculpture ever created; the tympanum at Autun rejects all time frames in its visionary daring.
Ruins of Ste Marguerite Abbey: 9th century. 15 Kms from Beaune, lost in the heart of the woods of the lovely village of Bouilland.
Parc Naturel Regional du Morvan: Anchored between Autun and Vezelay rises the broad massif of the Morvan. Protected hidden streams, rocky escarpments, dark forests, and meadows alive with falcons and hoopoes.
Burgundy flaunts some of the best good, plain food in the world: two poached eggs in savory wine sauce, a slab of ham in aspic, a platter of beef stew, a half-dozen earthy snails. This is simplicity raised to Gallic heights, embellished by the poetry of one perfect glass of pinot noir paired with a licensed and diploma’d poulet de Bresse (Bresse chicken), sputtering in unvarnished perfection on your white-china plate. And that’s as it should be in such well-rounded, full-bodied terrain.
For more information, photos and details see: https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/sales/leasebacks/golfgarden/golfgarden.html
*** IN THE FRENCH ALPS – SAVOIE/LES COCHES – RESIDENCE LA MARELLE
 
 
A beautiful residence opening onto Mont Blanc and Beaufortin. Perfectly situated in the center of the immense “Paradiski”, connecting the domains of Plagne, Bows, and Peisey-Vallandry with direct access to the magnificent National park of Vanoise. This ideal situation, convenient to the discovery of local heritage, offers numerous tourist activities and a strong tourist frequency. Located at 1450 meters in a Savoyard village on the border of the forest, La Marelle has easy access to Paradiski by the most prestigious cable railway of the world, the “Vanoise Express”.
AN IDEALLY SITUATED RENOVATION
As one of the 10 stations of the Plagne Domain, unobstructed views of Mont Blanc and the valley compliment the traditionally warm atmosphere of Savoyard architecture, defined by wood and stone. With the enviable convenience of skiing by foot, this family resort hosts four children’s ski clubs and is close to the center of the station and commerce district. This large scale renovation, overseen by the established architects Pierre Diener and Pierre Guirard, will result in spacio
us living spaces and tasteful decoration and equipment inside and out.
57 fully equipped and furnished flats, averaging:
Studio Apartments accommodating 3/4 people – 22.7 to 27.5m square meters – priced 77000 Euros HT
One Bedroom Apartments accommodating 3/4 or 4/5 people – 27.2 to 36.6 square meters – priced 108000 Euros HT
Two Bedroom Apartments accommodating 6/7 people – 37 to 49.6 square meters – priced 169000 Euros HT
Up to 4.5% guaranteed rental income
IN THE CENTER OF THE LARGEST SKI SPACE IN THE WORLD
PARADSKI: 425 kilometers of emotions, sensations, discoveries, escapism, from top to bottom, bottom to top, upwards, downwards and across, all altitudes on all the faces, for every age group and all abilities:
* 2 skiable glaciers:
* The glacier de la Chiaupe, on the slopes of Bellecte, above la Plagne
* The glacier du Varet, on the slopes of the Aiguille Rouge above Les Arcs.
* 2 peaks above 3,000 meters:
* Aiguille Rouge (3,226m)
* Bellecte (3,416m)
* 238 pistes of all levels:
* 12 greens
* 132 blues
* 65 reds
* 29 blacks
* 143 ski lifts:
* 1 funicular 4 light-weight cable cars 1 ‘Funitel’ (twin-cable cable car)
* 10 sections of gondola lifts
* 18 detachable chair lifts
* 47 chair lifts
* 28 ski lifts suitable for walkers
* 25 ski lifts accessible free of charge
* 2 boarder cross, 4 snow parks and 2 half pipes
* 118 hectares of the pistes are covered by 314 snow cannon.
GRANDE PLAGNE: 10 000 hectares of playground La Plagne is equipped with three outstanding snow parks (Bellecote, Montchavin and Champagny en Vanoise), and 3 boarder cross circuits. Of these, the one in Bellecote is naturally made, snaking between pine and larch trees with numerous handrails and jumps. Also provided are a sound system and barbecue sites for the new freestyle generation.
* Maximum altitude: 3250 meters
* Minimum altitude: 1250 m
* 225 km of slopes
* 134 pisted runs :
* 10 blacks
* 34 reds
* 79 blues
* 11 greens
* 105 ski lifts :
* 2 cable cars
* 7 gondolas
* 35 chair lifts
* 42 button tows
* 19 grab-on tows
* 2 moving carpets
* Artificial snow :
* 95 hectares
* 295 snow canons
IN SAVOY, THE HEART OF THE TARENTAISE
Savoie is home to France’s 1st National Park, which was created in 1963 and adjoins the Italian Grand Paradis National Park. Together, they form the largest protected area in Europe. It has a lot to offer, including its gastronomy with dishes such as cheese fondue or raclette, its tasty cheeses (Beaufort, Tomme de Savoie & Reblochon), its special local pasta (Crozets and Taillerins) and its wines (Gamay). During the 17th century, the baroque art movement revealed itself in Savoie, as an artistic expression of the catholic reformation movement. The Baroque paths are a 500 km long itinerary allowing you to contemplate one hundred edifices along the Savoie valleys. This department also offers lakes and rivers as well as a wide variety of sports such as rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, rafting, kayaking, golfing and summer and winter skiing on the everlasting snow of four glaciers.
Accessible from Grenoble, Geneva, and Lyon airports or by TGV to ST Michel de Valloire (4 hours from Paris) with regular bus links.
For more information, contact: [email protected]
More photos and details at https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/sales/leasebacks/lamarelle/lamrelle.html

** FPI PROPERTY LISTINGS – FOR SALE

 *  HOTEL PARTICULIER IN THE HEART OF OLD PERIGUEUX
 
Historic monument from the 16th and 18th centuries in excellent condition. 15 rooms, 750 m, 6 bedrooms, equipped kitchen, 1600 m land, cellar, garage. Sumptuous and beautiful view of the town.
Asking Price: 1,145,000 Euros + 2% Finders Fee (Maximum 20,000 Euros)
* VILLA IN PERIGUEUX
 
7 rooms, 140 m, 4 bedrooms, on 2186 m of land
Asking Price: 173,736 Euros + 2% Finders Fee* FACING NOTRE DAME
* HOTEL PARTICULIER IN A SMALL VILLAGE OF PERIGUEUX

19th century building in the center of a market town. The main building is divided into two separate but communicating units, each with central heating. Centrally heated loft style studio apartment in an annex with garage. Garden. 11 rooms, 300 m, 6 bedrooms, 1500 m land.
Asking Price: 589,000 Euros + 2% Finders Fee
* TYPICAL PERIGOURDINE HOUSE

Typical Prigourdine, 47 m2, with large living room, one bedroom, equipped American kitchen, attic, enclosed garden of 745 m2.
Asking Price 98,000 Euros + 2% Finder’s Fee

The best way to find the home or apartment in France of your dreams is to designate a time to be here to do a proper search. For more information about our property search services visit
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/propertyconsultation.html and for serious inquiries regarding these properties click here to email Jocelyn Carnegie, French Property Consultant: [email protected]
================================

PARLER PARIS APRES MIDI

NO MEETING DURING AUGUST
EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, September 14th, 2004

This is your opportunity to meet every month, often with local professionals who can answer your Working and Living in France questions. You are invited to come for drinks and share your questions and comments about what it takes to create a life here, own property and enjoy what France has to offer. It is also an opportunity to network with other Parler Paris readers.

LOCATION:
Upstairs at La Pierre du Marais
96, rue des Archives at the corner of rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris
Mtro Lines 9, 3 et 11, stations Temple, Rpublique or Arts et Mtiers
For a detail description of the past meeting and for more information
about Parler Paris Aprs Midi, visit:
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/apresmidi.html

================================

INSIDER PARIS GUIDES DISCOUNT FOR FPI SUBSCRIBERS
Don’t forget that with your FPI subscription you are entitled to a discount on the purchase of any Insider Paris Guides. You’ll find details of the guides at http://www.insiderparisguides.com/. When ordering, a box will pop up allowing you to enter the following username/password
Order more than one guide at a time and you will receive an additional discount!
Username: propertyinsider
Password: liveinfrance
================================
RENTING AN APARTMENT IN PARIS OR HAVE AN APARTMENT TO RENT?
If you are seeking to rent a furnished apartment for a week, a month or a year or you have an apartment you wish to rent, contact Adrian Leeds
================================


FPI CONFERENCE CALLS 

https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/subscribersonly/confcallinstr.cfm

As an FPI subscriber, we offer you special access to our time and
knowledge with our own quarterly conference calls. The next scheduled
conference call is Sunday, October 17, 2004 at 8 p.m. Paris time, 2 p.m.
Eastern time. Mark your calendars now, but don’t worry, we’ll give you
plenty of advance notice.

To listen to the last conference call:
July 11, 2004
The French Leaseback: A Hassle-Free Investment with a Guaranteed Return
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/subscribersonly/107.mp3
NEXT CONFERENCE CALL
Conference Date: October 17, 2004
Conference Time: 2 p.m. EST, 8 p.m. Paris Time
Discussion Topic: TBA

================================

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
– FPI Website: To access any password protected pages, the username is: fpiuser and the password is: paris1802. If your computer utilizes cookies, once you log into a subscriber only section, the login information will remain active for seven days, after which you will have to login again.
– Past issues of FPI are available on the website. You will find the “Past Issues” link on the left under “Subscribers Only” or by going to https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/subscribersonly/archives.cfm
– To receive your free French Leaseback Report or the Paris Property Report, click on https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/subscribersonly/reports2003.cfm and download the pdf versions.
– Instructions for upcoming conference calls are on the FPI website. You’ll find the link under the “Subscribers Only” section on the left of any page.
– Get In On The Discussion: Care to weigh-in on current HOT topics of discussion on France? Get in on or start your own thread on our bulletin board at http://www.agora-inc.com/forums/index.cfm?cfapp=15
================================
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

==APARTMENT RENTAL==
For all International Living managed apartments in Paris, click on https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/apartments

==APARTMENT RENTAL==
Guest Room or Two-Bedroom Apartment Located in a 17th century Le Marais Hotel Particulier, this 70 square meter apartment two-bedroom apartment with lots of light is nicely furnished and is perfect for a single woman in the freshly renovated guest room when owner Adrian Leeds is in or for up to 4 people when she’s traveling.
Pictures and more details available at https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/apartments/rentals/leeds.html
For information and reservations email: ABL_Apartment
==APARTMENT RENTAL==
For rent by the week or longer
Two lovely 2 or 3-bedroom apartments — 1st arrondissement, same building. Just minutes away: the Louvre, Tuilleries, Place Vendome and more. French style gives you a true taste of Paris. Fully equiped makes y
our Paris stay effortless, comfortable and memorable.
Complete information and photos at http://www.youlloveparis.com
==APARTMENT RENTAL==
* 20, rue du Cherche-Midi in the 6th arrondissement, just down the street from the world famous Poilne bakery. Mtro: St. Sulpice. 45 square meters: bedroom, bath with tub/shower, kitchen, dining room and living room area with trundle bed (2 twins). Fully and elegantly furnished. Cable TV. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Decor composed of 18th century oak paneling. 2 flights up.
To book, contact Porter Scott at
[email protected]
==APARTMENT RENTAL==

Stay in your own 17th-century pied–terre in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prs, Paris, by the week or month. Sleeps 4. Newly furnished and redecorated. Totally charming. From $150 per night.
Visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/rentals/mazarine.html
or contact Porter Scott at Mazarine
==APARTMENT RENTAL==
* 23, rue Mazarine in the 6th arrondissement. Mtro: Odeon
45 square meters: bedroom, bath with tub/shower, kitchen & dining area, living room with bedcouch. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Cable TV. Beautiful restored stone wall, beams, charm of 17th century building. 3 flights up, no elevator.
To book, contact Porter Scott at
[email protected]
==SEASIDE VACATION APARTMENT RENTAL==

Monte Carlo Seaside: a dream flat with a dream view on Monaco and the sea!
Located at the french border of the principality of Monaco in Roquebrune Cap Martin — this big one bedroom flat of 600 square-feet with a terrace can easily accommodate one couple + one extra adult on a convertible sofa. Fully equiped kitchen, marble bathroom, private cark park, security doors, pure silence, fresh sea breeze, direct access to the quiet private beach at 200 meters, 5 minutes to Monte Carlo train station or bus stop, easy access from Nice international airport and Monte Carlo train station.
May to June*: 600 euros per week
July to September: 800 euros per week
*Special Weeks in May: Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival: 1000 euros per week
Visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/rentals/pfmontecarlo.html
or contact FPI_Monte-Carlo and ask for the French Property Insider Special Offer.
==APARTMENT RENTAL==
Elegant, Tasteful, Calm at Saint-Germain-des-Prs, 6th arrondissement, one bedroom apartment, sleeps 4. Amenities: Fireplace, Phone, Cable TV, Full Kitchen, Microwave, Refrigerator, Cooking Utensils provided, Linens provided, Washer & Dryer, Bathtub with Shower.
For more information, visit:
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/rentals/scott.html or contact FPI_Cherche_Midi_Rental
==APARTMENT RENTAL==
* 41, rue Mazarine in the 6th arrondissement. Mtro Odeon
40 square meters: bedroom, bathroom with shower. Kitchen. Dining/Living room with sleeper sofa. Sleeps 4. Fully furnished. Cable TV. Restored interior brick wall. 2 flights up with elevator.
To book, contact Porter Scott at
[email protected]

==PROVENCE VACATION HOME RENTAL==

Make this exquisite contemporary private residence your home away from home while vacationing in Provence this spring or summer. Paradise for the person who appreciates fine esthetics, this restored farm house dating as far back as 1682 is in the heart of Provence in the green setting of over seven acres of olive and chestnut trees, terraces and gardens with a private pool. “La Vernatelle” is less than 20 minutes from Saint Tropez, but nestled in the forest of La Garde Freinet en Provence. Three bedrooms, four baths, seven terraces, a chimney, a large mezzanine for reading and lounging overlooking the main living area, pool and much, much more! Read more about La Vernatelle… https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/rentals/lavernatelle.html
2,975 Euro per Week
To reserve or for more information, contact: [email protected]
==APARTMENT RENTALS==
See More Apartment Rentals At: https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/apartments
================================
HELPFUL CONVERSIONS FOR REAL ESTATE
1 square meter = 10.7639104 square feet
1 hectare = 2.4710538 acres
For more conversions, refer to: http://www.onlineconversion.com/
================================
SUBSCRIBE TO PARLER PARIS
If you’re not a regular reader of the Parler Paris daily e-letter, and
would like to be, simply enter your e-mail address here (it’s free!):
http://www.adrianleeds.com/parlerparis
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Copyright 2004, Agora Ireland Publishing & Services Ltd.

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