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The Crazy Cows of Normandy

Volume IV, Issue 6

View of the sea from an apartment for sale in Nice

Today’s FPI takes us to the region of Normandy, where I spent a glorious Sunday afternoon with chef and author, Susan Herrmann Loomis, in her centuries-old house in Louviers. The house is a sprawling half-timbered house typical of Normandy architecture which has taken on many different shapes and configurations over the centuries of life within it. The town of Louviers has a long history and oozes with charm, most particularly the parts untouched by World War II, and it’s Romanesque/Gothic church that dominates the village landscape.

Normandy is well inhabited by the British and now discovered by Americans mostly for its history during the war and the American cemetery which draws thousands of visitors each year. We explore Normandy today for all its virtues as both a wonderful region to visit as well as to live a rich and varied life.
Take note of the crazy cow parade that just began at the beginning of this month right here in Paris and I offer up a personal photo or two of cows I discovered in Prague on a recent trip that caught my fancy. Seems so appropriate to our Normandy theme…as we bring you properties in Normandy to dream about life with great cheeses, butter and cream!
On a humorous note, I recount my recent experience at our annual homeowners association meeting which is both a privilege and responsibility, if not a hair-raising experience! After publishing the tale, I received dozens of letters from readers recounting their own memorable meetings. One reader accidentally replied to us, clearly it was meant for someone else…”Thank goodness we don’t live in France!” he wrote his friend. Well, to this I say…if it’s the worst experience you have living in this glorious place, then I accept gladly!
Property prices are reported on once again, more for prices in the countryside than in Paris and we offer up a Leaseback property in the gorgeous and chic Côte d’Azur town of Saint Tropez. Thanks to our friends at the City Hall, we make available a free brochure Guide to City Services — a pdf a click away.
And for what’s coming up…
We have a great way to meet other readers — be sure to join us Tuesday, February 14th (Valentine’s Day!) from 3 to 5 p.m. for our free coffee gathering, Parler Paris Après Midi — at La Pierre du Marais. Visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/calendar.html for more information.
And I’ll be speaking at the AWG February Coffee: New Orleans Post-Katrina Update (and a little Mardi Gras fun!) Monday, February 20, 2006 on the subject of Hurricane Katrina and how it struck New Orleans, but it struck the hearts of the French as well.
Read on for all this and more…

A bientôt…

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

P.S. Learn all about the ins and outs of property ownership in France plus much more at the Living and Investing in France Conferences coming soon — Paris and New Orleans! Visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/liveinfrance/index.html for details.
Special note regarding the Paris Conference: Now through February 28, 2006, $1 = Euro 1! When you register before March 1st, instead of investing the usual conference price in euros at $1.20 per euro, you’re going to invest the conference price at $1.00 per euro — a savings of 20%! Visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/liveinfrance/LIF_PARIS_2006/LIF_PARIS_2006_home.html for details
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Volume IV, Issue 6, February 9, 2006

In this issue:
* Your Guide to Services in Paris
* Property Owners Meet in Le Marais
* A Country Feast in Louviers
* A Look at the Five Areas of Normandy
* Visiting Historic Normandy
* Cost of French Property is on the Rise
* Adrian Leeds’ Update on Post-Katrina New Orleans
* Upcoming Conferences: Special Paris Offer – For a Limited Time Only!
* The Cows are Coming to Paris!
* FPI Property Consultation, Search and Relocation Solutions
* Today’s Currency Update from Moneycorp
* Next Parler Paris Après-Midi: February 14
* Hot Property Picks: In the Heart of Le Marais
* Hot Property Picks: Five Homes in Normandy
* Leasebacks: Bastides de Ramatuelle, Saint Tropez
* Classified Advertising: Leeds Marais Apartment Available May 19-30, 2006
* Classified Advertising: Coming Soon…Parler Paris Apartments

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City of Paris Guide to City Services
Thanks to our “little birdie” at the Hôtel de Ville, we have a special treat for French Property Insider Readers…the newest City of Paris Guide to City Services brochure in ENGLISH — everything new residents would want and need to know — now available for immediate download FREE by clicking on the special link on the left panel of the Parler Paris Web site — https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/CityofParisGuide.pdf
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Friendly Meeting of Marais Minds
By Adrian Leeds
Reprint from Parler Paris February 8, 2006
Photo by Erica Simone

Every February, my “copropriété (homeowners association) meets for the annual “assemblée generale” (assembly meeting) that they lovingly call an “Amicale du 43 rue de Saintonge.” I find this in itself amusing, since “amicale” means “friendly” and has the second meaning of “club” or “association,” but I wouldn’t call this particular meeting very “friendly.”
At the end of the session, which lasted 2.5 hours, I whispered to our volunteer “Syndic” (managing agent, or president of the association), that he was “un ange” (an angel) — and he understood the meaning — to have patiently presided over such a collection of individuals as French property owners.
A “bénévole” syndic is already a blessing for an association, that is, if he does a proper job, as it saves the owners agency management fees. Ours happens to be very much in that category and there isn’t a single owner who’d be willing to take over his thankless job.
I was the only American among them, although not the only American owner in the building of about 30 units. When I first began coming five years ago, my level of French was poor and I understood only a smattering, which, looking back on it, may have been to my benefit! Now, I understand just about every word and am much more a part of the process, although I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut for good reason.
The first order of business last night was a discussion about the few owners who refuse to have their bi-annual “charges” (fees) automatically debited from their bank accounts and are therefore usually delinquent on payment, causing a deficit on the books. There was a vote to assess all the owners a small amount each semester to act as a cushion (70 euros) and a very unpleasant argument ensued between the owners who were themselves at fault, the syndic and the rest of the owners. A few people came to the rescue of the syndic, whose services save much more than cost of the assessment. There was another vote to increase the interest penalty on late payments from 1% to 2% and I spoke up (for once) that it should be 5%! That got a big laugh — I guess they thought it funny coming from the money-minded American!
In the end, the guilty owners wrote a check to the copropriété right there and then — and for one euro more as a gesture of generosity!
From this auspicious beginning, I began chuckling to myself…then it got worse. One owner sitting next to me came in reeking of alcohol and tore every tissue into three before using one tiny portion of it. She became the center of attention when an offer to purchase the WC on her floor (in this 18th-century building, there were communal toilets on each floor, now being transformed into storage spaces or incorporated into apartments) was put before the assembly by an American owner currently in the States in the form of a letter and “pouvoir” (power) given to a neighbor. The owner next to me quickly upped the offer by 200 euros and then the neighbor with power of attorney increased it again and the bidding war started. When the letter was shown, she had given power to offer a large sum, at which point the owner next to me realized she would surely lose and flatly refused to engage any further in the discussion at all. No, the answer was no!
Madness broke out when the neighbor’s cell phone rang with the American owner at the other end of the line from the States, hoping they could speak and settle it at that moment. A suggestion was made by another owner to simply make copies of the key to the WC and allow everyone to share it, as we do on my floor. In the end, nothing was accomplished and another year would pass before a second attempt could be made, as it’s a function of the assembly to make these kinds of decisions on the common areas.
In another issue of primary importance, the owners almost voted the destruction of two large balconies which existed, but were never assessed for fees, because they were never legally included in the sales deeds — even though the owners clearly paid for them richly! I thought the one owner present would cry if they had denied her the “pleasure” of paying the fees and keeping her beautiful terrace. I was rooting for her.
When you’re a property owner in Paris, it’s not only your right, but your responsibility to participate in the collective decision-making process. Owners who can’t attend can give power of attorney to someone else to vote on their behalf. I’ve done this on several occasions myself for absent property clients. Memories of these meetings are vivid and become very much a part of one’s natural life in France.
By the end of the lengthy session, with no dinner in my belly at 10 p.m., my amusement was spilling over and thought to myself, “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.”
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</ta ble>==============================THE FIVE DEPARTMENTS OF NORMANDY Calvados Department 14Famous for cider and apple brandy, half-timbered houses, the lovely port of Honfleur, impressionist paintings, casinos and racetracks, dining on seafood, the Bayeux tapestries, William the Conqueror and several popular cheeses. Eure Department 27Famous for its maze of rivers and canals, Giverny where Monet lived, American impressionists who were drawn to the region, Richard the Lionhearted who built the Château Gaillard and half-timbered houses on the River Risle.Manche Department 50Famous for the port of Cherbourg, fishing villages and sea ports, the village of St. Mere Eglise, best remembered for the Paratrooper whose chute was caught on the steeple and became the unwilling witness of the slaughter of his comrades below, Coutances’ rich creamy cheese, Mont-Saint-Michel, the most visited site in France and the salt pasture sheep which graze on the rich salty grass.Seine Maritime Department 76Famous for the charming town of Neufchâtel en Bray, renowned for its heart shaped cheese, Dieppe, once a main cross channel ferry port and originally an ivory center with its 15th Century castle, the sailing port of Saint-Valery-en-Caux and its magnificent cliff-top views, Etretat with the finest cliffs of the ‘Alabaster coast’ and the unusual rock formations of l’Aiguille and Les Trois Portes, Fécamp, a place of pilgrimage, Le Havre at the mouth of the Seine, the second port of Franc and the City of Rouen with its Gallo Roman origins.Orne Department 61Famous for its well kept rural landscape of forests and meadows, its studs, especially Haras du Pin near Argentan, referred to as the ‘Versailles of the horse world,’ Camembert cheese made with Calvados, Domfront, birthplace of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Alençon, on the River Sarthe, once the lace capital of Europe.==============================Discover Normandy
From Maison de la France
http://us.franceguide.com
During the American assault of Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, the Second Ranger Battalion scaled the 100-foot cliff of the Pointe-du-Hoc and seized the German artillery pieces.Normandy echoes the history of past struggles: the Norman Conquest woven into the tapestry at Bayeux; the perils of Jeanne d’Arc recorded in Rouen; and the drama of the D-Day landings recorded along the Normandy beaches. The violence of its history is at odds with the ethereal landscapes that inspired Corot, Monet and Pissarro, a region to take it slow by boat, balloon or bicycle. An inspiring gateway to Normandy is Giverny, a village that would be sleeping still had it not captured the heart and imagination of Claude Monet. While the great painter’s pink farmhouse is charming and now a museum, Monet’s masterpiece was his garden, still complete with water lilies. Travelers following the route from here to Rouen can detour to Les Andelys, crowned by the fragmentary remains of Château Gaillard, a fortified castle built by Richard the Lion-Heart in 1196 overlooking the River Seine.Like Paris, the Seine also divides Rouen, a city bristling with spires and bell towers, while cafés and half-timbered houses crowd the cobbled Rue Gros-Horloge, the pedestrian heart of town. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431 on the market square and a mosaic flagstone marks the spot. Nearby stands one of France’s most striking Gothic cathedrals, Notre-Dame — a favorite subject of Monet.Less than an hour away on the coast is Honfleur, the most picturesque of all Normandy seaports and artists’ haunt for centuries. Visitors can see the picture-postcard harbor filled with yachts and fishing boats, just a short walk along cobbled streets from the little wooden church of Ste. Catherine, with its quaint belfry. Further along the spectacular corniche is the super-chic spa resort of Deauville, complete with casino and an event roster ranging from the American Film Festival to steeple-chase and other horse events. Among the 40 golf courses in Normandy (of which 21 play to 18 holes), three are here in Deauville, and there are some two dozen town-owned tennis courts. Inland and along delightful country roads, one can trace the designated routes for cheese — Camembert, Livarot, Pont l’Eveque — made in villages of the same name in the Pays d’Auge region; other villages are linked in routes dedicated to cider and Calvados, with half-timbered cottages beckoning travelers to a tasting.From here, wind down the Seine to the Jumièges abbey, a dramatic monastic ruin founded by St. Philibert in the 7th century. Continue to Caen with a visit to its Museum for Peace, which records the sights and sounds of World War II, from Europe’s descent in war to D-Day and the stunning liberation. Here also, you encounter William the Conqueror and his wife Mathilde; he founded the Abbaye aux Hommes and she the Abbaye aux Dames. Continue west to Bayeux, a well-cared-for medieval town whose super-star attraction is the Bayeux Tapestry, displayed in a building constructed just for it across from Notre-Dame Cathedral. Said to be woven by Queen Mathilde and her ladies-in-waiting, this masterpiece measures 231 feet long and two feet high, and depicts the c
onques
t of Britain by her husband William in 1066.
Back by the sea are the landing sites, Omaha and Utah, where the American forces landed at 6:30 a.m. on June 6, 1944; and Gold, Juno and Sword Beaches where the British and Canadian forces came ashore. Here as well is the American military cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, another site where citizens from both sides of the Atlantic honor the fallen. Visitors can also capture some of the landings’ drama by viewing the beaches and their defenses from the sea on coastal day cruises. Heading west to the Brittany border, the visitor will find the most impressive sight of all: Mont Saint-Michel, the 14th-century abbey of abbeys, perched on its rocky pinnacle beside the sea. It is one of the architectural marvels of the world and the most visited monument in France after the Eiffel Tower and Versailles. Through the ages, Mont-Saint-Michel has been thronged with pilgrims of all kinds, so come in off season or late in the afternoon when the tour buses have left and have the magical place to yourself.
===============================French Property Price Increase
From Open Public Relations
http://openpr.com/news/4237.html
French property prices showed a steady increase in 2005 with more property sales passing through the books of local French estate agents.According to investment property experts, apartment prices rose by 10.6 per cent in 2005, while the price of a house or villa rose by 9.9 per cent. Although both figures are lower than those for 2004, the FNAIM was very happy with the fact that there was an increase in the number of French properties being sold.With more and more people destined to buy property abroad this year, the increase can only benefit the already healthy property market in France. The French National Association of Estate Agents (FNAIM) revealed that French property prices increased by 10.3 per cent across the nation in 2005.
The biggest price increases were seen in Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, le Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Franche-Comté, Haute-Normandie, Languedoc-Roussillon and in Lorraine. The north and east continued to see price rises, with a 10.3 per cent increase compared to ten per cent in 2004.
With a potential 80,000 U.K. buyers looking to secure a property abroad in 2006, the European Property investment market appears to be in a strong position. With fears of a serious downturn for the U.K. property market now alleviated, experts are anticipating that property investment abroad in 2006 should reap some very positive rewards. France should have no problem securing its large share of the market, especially with the convenience of being so close to the U.K. With an average price of 160,000 euros for a 2 bedroom apartment in Montpellier – Pyrenees-Orientales or 206,000 euros for a stunning villa in Narbonne – Pyrenees-Orientales it’s not difficult to why. ===============================Adrian Leeds Speaks Out on Hurricane Katrina
American Women’s Group (AWG)
February Coffee: New Orleans Post-Katrina Update
(and a little Mardi Gras fun!)
Monday, February 20, 2006
10:00 am
Chez Joanne Blakemore
Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, but it struck the hearts of the French as well. Discover what France is doing to help its North American sister city, notably in the field of education.Adrian Leeds author and editor of the Parler Paris newsletter and numerous other guides useful to expats, New Orleans native and long time Paris resident, will present a first hand account of conditions in New Orleans. Recently returned from a trip home, she will be sharing her observations and discussing future possibilities for the city, including the French commitment to its recovery.In the true New Orleans spirit, Mardi Gras will be our theme as we “laissez les bon temps rouler!”Mardi Gras (literally,”fat Tuesday”) is the last chance to party before the Catholic penitential season of Lent begins the next day. Carnival (from the Latin for “raising flesh,” which means to abstain from eating meat) is associated with the last minute partying of Mardi Gras.Visit http://www.awgparis.org for more information. Call or write for details if you wish to attend: 01.42.73.36.74, [email protected]===============================Upcoming ConferencesLiving and Investing in France Conference
March 17 – 19, 2006
Chez Jenny, Paris
For a limited time only… $1 = 1 Euro!Right now, when you register for this 3-day power-packed conference, instead of investing the usual conference price at $1.20 per Euro, you can invest in the conference price at only $1.00 per Euro — a savings of 20%! But hurry…this offer ends February 28, 2006Includes…Saturday, March 18, 2006 Dinner at Historical Chez Jenny, 8 p.m.
with Guest Speakers and presentation by David Downie and Alison Harris, authors of “Paris, Paris: Journey Into the City of Light
.”
Take a Priva
te Tour of the City Hall of Paris!
Monday, March 20, 2006, 10 a.m.
A special private tour of the Hôtel de Ville!
Monday, March 20, 2006, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Take a Private Tour of Paris Apartments!
Sunday, February 12, 2006, 8 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Participate in a One-Hour Conference Call with FPI Consultants!
Save $50 on a Property Search and Visit Paris Apartments!Living and Investing in France Conference
May 26 – 28, 2006
Sheraton, New Orleans
Includes…Saturday Night at the Second Oldest Restaurant in New Orleans!
May 27, 2006, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 29, 2006 at 1 p.m.
Tour New Orleans with Grayline Tours
Hurricane Katrina — “America’s Worst Catastrophe”
5th Paris Poetry Workshop
Paris, France
May 14 – 19, 2006
This is your opportunity to spend five days in Paris as a poet among poets. Over the past four years, the Paris Poetry Workshop has become a tradition in the English-speaking Paris poetry community, offering poets from the U.S., Canada and Europe the opportunity to come together for a week of intensive workshops, lectures and readings. Anyone who’s been to Paris already knows about the inspiration and stimulation of the senses the city affords; this is a chance to see and experience a side of Paris not readily accessible to the average tourist. Participants generate new work, hone their craft, share and support one another’s creative endeavors, make new friends and expand their literary horizons. This is your chance to become part of this exciting and vibrant community. For more information visit: https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/poetry/parismay2006.htmlTHE ART OF TROMPE L’OEIL SEMINAR
Paris
NEW DATES: May 15 – 19, 2006
Chateau de Saint-Loup
The Art of Trompe l’Oeil Workshop originally scheduled for December 29 – January 2, has now been postponed until May 15 – 19, 2006, and will be held at the fabulous Chateau de Saint-Loup. Join a unique community of artists, engaging in hands-on painting and conversation with internationally renowned trompe l’oeil muralist and educator, Yves Lanthier. An award-winning artist, Yves has created large oil paintings and elaborate trompe l’oeil that adorn the ceilings and walls of many East Coast mansions and Palm beach estates, including Celine Dion’s estate in Jupiter, Florida.

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The “Cow Parade” Marches to Paris
From Maison de la France
http://us.franceguide.com/
Artistic expression and goodwill collide in this fascinating and unique traveling exhibition.After much success in major international cities, the famous “Cow Parade” heads to Paris for its French debut. This cultural exhibition of contemporary art assembles 150 life-size cow sculptures. Maison de la France will sponsor a cow to be painted in the French colors bleu, blanc, rouge.Each sculpture is sponsored and in turn painted by artists before a panel of judges selects the ones to be revealed to the public.Calendar of events:
February 1 – The cows arrived in Paris
February to March – The sculptures are housed in a giant studio where artists begin their work
April 1 to 8 – Private viewing of the exhibition
April 10 to June 16 – Exhibition opens to the public on the streets of Paris
June 19 to 25 – All the cows are brought together at La Défense square
June 29 – Auction at Artcurial.The parade was created in 1998 in Zurich. Since then, more than 16 cities have welcomed the exhibition with over 1,500 sponsors. For the Paris Cow Parade, the most beautiful of works will be auctioned off, with 100% of profits going to the Africa Alive Foundation. Since its creation, the Cow Parade has supported numerous charitable organizations, collecting over 10 million Euros.Visit the official web site http://www.vach-art.fr (French only) or the Paris Tourist Office at http://www.parisinfo.com for more details.
===============================FPI Property Consultation, Search and Relocation SolutionsLet French Property Insider expert property consultants find your dream home in France for you. We consult with you to help you make the best decisions, ferret out the finest properties to meet your criteria, schedule the visits and accompany you, negotiate with the agencies and owners, recommend the notaires and other professionals, schedule the signings and oversee the purchase with you from start to finish! You could never do it so easily on your own. Let us take the time and effort off your hands.FPI Offers More Relocation Solutions!Let our experienced relocation
expert help make your move easy and hassle-free. We offer comple
te property and relocation services normally only provided by employer hired relocation firms…but at a price much more affordable for individuals.
Solution #1: Property Consultation and Search Services
Solution #2: Purchase Assistance
Solution #3: Getting a Mortgage in France
Solution #4: Property Appraisal Service
Solution #5: The “Après Vente”

Apartments for Rent: Long-Term
To book your services, click here:
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/booking.html
To download a free brochure, click here
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/services/fpibrochure.pdf
===============================       

TODAY’S CURRENCY UPDATE
Visit the FPI Web site and click on the link on the left panel “Click Here for Currency Convertor by Moneycorp Global Money Services” for up to the minute conversions of all major currencies.Compare currency values easily and quickly by visiting: https://adrianleeds.com/frenchproperty/loan/moneycorpconvertor.htmlCharts http://www.Moneycorp.co.uk/members/charts.asp The charts below are updated every ten seconds. The prices shown are “inter bank” exchange rates and are not the rates that you will be offered by Moneycorp. Your rate will be determined by the amount of currency that you are buying. Please speak with an Moneycorp dealer or your consultant for a live quotation. ===============================

Parler Paris Après-Midi
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/apresmidi.html
NEXT MEETING: February 14, 2006 AND EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.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.
Upstairs at La Pierre du Marais
96, rue des Archives at the corner of rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris
Métro Lines 9, 3 et 11, stations Temple, République or Arts et Métiers
===============================HOT PROPERTY PICKSEach 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.As 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 do the whole thing for you. For more information, visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/propertyconsultation.htmlIN THE HEART OF THE MARAIS*** Paris, 3rd Arrondissement, 2 rooms, approx. 73 m²On rue Charlot, in an delightful old and quiet building, 3rd floor without an elevator. This charming apartment has a large living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The beamed ceilings add to its character.Asking Price: 524,700 Euros + 2.5% Finder’s Fee

FOUR HALF-TIMBERED NORMANDY HOMES AND A CHÂTEAU*** Seine Maritime (76), House, 9 rooms, approx. 200m²This charming Anglo-Norman house is located close to amenities. Ideal for a family, it has 4 bedrooms, an office, large living room with a marble fireplace, kitchen with a bay window, cellar, bathrooms and attic, plus an enclosed garden, 900m²
Asking Price: 320,000 Euros
+ 2.5% Finder’s Fee

*** Pontorson (50), House, approx. 113m²Close to Mount St-Michel, this quiet house has 2 bedrooms, a swimming pool, and a property of approx. 3300m². It also has 5 gites that can welcome up to 34 people.Asking Price: 376,300 Euros + 2.5% Finder’s Fee
***Gisors (27), House, 8 rooms, approx. 210m² This delightful, traditional half-timbered home is in the heart of a charming village. It offers a large living room with beamed ceilings, dining room with a fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, 3 bedrooms on the garden, 2 bathrooms, one separate toilet. The master bedroom has its own luxurious bathroom. On a property of approx. 800m², it is close to golf, tennis, swimming and other activities.Asking Price: 495,000 Euros + 2.5% Finder’s Fee

***Calvados (14), House, 8 rooms, approx. 180m²There is plenty of room in this beautifully constructed traditional, half-timbered home. Large living room with a fireplace, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, finished basement, on a 5000m² lot.Asking Price: 546,000 Euros + 2.5% Finder’s Fee

***Coulonces (61), Château, 10 rooms, approx. 700m²This Napoléon III château is full of charm. It has been renovated, and has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, plus garages, a horse stall and barn. It sits on a 5 hectare park by a river. An absolute must-see!Asking Price: 640,000 Euros + 2.5% Finder’s Fee

===============================LEASEBACK NEWS FROM IMOINVEST
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/sales/leasebacks/lb_list.php

BASTIDES DE RAMATUELLE
France, Mediterranean Coast, Ramatuelle
One Bedroom 28m² to 40m² Euros 362,000 to Euros 516,000 Two Bedrooms 43m² to 55m² Euros 556,000 to Euros 698,000LEASEBACK PROPERTYGUARANTEED RENTAL INCOME UP TO: 5.00%Everything is famous in Saint Tropez Fabulous location, with only a 5 minute walk from Saint Tropez and the famous Pampelonne beach that stretches out for 5km, carved with crystal blue creeks and inlets. This 4-star residence is located on the French Riviera in the charming village of Ramatuelle, set along the Golf of Saint Tropez! Charming and adored by many, the village of Ramatuelle is built against hills and closed in by ramparts offering gorgeous views over pink tile rooftops and ancient stone houses. In addition, Ramatuelle is only 10km from the 18 hole golf course of Gassin offering stunning views, tennis courts, horse riding and a swimming pool. A typically tropizian residence that has been completely refurbished to the highest of standards, comprising excellent quality flats and duplex apartments and outstanding residence facilities. Situated in a peaceful and tranquil setting, this private oasis is surrounded by pine trees and other greenery common to the region. The residence is extremely luxurious offering a private garden with jacuzzi and outdoor swimming pool. International airports may be found close by in Nice and Toulon where a range of direct flights are supplied by many inexpensive airlines. As with all leaseback investments you will be able to reclaim the VAT amount and receive a high guaranteed rental income. This development will be operated by an established French management company specializing in Residences of Tourism.===============================SEEKING A MORTGAGE IN FRANCE
?
Let us help you secure a mortgage in France with interest rates as low as 3%. Visit https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/loan for more information.================================INSIDER PARIS GUIDES DISCOUNT FOR FPI SUBSCRIBERSDon’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: fpi
Password: subscriber
Order more than one guide at a time and you will receive an additional discount!================================THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOWTo access password protected pages: click on any of the links on the left panel of the home page of FrenchPropertyInsider.com under “Subscriber’s Only,” then type in your personal username and password.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
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To receive your free French Leaseback Report or the Paris Property
Report, click on
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================================HELPFUL CONVERSIONS FOR REAL ESTATE1 square meter = 10.7639104 square feet1 hectare = 2.4710538 acresFor more conversions, refer to: http://www.onlineconversion.com/==== CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING =====APARTMENT RENTAL==Leeds Marais Guest Room or Entire Two-Bedroom Apartment Available in its entirety May 19 – 30, 2006Located in a 17th century Le Marais Hotel Particulier, this 70 square meter 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 here: Marais Guest Room or Entire Apartment
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==APARTMENT RENTAL==Coming soon…Parler Paris Apartments rental representation at adrianleeds.com/parlerparis/apartments. If you have a property ín Paris you’d like to keep booked and represented properly, please email Adrian Leeds at [email protected] for more information.For all short term rental apartments in Paris, take a look at https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/apartments or
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/frenchproperty/insider/longterm.html for long term apartments.
================================SUBSCRIBE TO PARLER PARISIf 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 2006, Adrian Leeds Group, LLC

</strong > Lunch in the Country on Rue Tatin
By Adrian Leeds
Excerpt from Parler Paris February 6, 2006
After reading Susan Hermann Loomis’ “On Rue Tatin,” I had a strong urge to see it for myself — this sprawling half-timbered centuries-old house in the little Normandy town of Louviers. The trek from Paris isn’t difficult or expensive — a regional train from Gare St. Lazare takes you to Val-de-Reuil and there a big red bus awaits you headed for Louviers a short ride away. All total, about 1.5 hours from Paris.
Louviers is the “Venice of Normandy” — once an important textile manufacturing center with factories and large houses lining a network of canals, now with a population of a little less than 20,000 situated on the Eure river. The remains of 17th-century Franciscan cloisters from a convent are known to be the only cloisters in France built on a canal.
In the center of town is a “lavish Romanesque/Gothic church, which is so imposing that everyone refers to it as a cathedral, though is isn’t…” as Susan describes it in “On Rue Tatin.” Her house is directly opposite the church which is visible from almost every window.
When I first entered the gate at #1 rue Tatin, my first reaction was “Wow, it’s the witches house!” Ell-shaped, imposing, too, ancient and almost eerie in the middle of winter when the trees are without their leaves and the vine and rose-covered walls are barren. Inside, the house is warm, cozy, lived-in, charming and magical.
Life in the Loomis house centers around the spacious sun-lit kitchen with its larger- than-life work table dead center, pine green eight-burner Cometto double-ovened stove, large rectangular zinc sink, waist-level high fireplace, wood-burning stove and glass roof. Susan is master of this room, casually preparing a multi-course scrumptious lunch for just the two of us, her son Joe, her live-in student and whoever else happens by that afternoon.
Copper pots sit happily on the gas burners waiting for Susan’s creative hands. Susan Loomis has written two memoirs and six cookbooks. What her bio on her site DOESN’T tell you is that although she is an accomplished chef and author, she was also French cuisine guru Patricia Wells’ right arm for many, many years.
Kohlrabi (sometimes called “turnip cabbage”) drizzled with walnut oil and toasted cumin was pre-prepared and waiting to whet our appetites as we poured the first glass of red wine. Then she served braised Brussel sprouts with garlic and almonds noting that it didn’t sound like a very sexy dish, but it was in fact, and buttery delicious.
Meanwhile, chicken tajine with honeyed apples and orange flower water were bubbling away on the stove. She dished up our plates and we shifted to the more formal atmosphere of the living room/dining room at the front ell of the house to finish the meal, complete with three cheeses, freshly made sable cookies, fresh lychees and coffee.
Over this amazing meal, we decided that although she is offering a five-day course in Patricia Wells’ own personal kitchen in Paris this coming April, and a mother/daughter week this coming May on rue Tatin, that it would be fun if I would bring a group of special Parler Paris readers one Sunday afternoon very soon for a “Lunch in the Country.”…
Editor’s Note: “A Lunch in the Country” with Susan Loomis became overbooked within two hours after the Parler Paris issue was distributed. The plan for this lucky group is to arrive in Louviers about noon on March 12th. Over apéritifs, Susan will demonstrate much of the meal we will be privileged to have in the dining room…

* Baked oysters with Normandy cream and apple sherry
* Chicken tajine with honeyed apples and orange flower water
* Braised seasonal vegetables
* Crisp fresh salad
* An assortment of Normandy cheeses
* Her famous Tarte Tatin served with crème fraiche (of course!)
* Wine and coffee!

After this amazing meal later in the afternoon, we’ll tour the town before heading back to Paris on the 5:30 p.m. train to arrive at Gare St. Lazare about 7 p.m.
If you’re interested in taking one (or more) of Susan’s fabulous courses, visit her site at http://www.onruetatin.com and if you want to read all about it first, then go buy Susan’s books — visit: https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/books/cuisine.html for cooking books and
https://adrianleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/parlerparis/books/booksaboutfrance.html for her memoir “On Rue Tatin.”

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