Mouliherne FAQ's
There are possibly more than a few questions that we've been asked, living here as we do year round, and running businesses, bringing up a family etc.
So, we've created the FAQ page to try and answer some of the most commonly asked ones. If you have a question, but can't find the answer, please search
the website, email us, or use the Contact Us page.
What's the weather like in summer?
Normally pretty good. The maximum we've experienced since we've been here is 45 degrees. In our opinion, the best months are May, June and September.What's the weather like in winter?
It can be cold. Very cold. Minus 18 has been the lowest we've experienced, but that's unusual, and in plain countryside. It's several degrees warmer than that in the villages and towns!Do you need to speak French to live there?
You'll need to learn the basics, yes. Even if it's just to go about the daily business of shopping, visiting the doctor, ordering materials etc. There are common courtesies that need to be observed. Like saying good morning, and goodbye.Is it really cheaper to live there than in the UK/USA/Australia?
It's all relative. Everyone has their individual needs, therefore each one of us is different. Some things are cheaper here due to the lack of exise duty on them, like beer and wines. Though other things can be comparitively expensive. Food, when bought from markets are usually very fresh, and locally produced. The quality is usually excellent, though possibly a little more expensive than you're used to elsewhere.I've heard that land is cheaper, is it true?
In general terms, yes. With more space to run around in. The population of France is roughly half that of the UK, for example, but with double the amount of land.What about the taxes?
Well, there are only two things certain in life - death and taxes! The two main taxes on your home aren't bad at all. Taxe d'habitation and taxe fonciere are what each and every home and landowner in France will pay each year. But, for the amount of space available, they're not very much at all.Is the education system good?
It's difficult to say, as one man's meat is anther man's poison. Our own experiences of the system have been positive, though we do know of other parents with opposing viewpoints. Your child will be expected to attend lessons in french, and it can be very hard. Children are resilient, and most will cope with their new surroundings remarkably well after a period of adjustment.Are the locals friendly?
Emphatically yes! It's true to say though, that you only get out of life what you put into it. The people we've met and become good friends with have offered help and advice whenever we've needed it, and are always ready to chat. They love to practice the English that they know too.Is it hard to drive on the right??
No. After a few years, we now prefer it! There are some 'strange' rules of the road that you need to be aware of - 'priorité a droit' is one of them!Is it lonely in the winter?
Again, it's all relative. Mouliherne is a thriving commune, with much to offer the willing participant. You can join in as much or as little as you want with village life, the same as you would anywhere else. If you prefer not to be alone in the countryside after dark when it's howling a gale outside, then buy a house in a village. Just the same as you would anywhere else.Is it safe?
Yes. Of course there's crime. But, as in most close-knit communities, it's minimal. The local gendarmerie have a very public prescence, and unlike in the UK for instance, there are more police stations being built - in the communes! We often walk the lanes around our place by moonlight, and are never afraid to do so. Something we felt unable to do where we lived in the UK.These are just a few of the questions we've been asked in our four years of life in France, and in Mouliherne in particular. If you have any more, please email us, or use the Contact Us page.
