HAVEN IN France

23/06/2026

We are delighted to be featured in the June edition of Rituals & Recommendations by Aimée Knight and Tenaya Darlington, authors of Rebel Wisdom !

Their newsletter explores creativity, reinvention, meaningful living, and the experiences that bring more depth, beauty, and possibility into our lives.

This month, they chose to highlight our upcoming Haven in France Immersion Week in Southwest France.

Designed for Americans who are seriously considering a move to France, this intimate experience combines practical relocation guidance, cultural immersion, expert insight, and personalized support.

Because moving to France is about far more than paperwork.
It is about understanding what daily life here truly looks like.
It is about asking the right questions before making major decisions.

And it is about creating a life that feels aligned with your values, goals, and aspirations.

We are honored to be included among such thoughtful recommendations.

Thank you, Aimée and Tenaya, for your generosity and support.

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about creativity, reinvention, and building a meaningful next chapter, we highly recommend following their work and reading this month's newsletter.

Read the newsletter here:

Books, beverages, and retreat ideas for under the Strawberry Moon

18/05/2026

Real Stories. Real Support. Trusted by Expats 🇫🇷✨

15/05/2026

🇺🇸 Introducing the Haven Immersion Weeks

This July, Haven in France is opening the doors to a new kind of relocation experience in Southwest France.

The Haven Immersion Weeks are designed for Americans who are seriously considering a move to France and want clarity before making major life, property, visa, or administrative decisions.

France is not impossible.

But making the right decisions from abroad can be difficult.

This is not a vacation.
This is not a typical retreat.

It is a real-life, guided immersion in the French countryside, designed to help participants understand their situation, ask the right questions, avoid costly mistakes, and build a practical path forward.

For one full week, participants will work directly with Cécile Gallet, founder of Haven in France.

The week will include both small-group moments and private one-to-one sessions with Cécile, allowing each participant to discuss their personal relocation project in complete confidence.

Participants will also benefit from private expert sessions with a bilingual notary and a bilingual CPA specializing in U.S.–France tax matters, offering high-level guidance on legal, property, estate, and tax considerations.

During the week, participants will explore:
– lifestyle and location choices
– property-related questions
– visa and administrative steps
– legal, notarial, and tax considerations
– practical realities of living in France
– next steps for their own relocation project

Each Haven Immersion Week includes:
– a preparation call before arrival
– the full immersion week in Southwest France
– small-group sessions
– private one-to-one guidance
– expert sessions
– a follow-up session after returning home
– a personalized 3–6 month action plan

Only 4 participants maximum per week.

First dates:
July 1–7

This experience is for people who are no longer simply dreaming about France — but are ready to understand what it would truly take to build a life here.

For more information or to discuss whether this is the right fit for you, send us a private message.

10/03/2026

When buying property in France, one of the biggest mistakes foreign buyers make is this:

signing the promesse de vente while assuming unresolved issues can simply be sorted out later.

Not safely.

Not always.

I’ve seen buyers move forward while being told things like:

• “the documents will come later”
• “the building is managed informally, it’s fine”
• “the seller will take care of that before completion”
• “we’ll clarify the details before the final signing”

Sometimes that does happen.
And sometimes it doesn’t.

The problem is that once the promesse is signed, you are no longer in the same position.

• Your leverage changes.
• Your timeline tightens.
• Your deposit may be at stake.

And what sounded reassuring in conversation can become surprisingly vague on paper.

In France, buyers should be especially careful when unresolved issues relate to:

• co-ownership structure
• missing building documents
• seller works to be completed before closing
• technical installations
• conditions for recovering the deposit

A verbal reassurance is not the same thing as clear contractual protection.

That doesn’t mean every imperfect deal is bad.

It means the transaction needs to be properly structured before signature.

Too many buyers focus on whether they love the property.

Not enough focus on whether the framework around the purchase actually protects them.

And that is where problems begin.

Have you ever discovered, too late, that what you thought was agreed was not actually secured in the contract?



©️CecileGallet - the beauty of spring in France.

01/01/2026

🥂 Happy New Year from Haven in France! 🥂

𝗔𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿 (goodbye) to 2025 and 𝗯𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 (welcome) to 2026. Here's to new beginnings, fresh starts, and the courage to pursue your dreams.

Bonne année! 🇫🇷 🎆

🇫🇷 Discover more about the regions in Southern France as you plan for 2026
🔗 https://www.haveninfrance.com/southern-france-regions

25/12/2025

🎄 Joyeux Noël from Haven in France! 🎄

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas🎅, regardless of whether you are celebrating your first holiday season in Southern France or planning your move from abroad. We hope today brings you warmth, delicious food, laughter with loved ones, and the joy that makes the Christmas season so special.

To those experiencing their first French Christmas, we hope you're soaking in the magic of French holiday traditions. For those of you dreaming of France from a distance, know that we're here to help when you're ready to make the move.

Joyeux Noël! 🇫🇷✨

22/12/2025

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 🔎
Reaching the final weeks in 2025, we wanted to share what this year brought and thank the everyone who helped make it meaningful.

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 📰
Forbes featured our work in November, and Yahoo followed with coverage in October. Both pieces highlighted the growing trend of Americans relocating to France (and broader Europe) and the uncommonly thought situations that make experienced guidance essential.

These features validated what we see on a weekly basis. More families are moving past daydreaming and into serious planning, asking thoughtful questions about regions, visas, timelines, and what daily life in France actually involves.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 💻
After months of development, we rebuilt our website from the ground up. The previous site didn't do justice to the personalized support we provide. The new one finally reflects our approach.

Families can now find detailed comparisons of Southern France's three major regions (Occitanie, PACA, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine), breaking down demographics, cultural amenities, climate, industries, international schools, and lifestyle fit. The resources help people make informed decisions about whether France makes sense for their situation.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 🎊
This year, we started bringing people together through our Haven in France events. We hosted a Thanksgiving dinner and a gin tasting for clients and expats in the area.

These were small gatherings, but they reinforced something important. Relocation isn't just about logistics and paperwork. It's about finding your community in a new place. Watching those connections form between families navigating similar journeys reminded us why we love this work.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 🤝
We helped families navigate complex visa applications, choose regions aligned with their priorities, and build realistic timelines for their moves. Some families ultimately decided France wasn't the right fit for their situation, and that counts as success too. Clarity matters, even when the answer is "not yet."

For the families who made the leap and now call Southern France home, watching you settle in never gets old. Your courage to build something new inspires us.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 👍
Next year, we're expanding our regional guides, adding more visa resources, and planning a larger community event for late spring. If you're in the area or planning a reconnaissance trip around that time, stay tuned for details.

For families considering 2026 as their relocation year, now is when the work begins. Visa applications, regional research, and timeline planning all require more time than most people initially expect.

If you've been thinking about France, the new year offers a natural starting point to move from exploration to concrete planning.

To everyone who worked with us this year, referred friends, or followed along on this journey, thank you. We're grateful for your trust and excited for what 2026 brings.

If you haven't already, check out our new website and let us know what you think!
🔗 https://www.haveninfrance.com/

# #2026

18/12/2025

Christmas in France compared to America. Small, but important cultural differences.

If you're planning to spend your first Christmas in France (or thinking about relocating), here are a few differences you'll notice around the Christmas holiday season.

𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 👪
In France, Christmas Eve is everything. Le Réveillon de Noël is a multi-course dinner that starts late evening and can last until midnight or beyond. This is when all of the families gather. In the US the main gathering usually happens on Christmas Day lunch or dinner.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘂 🍖
French tables feature oysters, foie gras, roasted capon or turkey stuffed with chestnuts, and always the Bûche de Noël cake. In areas like Provence, it’s tradition for families to serve 13 different desserts representing Jesus and the 12 apostles.

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴🎁
French children wake up Christmas morning to find their shoes filled with small gifts and treats. Père Noël sneaks in to fill them overnight. It is custom for most French families to open gifts after dinner on Christmas Eve, while American kids typically open presents Christmas morning under the tree.

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟲𝘁𝗵💼
The day after Christmas is a regular work day in France. We know, bummer! There's no extended holiday like many Americans expect. It is important to plan your time off accordingly.

Understanding these cultural differences will help you integrate into your new French community when you relocate.

What tradition would you most want to try?

15/12/2025

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿

Most people think Southern France shuts down or is less enjoyable in the winter. Let us tell you first, there is a lot happening here.

𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘆𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗲𝘀 ⛷

Resorts like Grand Tourmalet, Saint-Lary, and Cauterets opened in early December and runs through March. They're just 1 - 2 hours from Toulouse and Pau, with authentic mountain villages and fewer crowds than the Southern Alps.

𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 🧆

December through February is peak season for black truffles in Périgord and Provence. Weekly markets in Sarlat, Sorges, and Richerenches let you buy directly from producers. If you spark a conversation, you may even get an invitation to a truffle estate. This type of access is how you'll find the freshest "black diamonds" Southern France is famous for.

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 🍷

Bordeaux, Languedoc, and Rhône Valley châteaux have better availability after grape harvest. Winemakers have time for longer conversations and in-depth tastings. You get a more authentic experience than the rushed summer tours.

𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 🌊

The Mediterranean stays pleasant in winter. Nice averages 51 - 60°F in December. Coastal walks with a light jacket, fewer tourists, peaceful towns. The Atlantic coast around La Rochelle offers the same winter beauty.

If you're considering Southern France for relocation, experiencing winter here shows you the region's full character.

If you need more winter activity suggestions leave a comment!