Sarah KNIGHT's selection of French property for sale

About my area

Since buying our house in the Indre region 14 years ago we have fallen in love with the nature-filled Parc Naturel de la Brenne and the way of life here, a perfect mix of clean fresh air, countryside pursuits and dynamic outdoor events. We find the Berrichon people extremely kind and friendly. As well as the pretty, unspoilt Parc villages there are the 3000+ lakes and 3 rivers, perfect for canoeing, sailing, swimming, paddleboarding and of course fishing. The Parc is noted for the richness of its wildlife with many rare species and migrating birds to be viewed from the hides around the Parc. On and off road cycling and hiking are very popular in the forests and through hamlets with almost no traffic. And you can really slow the pace right down and hire a traditional caravan pulled by heavy horse to get close to nature – a real stress-buster! Medieval towns such as St Gaultier and Mézières-en-Brenne are nearby as well as St Benoit de Sault, one of France’s most beautiful villages. My area includes the small city of Châteauroux, noted for its ancient old quarter, green riverside parks and a lively year-round programme of festivals and sports activities. Indre is sparsely populated when compared to other parts of France and far enough south to benefit from the warmer climate. There are great transport links with the TGV and A20 to Paris and the south, and airports with low cost flights to many parts of Europe at Limoges, Tours and Poitiers.

About me

It was during a visit to a friend in the Correze region, having lunch beside the Dordogne river that our plans to move to France began. What if we could find our dream home, somewhere that combined our love of the countryside with plenty of space for family and friends to stay and a renovation project to get stuck into for my husband? Our search brought us to Indre, and a grand old house in a village centre, unoccupied for 30 years. It was love at first sight. After years of demolishing the old factory behind and corrugated iron outbuildings I hope we’ve returned this house to something of its’ former glory. Working for Leggett feeds my passion for property; I love meeting vendors and buyers, seeing new living styles and finding the hidden gem in every renovation project.