City in heart of France named expats' 'favourite' for its walkability, low cost of living and food
GETTY
British retirees eyeing up a new life in France often earmark major cities for the convenience they offer.
But sometimes, going off the beaten track offers unique benefits to expats, such as a lower cost of living.
Dijon, which was recently highlighted in a clip by seasoned travellers Amelia and JP on YouTube, caters to many of an expat's needs.
Having spent a whole month in the French city, the couple shared several reasons Dijon is worth having on your radar.
Amelia and JP encourage expats-to-be to have Dijon on their radar
GETTY/ YOUTUBE
"We’ve been here for a month and it may be our new favourite place," said Amelia.
"We’re exploring why this location may be the perfect place for expats who want to live in France on a budget."
One of the first major components highlighted in the video is the city's walkability.
"The sidewalks are really wide and flat, we have walked all around the city and flat, we have walked all over the city and have found it really easy to get around," explained JP.
Being the capital of France's Burgundy region, Dijon is a haven for wine and food lovers.
"Dijon is a food and wine lover's paradise and of course, it is famous for its mustard. The city is internationally known for its wine and cuisine," said Amelia.
The historic city also happens to be a Unesco-world heritage site, flaunting a beautiful array of buildings from the medieval period.
"We were really impressed by how clean it is here, which is a very important liveability factor," said JP.
"You want clean sidewalks, clean streets and clean air and you’ve got all three in abundance."
Amelia continued: "Another benefit of living in Dijon is the train system which will take you to many places.
"You can take a lot of really nice day trips, you can go back to Paris, which only takes 90 minutes on that high-speed rail."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Amelia and JP shared their favourite elements about the city
YOUTUBE / AMELIA AND JP
The healthcare system in Dijon is also exemplary as it it covers private and public hospitals and provides services to all French residents regardless of age, income or status.
"If you want to live in a place then healthcare is probably at the top of your list, and you’re lucky if you want to come to France because it’s known for having a great healthcare system, they’re extremely affordable," said JP.
"The cost of an appointment for the private system is super affordable, you’re not even going to have to worry about how much it costs."
One challenge newcomers may encounter is the language barrier, but this issue tends to be more prominent in most of the country's smaller towns.