Elizabeth and I have traveled several times through southwest France – particularly the lovely Dordogne Valley -  to such storied places as Sarlat, Beynac, Castelnaud and Domme.  When you get out of the big cities, into the real heart of France, you find wonderful treasures at every turn.

Our nugget of gold this time lies in the beautiful Lot Valley.

Recently, I was given a book to read by a friend – The Title: “From Here, You Can’t See Paris: Seasons of a French Village and its Restaurant”, by Michael Sanders.

I found it a lovely book, beautifully capturing the flavor of a place, the people, a restaurant, and wonderful food.

The author’s original intent was to explore the inner workings of a French restaurant, but along the way, he says, he stumbled upon something richer.

The story takes place in the small (population 159) village of Les Arques, the lovely Lot Valley area, in southwest France, just south of the Dordogne.  It’s the story of a dying village’s struggle to survive, revolving around the restaurant Le Recreation, and its owners Jacques Ratier and his wife Noelle.

The book really gets into lives of the villagers, their hopes, their dreams, their struggles, the nuances of French life, with the writer’s deeply sympathetic eye and ear.  Much of the book revolves around the restaurant, Le Recreation, and food, and I was fascinated, as I always am, by the extraordinary range of French cuisine – the recipes, the preparations, the ingredients, the artistry.

And in case you’re one of those contemplating making a move to France and buying a home there, check out the videos of different areas of France on our Matchmakers real estate website, and search for properties there also.

We make beautiful homes our speciality, in both the greater San Francisco Bay Area and in France.  We pride ourselves on great service.  Give us a call, we would like to meet you.

Jim & Elizabeth Hilgendorf, The Matchmakers

THE MATCHMAKERS
Real Estate in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and France.
Jim Hilgendorf
CA DRE # 00667290
Cell: 510-501-9564
Elizabeth Hilgendorf
CA DRE # 01891419
Cell: 510-501-9643
Email: thematchmakers@comcast.net

Jim and Elizabeth Hilgendorf are the Matchmakers – a real estate company located in Eugene, Oregon.

If you are thinking of moving to the great Northwest, and Oregon in particular, Eugene – with its ideal location in the middle of the State, is a great community and a wonderful place to consider looking into real estate and buying a home.

One of the great things about Eugene is its proximity and access to wonderful fresh food from the local farms.  Outside markets abound during many months of the year, the most notable being the Saturday Market in downtown Eugene.

Saturday Market in Eugene, Oregon

These markets feature a wide range of organic foods, including vegetables, fruits, preserves, meats, nuts, cheeses, and many local artisans displaying their artwork.

For Eugene, Oregon homes, check out our real estate website at The Matchmakers.  There you can search for all listed properties in the greater Eugene area.

Jim and Elizabeth Hilgendorf are The Matchmakers – bringing together people and properties in Eugene and around the world.  We will be happy to introduce you to our great community, and to assist you in buying a lovely home here.  Send us an email.

Also, view a short video there about Eugene.  Then give us a call.  We would be glad to introduce you to the wonderful community of Eugene, Oregon.