For buying and selling property in Samatan
The market town of Samatan lies amid the wonderful wide open spaces and patchwork rolling fields of the Gers, a rural department in south-west France. The little town is famed for its local gastronomic specialities, and in particular for its Foie Gras, the controversial but luxurious delicacy made from goose or duck liver.
Samatan has a Monday morning market, which helps to start the week in style... true French style. Traders and local producers arrive in the little town from all over south-west France, and the buzz of the French market day grows as they set up their stalls and chat to each other and to their customers. Somehow a French market is so much more than just a place to buy and sell... although if you are looking for the best of local produce to eat, or colourful fabrics for your table, or perhaps even fashionable clothes for the kids, there is no better place. Samatan's market is especially good, and a treat not to be missed.
Apart from the market, Samatan has most amenities you will need for day to day life. All the basics are there, with a good sized supermarket, a couple of pharmacies, a DIY store for those of you who are renovating properties and even a cinema. You will find most films are in French, but it's a good way to brush up your language skills! Samatan is a town that styles itself as a city of Foie Gras, and prides itself on its gastronomy. It has, as you would perhaps therefore expect, some very good restaurants where you can enjoy these tasty treats in style.
The Gers is renowned too for its beautiful countryside. A colourful patchwork of fields opens up in front of you as you explore the region, and there are many lovely villages and interesting old towns, such as the intriguingly named Condom, to explore.
Sporting opportunities are plentiful in this area with its combination of good weather and open country, and whether your interests tend to golf or to horse-riding, you can find something here for you. There is a large lake just outside the town which is wonderful for swimming, sunbathing (it has big sandy man-made "beaches" with water slides to keep the kids happy!) and a large swimming pool in the town itself.
If you wish to fly to the area you can take a Ryanair flight to Pau, Biarritz or Rodez, or fly to Toulouse with a good choice of airlines, including British Airways, bmi, flybe, easyJet and Jet2. The ferry to Santander/Bilbao is a fascinating option (if you don't mind the potentially rough crossing of the Bay of Biscay!), or the TGV will take you to Bayonne, Biarritz or Toulouse.
Property in the Gers is often reasonably priced in comparison with other parts of the south. It is not, perhaps, the area to choose if you are seeking a big city buzz, but for those hoping to fulfil the dream of the idyllic country lifestyle, the Gers fits the bill perfectly. There are still a good number of renovation properties up for grabs here as well, which cannot be said of many areas these days.
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Samatan is located in inland south-west France. It lies in the east of the Gers department.
Samatan Property Map
Midi-Pyrénées Property Map
Gers Map
Population: 1,832
Access: By air: Fly to Pau, Biarritz or Toulouse with a variety of airlines. By rail: The TGV runs to Biarritz, Toulouse and Bayonne with plenty of links to local services. By boat: The Bilbao/Santander ferry is another possibility for travelling to the town.
Economy: The economy is primarily rural and agricultural.
Interesting fact: Samatan is so proud of its rich duck or goose liver delicacy it calls itself "The City of Foie Gras" on its official website.