One chat for two regions
The South of France comes in two big parts: Occitanie (Montpellier, Toulouse, Nîmes, Perpignan, Béziers, Carcassonne…) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur / PACA (Marseille, Nice, Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Cannes, Antibes, Avignon…). We don’t splinter into dozens of dead little city chats — we have one living community, and that’s its strength: even in a small town, you’re not on your own.
Why it works so well
- Moving between cities in the south? Your contacts and your chat come with you.
- Living in a small town? The nearest big city gives you both company for meetups and the practical addresses you need — the préfecture, OFII, CPAM.
- Cross-city meetups. Barbecues, hikes and trips to the sea often bring together people from several cities at once.
Why the South of France is good for our people
The south draws people for more than the sea. There’s a mild Mediterranean climate and around three hundred sunny days a year, while housing and the pace of life are noticeably calmer and cheaper than in Paris. The mountains and the sea are both close by; the airports of Nice, Marseille, Toulouse and Montpellier connect the region to the whole of Europe. And, most importantly, a Russian-speaking environment is already in place here — from the historic “Russian Riviera” (Nice, Cannes) to the new relocation crowds in Montpellier and Toulouse.
Resources for the whole south
Wherever in the region you’re moving to, these write-ups apply across all of France:
- Moving to France: where to start — visas, residence permits, documents in order.
- Russians in France — where the diaspora lives and how to fit in.
- Life in France: pros and cons — honestly, from experience.
- A directory for our own — shops, churches, schools, Russian-speaking doctors.
Where to go next
Open the guide for your city — you’ll find the community near you, relocation and paperwork, and a directory made for our own. Or just join the chat: tell everyone where you are, and they’ll point you to the people closest by.