Rachel Southwood

10 October 2026

Insider Info & Insights

A place to belong: Harriet and Ben’s new life in Occitanie

Harriet and Ben are building a new family life in Occitanie, surrounded by space, tranquillity and beautiful scenery.

When people imagine a move to the south of France, sunshine and beautiful surroundings often come first. Yet choosing somewhere to make a home is a much more personal decision. Beyond the landscape, there needs to be room for everyday life, a community to become part of and that sometimes unexpected feeling that you have found your place.

For Harriet and Ben, Occitanie offered all of this. Drawn by its slower pace, diverse scenery and Mediterranean sunshine, they began looking for a home where they could enjoy more space and a different rhythm of family life. What followed was a search that brought them back to the very first French property they had enquired about.

The home they kept coming back to

From sun-filled beach days to peaceful countryside living, Occitanie offers a wonderful variety of landscapes to explore.

With so much variety across Occitanie, deciding where to settle took some thought. Harriet and Ben began by identifying what mattered most to them: space for a larger property and a welcoming community. They explored several areas, allowing themselves time to discover where those priorities might come together.

But one home had already made a lasting impression.

“This was the first ever French home we enquired about, and we fell in love with it from the moment we first saw it,” they explain. “Even after viewing 11 other properties, nothing came close to the calm, tranquility, and potential that this home has.”

A property search can help clarify what you want, sometimes through the homes you decide against as much as the ones you consider seriously. For Harriet and Ben, those further viewings confirmed what had attracted them to this house from the beginning. It was somewhere they could see themselves building a life.

A reassuring presence throughout the search

The spectacular Pyrenees mountains are part of the diverse scenery that makes life in Occitanie so appealing.

Harriet and Ben discovered Occitanie Properties while researching local agencies online. The professional website and clear support on offer stood out immediately, giving them the confidence to get in touch.

Rebecca helped them with their search and became a reassuring presence throughout the buying process.

“Rebecca helped us with our search, and the experience was fantastic,” they say. “She was patient, answered all our questions clearly, and made the whole process stress-free.”

Buying a home in another country brings plenty to think about, even when you feel certain about the property itself. Familiar steps can come with unfamiliar terminology, and understanding what happens next makes a considerable difference.

For Harriet and Ben, having Rebecca and the agency guide them through the French buying process kept the paperwork and legal stages manageable. There were challenges along the way, particularly around language and administrative arrangements, but with guidance and patience, they worked through them step by step.

Their experience is a reminder of how much thoughtful, personal support matters during a move. Being able to ask questions, understand the answers and feel comfortable with each stage helped them move towards their new home with confidence.

Settling into the rhythm of life

Sunny days and a gentler pace of life are among the simple pleasures of settling into the Occitanie countryside.

Now that they have settled in, their days bring together work, family life and the pleasures of having space around them.

Mornings begin with coffee before Harriet starts work, while Ben takes care of the school run and the gardening across their four acres. The land that first offered such a sense of tranquillity has become part of their everyday routine, with all the care and enjoyment that comes with it.

During the summer, free time was spent around the pool. As the weather turned cooler, their attention shifted towards exploring the surrounding area, with outings taking them as far as Spain and Andorra.

It is a lovely glimpse of what making a home in Occitanie can look like: ordinary responsibilities continuing, alongside new opportunities to enjoy the seasons and discover somewhere different. The school run still needs doing and the garden still needs tending, but the setting and the rhythm of the day have changed.

For Harriet and Ben, that balance seems to be at the heart of why the move feels so right. Their home gives them peace and space, while their wider surroundings offer plenty to explore.

Their advice for anyone considering the move

Asked what they would say to others thinking about a new life in Occitanie, Harriet and Ben’s advice is thoughtful and practical: take your time, embrace the local culture and start learning French as early as possible.

They have found that making an effort with the language opens doors within the local community. Alongside the practical benefits, it creates opportunities to connect and feel more at ease in your new surroundings.

Their encouragement to avoid rushing also reflects their own experience. Exploring different areas and viewing other homes gave them the reassurance that their first instinct was the right one. Allowing time for that process helped them choose with confidence.

Feeling at home

Summer days by the pool have become part of Harriet and Ben’s relaxed new lifestyle in Occitanie.

Perhaps the most telling part of Harriet and Ben’s story is how they describe life now.

“It is hard to put into words just how deeply right this feels,” they say.

From waking up to the tranquillity of their land to becoming part of the rhythm of life around them, the move feels completely natural. They describe a sense of belonging, as though this is where they were always meant to be. Asked whether they would do it again, their answer is an unequivocal yes.

Their story captures something that can be difficult to put on a property wish list, but is often what matters most once the move is made: the feeling of being at home. The sunshine, space and scenery drew them to Occitanie, but it is the life they are building here that has made them want to stay.

At Occitanie Properties, helping people find that connection is one of the great pleasures of our work. If you are beginning to imagine your own life in the region, we would love to hear what matters to you and help you explore the possibilities.