Ever dreamed of leaving everything behind and starting a new life in France?

Perhaps a home by the river, long sunny lunches, friendly neighbours and the sound of church bells drifting through the evening air. It all sounds perfect — and some days, it truly is. But if you’ve ever wondered what living in France is actually like once the holiday glow fades and real life begins, this episode is for you.

It’s early October on the River Lot, that beautiful time of year when the mornings are cool, the afternoons golden and the first hints of woodsmoke drift across the valley. It’s also cider-making season, which means chaos is guaranteed. Armed with a juicer, a pile of bruised apples and his usual optimism, Richard sets out to make his own French cider. Within minutes, apple pulp is flying across the kitchen, Albie is eating the peel, and Maria is giving him that unmistakable look. They don’t call him Half-Job Richard for nothing.

Between the mess and the laughter, something rather lovely happens. As the cider juice gets put to bed, the sun slides lower over the water, and that familiar French magic sneaks back in.

The pool steams in the morning chill, the light catches the turning leaves, and for a moment everything feels exactly as it should.

Autumn in this corner of France has its own rhythm. The tourists drift away, the villages slow down, and the locals return to their cafés and bars where everyone knows everyone.

Richard takes Albie for long walks through the prune orchards — the region’s pride and joy — where the only sounds are the rustle of leaves and the splash of fish in the river. It’s peaceful, grounding and a reminder of why they fell in love with life in the Lot-et-Garonne.

The next morning the camera joins them on the boat, gliding gently towards Saint-Livrade-sur-Lot for market day. The river is mirror-flat, reflecting the trees, the sky and the little stone houses that line its banks.

Maria points out her favourite noisy goose — part opera singer, part local celebrity — who complains bitterly whenever his friends fly off without him. It’s ridiculous, charming and perfectly French.

Later, the pair end up at the village bar where the locals are already singing. There’s wine, laughter and that easy warmth that makes newcomers feel instantly part of the story. Life in rural France isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about these small, shared moments that slowly build a community around you.

As the day draws to a close, the film returns to Villa La Rive, their riverside home. Friends gather round the firepit, glasses in hand, as the sky turns pink and gold over the Lot.

The laughter drifts into the night, the stars appear, and you realise that happiness here isn’t found in perfection — it’s in these beautifully imperfect moments.

For viewers discovering the channel for the first time, A New Life in France follows Richard and Maria — a British couple who swapped television studios and city deadlines for life on the river in southwest France. Their series shares the honest version of what it’s like to live here: the highs, the hiccups, the language lessons, the bureaucracy, and the small victories that make it all worthwhile.

And now, you can experience it too.

Villa La Rive isn’t just their home — it’s a riverside guest retreat where visitors can stay and join in the rhythm of French life they capture on screen. Guests wake to the call of kingfishers, wander the local markets, take a private River Ramble with Richard, or simply sit by the pool with a glass of wine as the sun melts into the Lot. Whether you’re dreaming of moving to France or simply craving a few peaceful days by the water, Villa La Rive offers the perfect way to live the dream — even just for a while.

✨ Book your stay or find out more at villa-la-rive.com/ — and come see for yourself what life in France is really like.

🎥 Episode 74 – Want to Know What It’s Really Like – Life in France?
📍 Temple-sur-Lot, Southwest France

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