Expats moving to France, whether for business or to enjoy a slower pace of life, will certainly appreciate all that Versailles has to offer.
Residing in this beautiful metropolitan city of royal, political, cultural and historical importance is the reward for prosperous citizens of France and expatriates alike.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Palace of Versailles the symmetrical city was carefully planned at the decree of King Louis XIV and has a seductive charm that draws visitors from all over the world.
Versailles is the Capital of the district of Yvelines, which is in the Region of Lie-De-France. It is one of 13 regions in France and includes Paris.
Paris is just ten miles east of Versailles and is an easy commute on the Réseau Express Régional (RER), the rapid transport system. Transferring onto the Metro system is equally as easy. From here you have access to all of Paris including La Défense, the major business district; Gare du Nord station, with Eurostar links to London; Charles de Gaulle international airport; and to all the sights and attractions including Disneyland.
Major roads also make for an easy commute into Paris by car or bus, it will take about 40 minutes to drive to central Paris.
To the west of Versailles and further out into Yvelines the geography is far more rural. The Forest of Rambouillet (or Forest of Yvelines) is a huge forest covering over 200 square kilometres. The District also has over a dozen Chateaux and, of course, plenty of vineyards, so peaceful weekends away from the city absorbing the more traditional French culture are simple to find.
The property market in France is like that of the UK and prices in Versailles are comparable to Surrey or Buckinghamshire. Investments in Versailles property are generally greater than the rest of France because the city has always been very popular. Properties are often very well constructed and have detailed architecture. Most properties are generous apartments with high ceilings and numerous rooms, or detached houses.
If you are living and working in France, you will have to pay income tax to the French treasury. There is an Anglo-French Double Taxation Treaty where you will only be charged tax in the country which is your main residence. Income tax in France is based on the total income of a household and how many people live in that household.
Perhaps, unsurprisingly, there are many international schools within easy commute of Versailles if not in the city itself. Education can be expensive despite so much competition, but the facilities are often outstanding and class sizes are kept small, so it is perhaps a good investment if you are taking children with you.
There is a large British expat population in Versailles and consequently there are a lot of services provided for this market. Sports clubs, societies, churches and charities are all easy to find on dedicated websites. The British Embassy is in central Paris.
If you’re thinking about moving to France, make sure that everything is covered before relocating, with our Moving to France checklist, which covers the essential items, paperwork and admin required