Making Your Move to Lorraine, France

Lorraine, a region in northern France, is home to 2.34 million people. It is the only French region to border on three different countries, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. The region went from French to German rule a number of times, and German dialects still survive in the northern part of the region. Lorraine also borders three other regions in France: Alsace to the east, Champagne-Ardenne to the west, and Franche-Comte' to the south. It has two major cities, Metz and Nancy, each of which has more than 400,000 residents. Forest covers 35 percent of the region, some of which is mountainous, and it's a popular destination for hikers and skiers. Lorraine is considered the French birthplace of heavy industry, mining and steel works, though now service jobs account for 66 percent of employment there; industrial jobs total about 30 percent of the employment there. The region's unemployment rate is 8.4 percent.

The Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport is the major airport for the region. It's located in Goin, 16.5 kilometers southeast of Metz. There is also a fast train that runs from Nancy to Paris in 90 minutes. There are slower trains from Nancy to Luxembourg, Germany and various French cities. Major highways run throughout the region, and it also contains more than 700 kilometers of navigable waterways.

The region of Lorraine, and particularly Nancy, have always attracted immigrants from Italy, Poland and North Africa. Cheap real estate prices there have encouraged international companies to settle there.

Nancy, the largest city in Lorraine, is a major academic research center. It has three universities, National Polytechnique de Lorraine, Universite Henri Poincare, and Universite Nancy. Between those three centers, there are 4,000 teachers and 45,000 students. In Metz, Lorraine's capital city, The Paul-Verlaine University has 14,000 students.

A network of trains and highways connect several communities throughout the Lorraine region, though renting a car in France can be expensive. Metz is known as a pedestrian-friendly city and does not have a subway system. Residents and visitors there get around by bus, taxi or bike. Nancy has tram and bus systems, though most of its major attractions can be reached on foot from the downtown center. The minimum driving age in France is 18, and proof of auto insurance is required.

The cost of living in France, generally, is cheaper than that of the United Kingdom. Average salaries in several Europe countries are higher, but the French government helps with the costs of company benefits. Its economy is currently ranked sixth in the world, which is a promising factor for expatriates looking to settle in France. It's one of the top tourist destinations in the world, though trade and commerce comprise the bulk of the economy. As international companies increasingly set up shop in the Lorraine region due to cheap land, more and more immigrants and skilled workers are needed to help those companies succeed. But anyone looking for a job in France is advised to have a basic grasp of the French language. And in France, job applicants are often asked to list age and marital status in their application and include a photograph. Some large firms still prefer hand-written cover letters over typed ones.

In France, owning or renting a home is not a mark of social status in France. Home prices across the country have increased drastically in the past decade, particularly in the southwest part of the country, the opposite side from the Lorraine region. But home values in other areas are still climbing as the French are increasingly willing to commute longer distances to work. It's advised never to purchase a home if you don't speak French, and those who don't plan on staying in the country for five years should rent due to a tax structure that makes short-term home ownership expensive.