Every month, we introduce you to an interesting woman living in Languedoc. Curious as we are, we like to find out why she lives in this beautiful region, what she does for a living and some of her Languedoc favourites. This month we would like you to meet Karin Kloo from Hus i Languedoc real estate as Ramoneta of the Month.
Introduction
Originally, my husband Maffe and I are from Sweden. I had a bookbinder’s workshop for 16 years, after which I started working in the world of newspapers. We have two daughters, who now both live in Paris.
Settling in Languedoc
In 2008, we went on a family holiday in the Languedoc region. We had such a wonderful time, and we immediately felt at home in this area. Shortly afterwards, there was an opportunity to buy one of the tiniest of tiny village houses in Saint-Geniès-de-Fontedit. Initially, we planned to stay for a couple of months. However, we all liked living in France so much. So, after finding a former winemaker’s house in Servian, we decided to take the leap and permanently move to France. One of the reasons why Maffe and I made such a quick decision was because of our girls. This way, they could start going to a French school. And, even living in France, Maffe and I could continue our work. Maffe was a violin maker and I worked for a newspaper.
I’m proud to see how quick my family settled in the South of France. After a bit of a struggle with the French language, our girls blended perfectly into the French school system and made great friends. And I changed my profession by becoming a real estate agent for my own business, ‘House in Languedoc’ or ‘Hus i Languedoc’ in Swedish.
Villa Hauterive
After eight years of living in the countryside in Servian, Maffe and I made a new move. With our daughters leaving home, we decided to live in Béziers (1). Over the years, we have learned to appreciate this city more and more. We started with an apartment near the Cathedral (2) so that we could decide what we were looking for. After that, we moved to a Haussmannian apartment in the city centre. And if it weren’t for the COVID-19 pandemic, we would probably still be living there.
However, because of the many, many dog walks Maffe and I did during the lockdown, we stumbled across this magnificent villa. So, since 2020 we can call ourselves the proud owners of Villa Hauterive (3 & 4). This wonderful house dates from the early 20th century and has remarkable details, such as original tile floors (that I love so much), wallpaper and gorgeous ceramic decorations on the outside. After a fair bit of renovations, again, we hope to call this our home for a long period of time.
Living in the South of France
We were so pleased to have discovered this part of France. It has everything we could wish for. Of course, there is the fantastic climate. But there is so much more. Here, you have a high quality of life while enjoying the simple things. The Hérault department has everything. We are close to the Mediterranean Sea, but also near the mountains and the Canal du Midi. On top of that, it’s centrally located, close to Barcelona as well as Paris. I think I am fortunate to live here!
House in Languedoc
More and more people are discovering the beautiful Languedoc region. They are fed up with the high prices in the Côte d’Azur and prefer staying in a more authentic area. With my real estate business House in Languedoc, I help them to make their dream come true. I only represent houses that I like myself, and I try to give as much detailed information about the house as possible. This way, clients already have a good idea of the property before they decide to come over. A lot of my clients are Swedish, therefore a trip to the South of France isn’t around the corner. As I love living in this area so much, I have gathered some great ideas for what and where to visit. I have written a blog to share this information, which you can find here.
Living the French Dream
I enjoy everyday life in France. Here, people tend to have more time for each other. When I go to the market or have lunch in a restaurant, the owner has a little chat with you before you order. It gives me the feeling that I’m more in contact with them. Also, life is taken slower in the South of France. Maffe and I regularly go out for lunch or dinner, easily spending two hours over our meal. Also, we try to take a little trip every Sunday. Sometimes we visit a wine estate, or we go for a walk along the beach. It’s the simple things in life that I enjoy more while living in the South of France.
Best Languedoc wine
This is a tricky question, as there are so many good wines around! If I have to name one, I will go for the red wine called ‘Cuvée 42’ of Domaine des Trinités (5). This wine estate, run by a British-Spanish couple, is in the foothills of the Cevennes near Faugères. They only make organic, natural wine in an artisanal way.
Favourite restaurant
There are many great restaurants around too. One of our favourites is Le Balthus (6) on the Rue Guibal in Béziers. Two women run this charming, little restaurant in such a loving way that we always come back.
Perfect day out in Languedoc
My perfect day would include a nice, long walk along the Canal du Midi or the beach. A lunch would conclude this bit of exercise, preferably in a restaurant with a nice view.
