65% of French want country lifestyle

NEARLY two-thirds of French people living in cities dream of a house in the country, according to a survey for the newspaper 20 Minutes.

Around 60 per cent of the population lives in towns, but 65 per cent of them would prefer not to.

The large exception to the rule being the Parisians, of whom only 37 per cent wanted to quit the city for the country.

"This longing for a life in the country is part of a bigger movement to return to nature," said the director of BVA Opinion, which carried out the study, Eric Bonnet.

Those keenest for rural life were men and people working in low-paid professional occupations; while those already living in the country were happy with their choice, 86 per cent wished to remain where they are.

The poll was taken of 1,034 people aged 15 and over.

Photo: Pascale Planchon - Fotolia.com