France/Claude Balloteau, mayor of Marennes-Hiers-Brouage, ranked 274ᵉ of France's best small towns to live in.

Published on 30/01/2025 | La rédaction

France

Marennes- Hiers-Brouages, a Charente-Maritime commune with a population of 6,200, is ranked 274ᵉ among the best small towns to live in France, according to the online comparator "Ville de rêve". A place at the top of the ranking of nearly 19,000 communes, which delights the mayor.

Does this ranking come as a surprise to Claude Balloteau? "Well, yes, anyway," laughs the mayor of Marennes-Hiers-Brouage, who discovered the good news: her commune is ranked 274ᵉ of the small towns where it's good to live in France, out of nearly 19,000 others. This ranking comes from the online comparator "Ville de rêve", published earlier this week, and based on objective data from Ministries, administrations and other public bodies.

"It was really a very, very nice surprise," admits Claude Balloteau, mayor of the town of 6,200 inhabitants. But when you think about it, she feels that her commune well deserves this place, "because we have a town for good living, calm, tranquil, with quality public facilities."Among the good points, Marennes-Hiers-Brouage scores well on health, based for example on the number of potential visits to a GP. Residents can expect an average of four visits per year.

A commune with low debt levels

Another good point given to Marennes-Hiers-Brouage: municipal management, notably "calculated on the basis of the commune's net savings, its debt ratio and its debt reduction capacity", explains the "Ville de rêve" website. A particularly interesting aspect, given the budgetary difficulties currently faced by many local authorities.

"The town's low level of debt will enable us to borrow to carry out all our projects," says Claude Balloteau with satisfaction. The town's future investments will focus in particular on restoring its heritage: "We have a town with a very significant built heritage, which is old and truly part of our historical heritage. And these buildings are in need of complete restoration. And so, to do this, we need funding".

La Rochelle, 10ᵉ of the intermediate towns

On the rest of the ranking, another city stands out: La Rochelle ranks 10ᵉ out of 47 intermediate cities where it's good to live in France, "with excellent scores in accessibility, transport, leisure, sport, dynamism and health, maintaining itself in relation to 2024. It is also 10ᵉ for access to nature, quality of life, health and safety", says the online comparator.

Source: www.francebleu.fr/


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