Audrey Bruno leaves small French village after two years, citing isolation and upkeep

Businessinsider reports that Audrey Bruno moved from a small French village to Lyon after two years, saying country life left her feeling isolated and burdened by home maintenance.

Bruno and her husband relocated in 2021 to be near his family and for more space, but she found limited public transit and no driver's license made getting around difficult — it took over a month to afford a car, a hilly bike ride failed partway, and walking to shops could take hours and they were sometimes closed. She also struggled with the demands of maintaining a house, garden, barn, and attached horse stables, and lacked access to takeout or delivery apps; the nearest takeout was an hour round-trip and some ingredients, like sesame oil, required a trip to a big city. The village had a population under 400 as of 2020, many residents were older, and language barriers complicated forming connections.

Despite missing aspects of rural life — the scenery, growing fruits and vegetables, foraging blackberries, and improving her French with patient locals — Bruno said moving to Lyon, 84 miles away, offered proximity to family, access to nature, and the advantages of a major city, which prompted the relocation after two years.

Key Topics

Culture, Audrey Bruno, Lyon, France, Berlin, Public Transportation