Ambert, France

Capital City

With a population of just 6,517, Ambert is a sleepy provincial town that may struggle to keep even the most intrepid expat entertained. The draw is its quaint old-world charm - a circular town hall, historic paper mills, and a cheese factory that dates back centuries. However, the bureaucratic hoops required to live here are a persistent headache. And the climate, with its long, harsh winters, is not for the faint of heart. Ambert may appeal to the rugged individualist seeking an authentic taste of rural France, but for most, the trade-offs simply aren't worth it.