Property in France

In the past few days, 32,000 town halls across France, from Paris to the meanest little village, will have welcomed their mayor, newly or re-elected, for the next six years. Impressively, nearly 70 per cent of the eligible population will have voted in the élections municipales but I am always a little mystified about what actually takes place at the mairies - apart from civil wedding ceremonies and endless drinks parties. Normally, however, they are imposing, easily recognisable buildings and therefore make ideal places for estate agents to meet me in my eternal quest for a new home in France.