Where to buy: French Property Hotspots to Fall in Love with
With so many breathtaking locations in France it can be hard to choose where to buy! Karen Tait picks out some of the most popular destinations with overseas buyers
France offers a diverse range of landscapes, cultural experiences and property options, whether you are seeking a permanent residence, a holiday home or an investment property. The varied regions each have their unique appeal. Here, we’ll explore some of the best places to buy property in France and what makes each area special.
SOUTH OF FRANCE
Provence & Côte d’Azur
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Long popular with property buyers of all nationalities, the south of France is known worldwide for both its glamorous Riviera destinations as well as Provence, the land of lavender and olives. The warm climate makes it an attractive option for retirees and second-home buyers, and the region offers strong potential for rental income too. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport provides direct flights to major cities worldwide.
The two very different sides to the southern coin offer contrasting lifestyles for homeowners. The Med resorts – Cannes, St-Tropez, Nice and Antibes – have luxurious properties with pools and ideally a sea view, fine dining, designer shops, swish marinas and chic beaches.
On the other hand, Provence is preferred by those seeking a more tranquil retreat, with the Luberon, Avignon and Aix-en-Provence being particularly sought after. Here you’ll find both traditional stone farmhouses as well as modern villas, and the best properties come with stunning views.
It’s no surprise that properties are among the most expensive in France, with average prices in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of €3,692/m² (apartments) and €3,489/m² (houses), with departmental house prices ranging from €2,270/m² in Alpes-de- Haute-Provence to €4,884/m² in Alpes-Maritimes.
NORTH OF FRANCE:
Normandy & Brittany
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Across the Channel, northern France has long been popular with British buyers looking for ease of access and a temperate climate. It offers a varied coastline, gentle countryside and historic cities. There are ferry ports at Dieppe, Le Havre, Caen, Cherbourg, St-Malo and Roscoff, and of course, Calais port and the Channel tunnel aren’t too far away.
Normandy offers a picturesque landscape dotted with half-timbered houses, apple orchards and rolling hills. Seaside towns range from historic ports like Honfleur to the upmarket resort of Deauville, while inland Bayeux, with its famous tapestry, is a popular spot. The capital is Rouen. Normandy is also home to the iconic Mont St-Michel and the D-Day landing beaches. It’s a relatively affordable region for property, especially when you consider its proximity to the capital (which has made it a favourite spot for Parisian second-homers): average prices are €2,405/m² (apartments) and €1,861/m² (houses), ranging from €1,220/m² in Orne to €2,281/m² in Calvados.
Further west, Brittany is loved for its rugged coastline, charming villages and Celtic heritage, with popular seaside resorts like St-Malo, Dinard, Cancale and La Baule, and the beautiful medieval towns of Dinan, Quimper, Vannes and the capital Rennes. On the Atlantic side, the Gulf of Morbihan offers a pleasant microclimate and sailing opportunities. The region’s proximity to the UK make it particularly attractive to British buyers. Regional average property prices are €2,872/m² (apartments) and €2,122/m² (houses), ranging from €2,051/m² in Finistère to €2,405/m² in Morbihan.
WESTERN FRANCE:
Dordogne & Charente
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All of western France is popular with British buyers, from Brittany in the north, through the regions of Pays-de-la-Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, all the way down to the Spanish border. However, two departments are particularly sought after, and both offer attractive and affordable property as well as a choice of airports at Bordeaux, Bergerac, Poitiers, La Rochelle and Brive.
Dordogne is of course so popular with the British that it’s often called Dordogneshire. The picturesque villages and bastide towns, numerous chateaux, stunning river valleys and rolling vineyards are quintessential France. The departmental capital is Périgueux and towns like Bergerac, Eymet, Sarlat, Nontron and Riberac are loved by locals and expats alike. There’s also a wealth of Plus Beaux Villages to explore including La Roque-Gageac, Beynac-et-Cazenac and Domme. The average departmental property price is €1,530/m² (apartments) and €1,447/m² (houses).
Charente is another rural French department, with a traditional way of life that is so highly valued by British househunters. Slightly closer to Channel ferry ports as well as the Charente-Maritime coast, it offers a pleasant pastoral landscape of vines and sunflowers, with solid stone farmhouses complete with pastel-blue shutters. The main town is Angoulême, and there are many popular riverside towns like Confolens, Cognac and Aubeterre-sur-Dronne. The average departmental property price is €1,556/m² (apartments) and €1,290/m² (houses).
EASTERN FRANCE:
The Alps
For skiers, the French Alps are hard to beat, but the area has become significantly more sought-after in summer too. World-class ski resorts such as Chamonix, Méribel, Val d’Isère, Courchevel, Tignes and Megève draw tourists and homebuyers from across the globe, and the Trois Vallées or Three Valleys ski area is the largest in the world. In summer, there are many outdoor activities to enjoy, such as walking, cycling, mountain-biking and fishing. The mountain scenery is, of course, a big draw as is the fresh air and the après-piste lifestyle. Airports are at Geneva and Chambery.
Properties mainly consist of chalets and apartments, and are often both holiday homes and rental investments with year-round potential. Property prices reflect the area’s desirability: average €2,836/m² (apartments) and €2,947/m² (houses) in Savoie, and €4,288/m² (apartments) €4,118/m² (houses) in Haute-Savoie.
THE OTHER SOUTH OF FRANCE:
Languedoc-Roussillon
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Now part of the wider Occitanie region, the old region of Languedoc-Roussillon offers a more affordable alternative to the French Riviera while still enjoying a Mediterranean climate and endless sandy beaches. Historic cities like Montpellier, Carcassonne and Perpignan are popular, along with the many seaside resorts including Agde, Gruissan and Collioure. This is a key wine region, home to the Minervois and Corbières vineyards, and is also Cathar Country, with its vast crumbling castles. The Unesco-listed Canal du Midi crosses the region, and with the Spanish border so close by, you can enjoy day trips to Spain, and there are even ski resorts in the Pyrénées mountains.
The average property price in the Occitanie region is €2,623/m² (apartments) and €1,993/m² (houses). In the Languedoc-Roussillon departments, house prices are €2,771/m² in Hérault, €2,294/m² in Gard, €2,338/m² in Pyrénées-Orientales, €1,649/m² in Aude and €1,311/m² in Lozère.
Midi-Pyrénées
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The areas around the wonderful town of Toulouse (with its international airport) have long been popular with British homeowners, and include the department of Haute-Garonne (average house price €2,526/m²), Tarn (€1,515/m²), Tarn-et-Garonne (€1,680/m²), Gers (€1,403/m²), Lot (€1,500/m²) and Lot-et-Garonne (€1,365/m²), much of which belonged to the old Midi-Pyrénées region (now part of Occitanie). With everything from dramatic gorges to vine-clad hillsides, the area is home to many beautiful market towns and villages, including Montauban, Albi, Agen, Auch, Gaillac, Figeac, Cahors, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Conques and Rocamadour, to name but a few.
PARIS
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A global hub for culture, fashion and business, Paris is naturally a sought-after location for property investment, despite having the highest prices in France. Iconic neighbourhoods such as the Marais, St-Germain-des-Prés and Montmartre are forever sought-after, and landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame and Louvre Museum are recognisable the world over.
Apartments dominate the market and there’s a strong potential for rental income, from holiday rentals to long-term leases. The average price is €9,639/m² (apartments) and €11,458/m² (houses), but this can rise to above €40,000/m² for luxury homes in the most exclusive districts.
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