40
T
wo regions, nine
départements and
thousands of different
things to take your
breath away - that's
western France for you.
PAYS-DE-LA-LOIRE
Let's start in the Pays-dela-loire,
which covers five
départements: the coast hosts
the Vendée and Loire-Atlantique,
while inland you will
find Mayenne, Sarthe and
Maine-et-Loire. These may be
neighbours, but they have very
different landscapes, cultures
and (most importantly) property
prices.
It's not surprising to learn
that houses on or near the
coast attract premium prices.
The highest prices in this region
can be found in the Loire-Atlantique,
where the average house
will set you back €198,000.
Lower prices can be found in
the département of Mayenne,
where an average house costs
just €85,500.
For coastal lovers, the
Pays-de-la-loire has the longest
beach in Europe. The chic resort
of La Baule is perfect for jet
setters and families alike and
is a lively and historic resort.
The coastline here boasts any
number of interesting places to
visit and, for golfers, the course
at St Jean de Monts is one of
the finest in France.
A touch inland is the city
Go WestFrom sandcastles on the beach to fairytale castles
on the river banks, western France really does have the lot
WORDS: TOBY HAWKINS | PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK of Nantes, the regional capital
and a place that is often quoted
as offering the highest quality
of life in France. The famous
tramway opened in 1985 and is
a great way to explore the city.
Move across borders into
the Sarthe and you can't miss
the signs for Le Mans - possibly
the most famous racetrack in
the world. Property around Le
Mans attracts a premium in this
lovely département, but even
so it's possible to find some
beautiful family houses for well
under €250,000.
The département of Mayenne lies to the north and west
of Sarthe. If you're on a budget,
this is the place to come property hunting as it has some of
LIVING IN WESTERN FRANCE LEGGETT MAGAZINE
Toby Hawkins
is our area
coordinator in
the Vienne.
Contact him at
toby@leggett.fr