LEGGETT IMMOBILIER - LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN TRUST
NB : Climate shows average sunshine hours per year supplied by Meteo
France & compared to UK rate of 1,341 pa. Property prices supplied by
Notaires de France and correct at time of going to press.
35
ONE TO WATCH
"The Creuse and the Haute-Vienne
are two départements to follow,
particularly if you're looking for a
typical French farmhouse with
4 bedrooms, a barn and at least
4,000m2 of land.
A decent property will cost on
average around €200-250,000.
However, it's getting increasingly
harder to find the remaining
bargains in these areas,
so buyers are looking in the
south and south west of the Creuse"
Paul Haskett is area coordinator for the
Limousin. Email: phaskett@leggett.frttp://leggett.fr" target="_blank" title="Visit leggett.fr">leggett.fr
REGION OF FRANCE
CLIMATE
AV HOUSE €
Centre 1,833 €147,000
Limousin 1,899 €105,000
Burgundy 1,848 €126,000
Auvergne 1,913 €118,000
drop quite dramatically. The
lowest regional prices are found
in the Indre and the Cher.
This is a region that takes in
the most popular of the Loire
châteaux and welcomes millions of
tourists every year.
Blois, Chenonceau and
Chambord are just three of the
lovely châteaux that make the
'must see' list - as is the gothic
cathedral in Chartres, which is
possibly the finest of its kind.
LIMOUSIN
Next is the Limousin, my
hometown region and the least
populated region of mainland
France. Hearing birds in their
natural environment and seeing
kids turning up to school on
dad's tractor are just some of
the area's many charms.
The Limousin is made up
of three départements: Corrèze,
Creuse and Haute-Vienne, with
the latter having the most
expensive houses in and
around the famous city of
Limoges. It's a region full of
fantastic farmhouses - some
ripe for restoration and some
already brought back to life by
local artisans. If you like the
outdoor life then this is the
place for you. Fishermen will
particularly love the variety and
choice available.
AUVERGNE
Directly east of the Limousin
is the Auvergne, famous for
its dramatic volcanoes. This
too is an agricultural region,
with low population density
and a relaxed way of life. It is
more mountainous than the
Limousin though, particularly
in the south. This means that
the region is a haven for hikers,
cyclists and those who love the
outdoor life.
The Auvergne offers
excellent value for money.
The lowest prices are found in
the Allier département, around
Montluçon, while premium
prices are paid in the Puy-deDôme département,
where you
will find Clermont Ferrand. This
bustling city sits on a plain in
the Massif Central mountain
range. Surrounded by a chain of
volcanoes, it mixes industry and
tourism.
BOURGOGNE
North of the Auvergne lies
Bourgogne. It's one of France's
main wine producing areas - so
if you fancy buying a property
with sweeping views over
vineyards, this could be the
place for you.
Famous for both its red
and white, the reputation and
quality of wine is second to
none. Many of the best wines
come from the Côte-d'Or area,
but you'll also be familiar with
Beaujolais, Chablis and many
others.
There is a huge difference in
house prices in these areas and,
with cheap financing available,
now looks like a very good time
to buy.
'
We love the peace and quiet
of the Limousin. The locals
have been welcoming and
there is a community spirit
here. You don't even need to
close your doors when you
go out, let alone lock them!
LEGGETT CLIENTS
SARAH & BEN BARTRIP
Volcanos in Auvergne
Chambord castle in the Loire valley
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