H
auts-de-France is
the northernmost
region in the
country and was
formed in 2016 when
Nord-Pas-de-Calais
and Picardy merged. Five years on,
overseas buyers often still refer to
these areas by their old names!
The regional capital is the
wonderful mediaeval, city of Lille,
which sits on the Deule river, close
to the border with Belgium. It offers
a fascinating blend of European
traditions, mixing the best of French
city living with northern European
architecture and history. Add in the
fact that by hopping on the TGV you
can quickly be in Brussels (35 min),
Paris (60 min) and London (90 min),
you can see why Lille is such a great
place to live and work. Schools and
universities in Lille have a wonderful
reputation and the 150,000
Tim Sage is our agent responsible for the Hauts-de-France team, he
tells us why Lille is such an important gateway for the region.
university students bring vitality
and energy to the historic streets.
Many tourists head for the Gothic
Cathedral, or Palais-de-Beaux-Arts
museum. Personally, I prefer to
explore the three botanic gardens
and then have a well deserved coffee
(or cold beer if it's summer) on the
Grande Place. If you are tempted to
buy a property in Lille then expect
to pay between 2,500-4,500 € per m²
depending upon location. You will pay
a premium to live in the old town,
particularly between the historic
Jardins-de-la-Porte-de-Gand - built
by Pierre Raoul in 1620 - and the
Parc-de-la-Citadelle. Of course
there is much more to the region
than its capital. It is made up of
five different departments, each
of which has its own distinctive
landscape and culture. Lille is in the
Nord department, which is strongly
influenced by neighbouring Belgium.
The Old Town in Lille
HAUTS DE FRANCE
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