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Introduction

While the South East of France and the Côte d’Azur has long been the most popular tourist destination, and along with Brittany the focus of the overseas property market, the South West region of the country is one of the most beautiful and diverse, and contains some of the most important sites in France.

From the sweeping, stark skyline of the Pyrenees to the wide, flat beaches and Belle Époque beauty of Biarritz, to the young, vibrant cities of Toulouse and Montpellier, passing by the quiet and anglicized valleys of the Dordogne – the south west region has something to please everyone. On top of this are property prices that, despite being some of the fastest-rising in France, are below what you might expect to pay for the location, access, land and climate found here.

The region

This part of France stretches from the Languedoc-Roussillon region on the Mediterranean coast, along to the Spanish border at one end of the Pyrenees, across the front of this magnificent mountain range and out to the Atlantic coastline. Covering a huge amount of land, this is one of the most historic parts of France, not only providing the gateway to the Iberian Peninsular but home also to university cities, traditional cuisine and the world’s largest wine-producing region.

Languedoc provides the majority of the vine-growing in the region, producing more wine than the entire of the United States. A large part of this comes from small growers who form into over 500 co-operatives in order to gain the economies of scale found by grouping into larger organizations to sell their products. This part of the region, spanning the Mediterranean coastline of South West France, takes in the cities of Narbonne, Nimes, Montpellier and Toulouse, the regional capital. Both Montpellier and Toulouse support large student populations, making them young and vibrant cities to live in. On top of this, Narbonne has something of a reputation as a minor surfing town on the Mediterranean.

Perpignan is a popular destination for French tourists, with a beautiful coastline looking out onto the Mediterranean and a profusion of small, picturesque fishing villages to explore. Villages such as Collioure, a beautiful anchovy fishing village just 30 minutes from Perpignan, is alive with French families through the month of August.

Of course, if surfing is your sport, head to the other end of the Pyrenees to the Atlantic rollers that crash onto the wide, sandy beaches of Biarritz. Aside form being the ‘Monaco of the Atlantic coast’, Biarritz is famed among surfers as one of the best surf spots in Europe, and regularly hosts international competitions.

Skimming along the base and the foothills of the Pyrenees are dotted numerous picturesque villages and historic towns, many of which are now attracting the attention of the overseas property market. Carcassonne, the famed walled city within sight of the mountains, is a favourite destination for tourists while religious devotees flock each year to Lourdes.

The Dordogne, which along with Poitou-Charentes and Limousin makes up the Aquitaine administrative region of France, is a picturesque part of the region particularly popular with British tourists and overseas property devotees. The countryside is dotted with caravan and camping sites, accommodating not only the travelling British population, but also with a large number of tourists from other parts of northern Europe.

Climate

In order for there to be suitable conditions for the huge quantities of wine to be grown in this region, the climate gives hot, ripening conditions for the summers while providing the necessary rainfall for the vines to survive. Recent summers have occasionally caused problems for the grape crop, with too much rain ruining harvests.

Do not expect to get endless processions of cloudless sunshine throughout the year – one of the attractions of this part of France is the variable weather conditions that come with the changing of the seasons. Summers can be extremely hot, autumns may have intense rainfall, flooding and strong winds and winter is often bright and freezing. Spring is generally mild, with the summer weather starting to appear around the end of April.

Getting there

The abundance of regional airports in the south West of France makes this one of the best-served regions for overseas property buyers in Europe. In fact, the proliferation of airlines and destinations there were one of the major drivers behind the growth of the low-cost airline sector, allowing regular flights to regions that would otherwise have taken days of driving to reach.

It is useful to bear in mind, however, that low-cost airlines are under no obligation to continue with loss-making routes, and do not hesitate to drop destinations that become less popular than previously.

Montpellier, Toulouse, Pau, Biarritz, Carcassonne, Perpignan, Nîmes and Narbonne are all served by year-round low-cost flights from the UK, with flying times as little as 90 minutes for some destinations. Should flights to these destinations be more expensive than you wish, there is the option of Girona or even Barcelona airports across the Spanish border, where you can hire a car to drive up into France.

This part of France also has increasingly good links to France’s respected TGV rail system, and there is also the option of taking the overnight ferry to the Spanish port of Santander and driving up across the border.

Property

Some parts of South West France offer the intriguing potential of property that is less expensive than elsewhere in the country, and can be let out to the local market rather than the flow of tourists, giving owners the security of long-term lets and tenants who will treat the property as their own. Around Perpignan, for example, there is a demand for rental property for families who have moved to the area for work – there are some new developments being built on the outskirts of the city, and for a little over £150,000 you can get a small villa that would make a great family home to rent to the local market.

Looking further east, the mountain villages of the Pyrenees offer some fantastic opportunities for those who are happy to endure the cold of the winter in return for living in the beautiful surroundings of the Pyrenees. For example, in the Ariege region there are new-build two bedroom apartments for around £130,000, or projects for renovation of a similar size for under £50,000.

Carcassonne is also a great location in which to look for property, though purchasing within the town walls is not only expensive but difficult to do as property is rarely available on the market. There are numerous low-density new developments being constructed within sight of the famous walls, with family villas available for under £200,000. Access to the town is easy, and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations, so a well-marketed villa or apartment can be rented out successfully during the summer months.

Reflecting its historic popularity with the British market, the Dordogne is probably the most expensive part of this corner of France, purely due to the demand for property and the lack of huge building projects to supply it. Village houses can still be found for renovation for under £100,000, but many of the most desirable properties will already have been renovated, and may cost upwards of £200,000 for a small family home.

If you are lucky enough to have a budget to make the rest of us jealous, the South West of France can accommodate your tastes with ease. Consider taking on a vineyard, and produce your own vintage, or should the sound of waves crashing on the beach take your fancy, you may prefer a coastal villa with sea views on the outskirts of Biarritz. Expect both of these options to set you back £500,000 and more.

Finally, a word on potential growth. Prices in this part of France are growing faster than almost every other region, and some parts have reported more than ten per cent capital growth per year for the past three or four years, backed up by official statistics. Though this growth may slow a little in the future, with the mature overseas property climate in France and the new Sarkozy government’s efforts to encourage more French people to buy property, prices should continue to rise.

Local life

Some parts of South West France offer the intriguing potential of property that is less expensive than elsewhere in the country, and can be let out to the local market rather than the flow of tourists, giving owners the security of long-term lets and tenants who will treat the property as their own. Around Perpignan, for example, there is a demand for rental property for families who have moved to the area for work – there are some new developments being built on the outskirts of the city, and for a little over £150,000 you can get a small villa that would make a great family home to rent to the local market.

Looking further east, the mountain villages of the Pyrenees offer some fantastic opportunities for those who are happy to endure the cold of the winter in return for living in the beautiful surroundings of the Pyrenees. For example, in the Ariege region there are new-build two bedroom apartments for around £130,000, or projects for renovation of a similar size for under £50,000.

Carcassonne is also a great location in which to look for property, though purchasing within the town walls is not only expensive but difficult to do as property is rarely available on the market. There are numerous low-density new developments being constructed within sight of the famous walls, with family villas available for under £200,000. Access to the town is easy, and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations, so a well-marketed villa or apartment can be rented out successfully during the summer months.

Reflecting its historic popularity with the British market, the Dordogne is probably the most expensive part of this corner of France, purely due to the demand for property and the lack of huge building projects to supply it. Village houses can still be found for renovation for under £100,000, but many of the most desirable properties will already have been renovated, and may cost upwards of £200,000 for a small family home.

If you are lucky enough to have a budget to make the rest of us jealous, the South West of France can accommodate your tastes with ease. Consider taking on a vineyard, and produce your own vintage, or should the sound of waves crashing on the beach take your fancy, you may prefer a coastal villa with sea views on the outskirts of Biarritz. Expect both of these options to set you back £500,000 and more.

Finally, a word on potential growth. Prices in this part of France are growing faster than almost every other region, and some parts have reported more than ten per cent capital growth per year for the past three or four years, backed up by official statistics. Though this growth may slow a little in the future, with the mature overseas property climate in France and the new Sarkozy government’s efforts to encourage more French people to buy property, prices should continue to rise.

Conclusion

One of the most diverse and beautiful regions of France, the South West has the full range of weather, property, landscapes and languages. And with property still to be found for bargain prices and incredibly easy access, it is no wonder more and more British buyers are heading there.

Guide to South West France