LOCATION Learn more
about the different areas of France
frenchentree.com/ regional-property- guides
The fortified village of Larresingle
including six Plus Beaux Villages de France – among them Larressingle, the smallest fortified village in France. British-born Victoria
Nicknamed by the locals ‘God’s larder’, gastronomy is an essential element of art de vivre in the region. With fertile soil and mellow year-round temperatures, everything grows. Most homeowners have a potager (vegetable garden). If you’re a keen gardener, you’ll find yourself in good company in Gers. This is a land where chickens roam free-range and bustling local markets are a part of daily life. The Pyrénées are just two
hours away by car, great for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The west coast beaches, Basque country and Spain are almost on the doorstep. Toulouse can be reached in around 30 minutes by car from the lovely town of L’Isle Jourdain, around 90 minutes by train from Auch. It’s a small department, just
60 miles wide, but it’s peppered with perfectly preserved medieval towns and brimming with beautiful villages
Garnham, a local agent with Armagnac Immo (armagnac-
immo.fr), says: “There are many different types of property available, from modern to stone, timber-frame and traditional limestone houses, which are always popular. The average price for an entirely renovated small village house is around €150,000–€200,000. And you can still buy properties to renovate starting from €30,000 for a village house. Large country mansions start at €350,000. The market is on the up in this area, but there are still bargains to be found, particularly for those willing to do a bit of renovation. “The Ténarèze area is
known as the Golden Triangle and includes the stunning towns of Lectoure, Condom, Castéra-Verduzan, St-Puy and the prefecture capital of Auch. Historically, this area was the wealthiest because of the armagnac trade and the lovely honey-coloured limestone.” In Gers, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to
On the market
a gentler place. You won’t come across coachloads of tourists and you won’t find yourself stuck in traffic jams. What you will find are roads that take you through sweeping panoramas, undulating fields of sunflowers, corn and rapeseed. Vineyards laze under the sun alongside lush grazing pastures dotted with wildflowers. Hedgerows stuffed with hawthorn, broom and honeysuckle hug fields and forests. And the cafés and bars are full of friendly folk, happy to share their little corner of paradise. “The people have a reputation for being warm and hospitable,” says Victoria. “They think nothing of turning up on your doorstep with fresh produce from their gardens and homemade jams.” If you long to escape the rat
race, then this idyllic off-the- beaten-track location might be just what you’re looking for.
BRITTANY Brittany in the northwest of France is made up of four quite distinct departments: Côtes- d’Armor, Finistère, Ille-et- Vilaine and Morbihan. But they all share common traits – access to the coast, as well as to the countryside, plus a laid- back lifestyle. Finistère, the furthest west
of Brittany’s departments, is slightly cooler than Morbihan in the south. Ille-et-Villaine is home to Brittany’s capital, Rennes, and is more urbanised than the other departments, while Côtes-d’Armor is more rugged. Generally, the weather across Brittany is similar to the UK’s, except in Morbihan, which is noticeably warmer with lovely summers due to its Atlantic microclimate. Access to Brittany from the
UK is excellent with ferry ports in St-Malo and Roscoff, as well 4
“In Gers, you won’t come across coachloads of tourists and you won’t find yourself stuck in traffic jams”
The bucolic Gers countryside FIND MORE PROPERTIES ON
FRANCEPROPERTYSHOP.COM
€115,000, Gers:This three- bedroom house on the edge of the village square has been divided into two apartments with front and rear terraces (Agence Le Bonheur)
€180,000,Gers: In a village near Condom, three-bedroom house with magnificent stone staircase and fireplace and a mature garden (Compass Immobilier)
€349,000, Gers:Set in a tranquil spot, 350-year-old three-bedroom house, plus two-bedroom guest accommodation, garden and pool (Leggett Immobilier)
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2023 53
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
©SHUTTERSTOCK
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