LOCATION
Vieux-Bellême and on the far side, La Perrière, for example – are popular.
The 18th-century Château de la Ferté-Vidame, once one of France’s largest domaines – today it’s an atmospheric ruin
countryside of open fields and farmland, beautiful forests and fine secluded manors. Our final stop is Bellême
and its majestic forest to the northwest in Orne. We’re just two hours from Paris and there’s a “really sublime environmental quality”, says Yoann Biffard of Perch’Immo. “We have a 2,400-hectare forest below Bellême, it’s an undulating, verdant region, with magnificent views of the countryside around the town,” he continues. Bellême itself may be small, but it’s dynamic. Even on a Sunday morning many shops are open. You can find everything you need here so that’s a good selling point. Apart from the tiny historic centre, the two main shopping areas are around the church square and the Place de la Liberté. The tiny historic centre offers
a remarkable architectural patrimony – the Bellême Porch, the 17th-century St-Sauveur church rebuilt in classical style on 11th-century Romanesque
On the market
AUTHENTICITY SELLS Worth a visit, too, is Chapelle- Montligeon with its late-19th- century Neo-Gothic basilica on the edge of the nearby “magnifique” Réno Valdieu forest. Its farmsteads and longères, which have retained their authenticity – often with tomettes (terracotta floor tiles), original beams and fireplaces – are much sought-after. You’ll pay €250,000-€300,000 for a renovated longère; Yoann is currently negotiating the sale of a small one for €129,000 that hasn’t yet been updated. “Living in Bellême, it’s
always a pleasure to ramble in the countryside and forest, gathering mushrooms in the autumn,” says Yoann. “Just to walk in nature is enough for a breath of fresh air.” And if you’ve got cash to
Château of the Counts of Perche, Nogent-le-Rotrou; buying local cider; Château de Senonches’ museum
foundations, and the splendid dwellings on Rue Ville Close and Rue d’Alençon. Private hôtels particuliers
often have attic rooms, known as chambres de bonne, from the days when owners had maids, and grounds, while small townhouses may have 100m2 200m2
- of land – a courtyard
or jardin de curé – at the rear. Yoann recently marketed a hôtel particulier with an 800m2 garden near the old centre for around €600,000. He’s also
selling a small townhouse requiring work for €80,000. You can still find properties
for renovation, however, apartments are harder to come by. “Buildings are often bought and converted by investors for rental income, and thanks to Bellême’s tourist appeal, there is also a seasonal letting market,” says Yoann. Throughout the countryside,
you’ll find small old terraced houses. Villages around Bellême forest – St-Martin-du-
A basket of October mushrooms FIND MORE PROPERTIES ON
FRENCHENTREE.COM
splash, you can be lord of the manor or châtelain of a château (Mortagne-au-Perche, eight bedrooms, 9.5 hectares, €1,489,000, Barnes). There’s something in the Perche for every pocket and taste.■
parc-naturel-perche.fr perche-tourisme.fr leshautsduperche.fr
€161,300, St-Martin-du-Vieux- Bellême: Near Bellême, this three-bedroom property has a basement, garden and extra plot of land to buy (Perch’Immo)
€129,000,Mauves-sur-Huisne: In a hamlet north of Bellême, this two-bedroom ‘longère’ comes with fireplace, cellar and grounds of 3,400m2 (Perch’Immo)
72 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: September/October 2023
€618,000,Bellême: Close to shops, this renovated seven- bedroom three-storey property has a sauna, hammam, courtyard and vaulted cellar (Perch’Immo)
€550,000, Pervenchères: This old three-bedroom house northwest of Bellême has loſts and outbuildings for conversion, and 13 hectares (Perch’Immo)
© ORNE TOURISME, PATRICK FORGET, ARNAUD LOMBARD
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