VILLAGE HOMES Within easy reach of the big cities and towns, buyers can fi nd aff ordable houses in pretty villages, with a dwindling supply of fi xer- uppers from around €100,000 or even less. Aude and Hérault, between Carcassonne and Narbonne, are good spots to hunt for cheaper small properties. Leggett currently has a one-bedroom stone- built cottage in move-in condition in Tournissan, in the Corbières, for €75,000, and a two-bedroom village house for renovation in Azille, near Carcassonne, for €71,000. For a buyer serious about
renovation, they are also off ering, for €40,000, one wing of a dilapidated small medieval château in Pépieux, 36km from Carcassonne; and for something a little more urban, a three-bedroom apartment in beautiful Carcassonne itself is presently under off er for €69,000. For €229,000, a fully restored three-bedroom house (pictured) in Saissac, 30 minutes from Carcassonne, comes with outbuildings with opportunity for expansion. Leggett agent Lesley Sleigh,
who has lived in a Minervois village since 1996, is full of passion for her adopted region. “The Minervois is a beautiful area located between Béziers, Narbonne and Carcassonne, the Mediterranean and the mountains. The history and architecture of the region give the area the unique atmosphere of real France, wild and free; if you like sharing gourmet meals and celebrations, come and do it here, among the hills and garrigue, or in the local towns
where you can discover ‘le shopping’ and local culture. We are 45 minutes from the Mediterranean and just next to La Montagne Noire – contrasting areas and climates – coastal plains and sea, and hilly wooded retreats.” As a rule of thumb, homes
within easy reach of the Mediterranean beaches command a premium so bargain hunters would be advised to look inland. “The further one gets from the coast, the lower the prices, except in some very sought- after villages,” says Lesley. That said, prices along
Occitanie’s shores are signifi cantly lower than in neighbouring Provence-Alpes- Côte-d’Azur, so those looking for a Mediterranean beach lifestyle with a sensible price tag should eye the long sweep of coast from Montpellier south to Perpignan and on to the Spanish border.
COAST AND CITY Like Toulouse, Montpellier – with a population of just under 300,000 – is both a business hub and a big university city. Whereas Toulouse is all mellow pink brick though, Montpellier is stolid stone that somehow belies its proximity to the huge sweep of Mediterranean beaches that starts just 11km from the city. “The area off ers a great
climate and a stunning Mediterranean landscape, with property prices very aff ordable compared to the Côte d’Azur,” says Narbonne- based Leggett agent Caroline Stemp. “The area is very popular because of the proximity to the beaches.
“It’s a counterpane of landscapes, from summer- yellow, sun-baked sunfl ower prairies to a sea of vineyards, long, sandy Mediterranean beaches and oyster lagoons”
Place de la Comédie in the handsome city of Montpellier
The great climate and landscape make Narbonne an attractive prospect “You have two good beach In Gruissan, choose from villas with pools and characterful village properties 40 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: November/December 2023
resorts. In Gruissan you can fi nd villas with pools and character village properties and townhouses; Leucate is extremely popular and has one of the best beaches in France at la Franqui, so property in this area is highly sought after and there are a lot of villas with pools. Further inland there are some nice villages on the canals, like Sallèles-d’Aude on the Canal de la Robine, and Argeliers, Le Somail, Paraza, Roubia or
Ventenac-en-Minervois on the Canal du Midi. “Further inland, prices
are slightly lower and you will fi nd you have a choice of a small village property or a villa with pool, or a large character maison de maître. Property prices in the region have increased by 24% in the last fi ve years, and in the last 10 years 16% overall.” Matthieu Cany, of Sextant,
explains that stone houses, villas and apartments are the most common property types
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
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