LOCATION
“With its magnificent forests, stunning lakes and friendly population, once you visit, you’ll never want to leave”
little town with everything: a supermarket, bakery, café, doctor, dentist and schools. People come here for the peace of the countryside with the advantages of a dynamic town. Every year, new artisans and shops set up business here.” When discussing house
prices in Bénévent and the surrounding villages, Mirella says: “Buyers are motivated by the attractive prices here, as well as the proximity to trains for the commute to Limoges, or even Paris.” Bénévent’s ideal location is echoed by Anthony Pachaud of Human Immobilier, who states: “Housebuyers love Bénévent for its accessibility. It’s a small country town just 20 minutes from La Souterraine with its train station and access to the A20 motorway.” Driving down the winding
country lanes, rarely meeting another car, it’s easy to think you’re tucked away in the middle of nowhere, but don’t be fooled. Bénévent-l’Abbaye isn’t just close to La Souterraine, it’s only 25 minutes from Guéret, the capital of the department, with its large supermarkets, hospital and other amenities. It’s also just 50 minutes from
the commercial centres of Limoges in the neighbouring department of Haute-Vienne, and one hour from the airport there, making it an ideal base
On the market
for those who want to live somewhere peaceful and rural but still have easy access to an international airport, as well as great shops.
VIBRANT MIX Further east, the town of Guéret is bustling and lively, but with a population of fewer than 14,000, it is easy to navigate. Like every other préfecture in France, it has all the amenities you need for everyday life. There is a fantastic mix of great shops, essential services (large hospital, clinics and so on) and a wide variety of restaurants serving everything from traditional French cuisine to Chinese, Japanese and Middle Eastern cooking. Tourists come here to visit
the magnificent Château de Ste-Feyre on the outskirts of the town and to sample the Gâteau Creusois – a delicious cake made with hazelnuts, which grow copiously here. The housing market in this
area centres on apartments and terraced houses. Maurice Marcon of Marcon Immobilier notes that many local workers choose to live outside the town, closer to nature, and make the short commute to Guéret. He says: “The surrounding countryside is incredibly beautiful and perfect for those who like to fish, hike or
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participate in sports.” In the town centre, house
prices are still very reasonable. A small, two-bedroom house of approximately 75m2
costs
around €100,000. If you’re looking for something bigger, you can find a five-bedroom house with a surface area of around 150m2 800m2
There are definitely some bargains to be found here. Andy Bassam runs a
successful business in Guéret with his wife. The couple bought their house in Creuse in 2005, tempted by the low prices in the region and the abundant nature, and their shop – The British Market Stall – is based here. “We like outdoor pursuits, and Creuse has excellent traffic- free roads for cycling and also walking trails,” he says. The real splendour of
this large town is not found within its environs, but just a few kilometres south. In the blink of an eye, the sprawling supermarkets and residential streets quickly turn into a magnificent vista of woodlands, dense forests, winding tracks, steep hills
and lush valleys. You are transported to another world where silence reigns and it’s hard to believe you are just minutes from an urban centre. Here, nature is at its finest
and a garden of for less than €160,000.
and there are lots of attractions for both residents and tourists alike. Spend an afternoon figuring your way out of the giant hedge maze spread over two hectares, or stroll through the magnificent Les Loups de Chabrières animal park and observe European and Canadian wolves at play. This park is nestled in the depths of the majestic Chabrières forest, and hikers come here from all over the world to explore the myriad of pedestrian and bike trails. Some are even lucky enough to catch sight of the wild boar and deer that call this territory home. Nature surrounds the capital,
with one of the department’s most spectacular gardens – Val Maubrune – lying just to the west of Guéret. This botanical delight is open to the public from May to October every year, and thousands of locals and tourists alike visit more than three hectares of 4
Guéret, Creuse’s bustling capital
€45,000, Bénévent l’Abbaye: Ideal holiday home on a quiet street in the village centre, with two bedrooms, a small garage/ workshop and a private garden (Human Immobilier)
€213,000, Bénévent l’Abbaye: Great B&B potential for this renovated property with four large bedrooms; there’s a garage, terrace and 450m2 garden (Human Immobilier)
€162,000,Guéret: Located in the heart of Guéret is this stylish house with four bedrooms and a large lounge; the ground floor is currently rented out as a business (Marcon Immobilier, Guéret)
€178,000,Guéret: This large, three-bedroom house has a huge basement with two rooms, studio/workshop area, garage for three cars, balcony and lovely garden (Marcon Immobilier, Guéret)
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: January/February 202445
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