LOCATION
houses (€1,496/m2 to €1,276/m2
, compared ), but both are
still easily under half the average price of properties across France. Broadly speaking, Haute-Vienne is the most expensive of the three departments (€711-€1,993/m2
followed by Corrèze (€742- €1,931/m2
(€512-€1,161/m2
and finally Creuse ).
WHERE TO FIND WHAT YOU WANT If you’re looking to buy a city-centre property, focus on Limoges, which has 135,000 residents and 16,000 students at the university, ensuring the city has a strong rental market as well as a young, lively feel. The city dates back to medieval times but in the 1800s became famous for its porcelain, an industry that helped Limoges to flourish. Back in the 1960s, the
Argentat-sur-Dordogne in the Corrèze department stands on the river from which it takes its name
very cold winters, others – such as the area surrounding Brive- la-Gaillarde – can be very hot in summer. Whatever you prefer, you will almost certainly find a property in your budget here.
MATCH THE PLACE TO YOUR POCKET By the end of 2023, France’s average property price had risen to €3,132/m2
, but in
Limousin properties were averaging €1,240/m2
, which is
well under half that. The more costly zones are in the historic city of Brive-la Gaillarde in Corrèze (€1,809/m2
); the
Limousin capital Limoges in Haute-Vienne (€1,708/m2
);
and Guéret in Creuse (€1,061/ m2
). Your budget will buy you
more property and land in the more rural areas, particularly in Creuse, where you can find houses for as little as €512/m2 Apartments have a slightly higher average price than
.
three departments of Haute- Vienne, Corrèze and Creuse joined to form Limousin, but in 2016, this region was merged with two others to form Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with Bordeaux as the capital. Nevertheless, Limoges remains a significant city, and accounts for approximately half the employment within Limousin. A €30,000 budget will get you a basic studio flat in the centre, while houses start at €125,000. One hour further south,
you’ll find Brive-la-Gaillarde, a fortified medieval town of 50,000 residents. Tourists love the foodie culture here, along with the history, the honey- coloured stone and picturesque streets. Both houses and studio apartments in Brive start at €60,000, but €100,000 will buy you a detached family home with a garden. It’s worth noting that both Brive and Limoges regularly feature in France’s 100 best places to live, and they are the only towns in Limousin with over 20,000 inhabitants. Limousin has a wealth of
pretty riverside towns – such as Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Argentat-sur-Dordogne, Ségur- le-Château, Aubusson, Tulle and Uzerche – and seven official Plus Beaux Villages including Collonges-les-Rouges, Turenne, Curemonte, St-Robert and Mortemart. Properties in the more sought-after villages
),
The market town of Bellac was once famous for its leather tanning industry
Brive-la-Gaillarde is a fortified medieval town popular with tourists
“Limoges has 16,000 students at the university, which ensures the city has a strong rental market as well as a young, lively feel”
Crozant was a magnet for artists and painters
LA VALLÉE DES PEINTRES French writer and activist for equality, George Sand, famously fell for the landscapes here, which she said were “so rich that the painter doesn’t know where to stop... everything fires the imagination... everything grips the heart”. She oſten stayed at the Château de Boussac,
visiting the area with Chopin, and would spend hours in the Valley of Painters, located in Crozant, Creuse. You can follow her favourite 3.5km walk through the valley and
4
understand why it so inspired the Impressionists, notably Monet. There is a discovery booklet that offers insights into Monet’s work, as well as some of the viewpoints that have inspired painters from the 1800s right up to the present day.
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: May/June 2024 23
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
