is the Morbihan Gulf, a vast inland sea, dotted with islands and hugely popular with sailing enthusiasts. Off the coast, there are also four inhabited islands, including the appropriately named Belle Île. The Carnac standing stones and Plus Beaux Village Rochefort-en-Terre are also popular with tourists. The €2,420/m2


average house price


makes Morbihan the most expensive area of Brittany – refl ecting its desirability. Naturally, prices are highest on the coast (€5,660/m2


in Carnac) and in the most


sought-aſt er towns, so for more aff ordable homes look in more rural areas further inland. Prices range quite signifi cantly in Morbihan’s main centres, which include the historic towns of Vannes (€4,170/m2 Lorient (€2,650/m2 Auray (€3,350/m2


), Pontivy (€1,530/m2 Hérault


Off to the south of France now, where you’ll fi nd the Riviera, Provence and the Mediterranean beaches. The Côte d’Azur is one of the


Calvados


Normandy is another popular region with British househunters looking to benefi t from quick and easy access via Channel ferries. The Calvados department off ers a landscape of orchards and lush pastureland – if you love cider, Calvados brandy, tarte tatin, cheese and butter, this could be the spot for you! There’s a rich mix of culture and heritage too, from the D-Day


beaches to the Bayeux tapestry. On the coast you have upmarket resorts like Deauville and the historic harbour of Honfl eur, while inland areas like the Pays d’Auge and Swisse Normande off er rolling countryside and charming villages, including Plus Beaux Villages Buevron-en-Auge and Blangy-le-Château.


Morbihan’s proximity to Paris – about 2.5


hours from Vannes by TGV trains – adds to the appeal, particularly from wealthy Parisians seeking second homes. Add all this together, and it’s no surprise that Calvados is not the cheapest area, with an average house price of (€2,290/m2


), rising to €6,710/m2 in swanky Deauville.


The main towns are relatively aff ordable – Caen (€3,160/m2 Bayeux (€2,540/m2


) – and Honfl eur (€3,330/m2 .


option, but for the cheapest homes, head to inland Calvados where average prices in the Pays d’Auge, for instance, hover around just €1,500/m2


), ) is a great seaside


), ),


) and Josselin (€1,490/m2 ).


Pézenas


most expensive places in France to buy property so those with less fulsome funds head west, to the Languedoc-Roussillon area where you get more bang for your euro. Bordering the Provence-Côte


d’Azur region, the Hérault department (Occitanie region) has much in common with the exclusive resorts of the Riviera – beaches, coastal towns and villages, sunny climate – but with a more laidback lifestyle and more aff ordable property. There’s much on off er here from the


capital, Montpellier, one of France’s most dynamic cities, to lively coastal resorts like Palavas-les-Flots, La Grande Motte, Cap d’Agde and Sète, and historic villages inland, including the Plus Beaux Villages


St-Guilhem-le-Désert, Minerve and Olarques. The north of the department is much more rural, home to the scenic Cévennes mountains, the Haut- Languedoc regional park, Lac du Salagou and Hérault Gorges. Average house prices are €2,770/ across Hérault and €3,850/m2 Montpellier, rising to €6,050/m2


m2 in in


La Grande Motte. With its charming old town, Pézenas (€2,600/m2


) is a


popular spot with overseas buyers, along with Béziers (€2,070/m2 (€1,610/m2


) and Lodève ). The cheapest areas are inland


to the north, bordering the Aveyron department, where prices can fall under the €1,000/m2


mark. Haute-Savoie


Some of the best ski areas in the world are to be found in the French Alps, including the Three Valleys (Courchevel and Meribel) in Savoie, voted number one in the Forbes World Ski Index. Neighbouring Haute-Savoie has its own share of world-famous


The harbour at Honfl eur


© Shutterstock


© Shutterstock


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