Tourists flood the region in summer, looking for their place in the sun, but those who own a little piece of this paradise enjoy every season.
Imagine chucking it all in,
Peter Mayle-style, for a mas (farmhouse) on a vine-covered hillside where you
will make your own wine while sipping pastis and making friends with your
crusty winemaking vigneron neighbours. You are picturing Provence. Tourists
flood the region in summer, looking for their place in the sun, but those who
own a little piece of this paradise enjoy every season.
What is it known for?
The good life, one saturated with Provençal colours and flavours, with endless fields of lavender and white-washed stone farmhouses that epitomize the French country chic ideal, immortalized by artists old and new. And do not forget the cuisine and the chefs who are drawn to use what the land produces, from humble bar-restaurants to the Michelin-starredrestaurants gastronomique. Perhaps most enticingly, more than half of France’s rosé comes from the region.
Provence is a large region
that includes many areas, from the inland mountains of the Alpes de Haute
Provence to the golden beaches of the Cote d’Azur. The natural beauty and the
tidy, picturesque villages, weekly markets, and range of activities — from
horseback riding to skiing — make it a sought-after region for holiday-makers
and second-home buyers alike.
This has also made house
prices somewhat impervious to the vicissitudes of the global economy. “The
Provence market has survived the economic crisis and our colleagues in France
are optimistic for the future,” said Anne Mizrachi of French property agents
Latitudes.
Where do you want to live?
“There are many reasons why people want to purchase a house in Provence,” said Mizrachi. “Some are looking for a bolthole in the sun — a lock and leave type property, others for a more substantial holiday home with a swimming pool.” And then there are those looking for an investment who want to rent out their properties. They tend to look in places that are magnets for holiday renters, particularly city properties like those in Cannes, Nice, Marseille, Avignon and so on.
“There are many reasons why people want to purchase a house in Provence,” said Mizrachi. “Some are looking for a bolthole in the sun — a lock and leave type property, others for a more substantial holiday home with a swimming pool.” And then there are those looking for an investment who want to rent out their properties. They tend to look in places that are magnets for holiday renters, particularly city properties like those in Cannes, Nice, Marseille, Avignon and so on.
Vauclause is a popular
area, made so by Peter Mayle and hisA Year in Provence books; the medieval villages of Gordes,
Lourmarin and Roussillon in particular. In the Bouches de Rhone,
Aix-en-Provence is a perennial favourite, and people also search down near
Marseilles and the coastal resorts.
St Tropez in Var, along
with Les Issambres and Le Lavandou attract buyers who want a coastal property,
but prices have pushed land hunters inland to Fayence, Lorgues, Grimaud and
Cogolin. Houses with sea views along the Cote d’Azur such as Cannes, Antibes,
Juan les Pins, Beaulieu and Nice command the highest prices. “Coastal
properties within easy reach of an airport are usually more expensive than
inland properties,” said Mizrachi. “You’ll pay a premium for a sea view. A
one-bedroom apartment on the Cote d’Azur would start around 250,000 euros.” A
two-bedroom penthouse with a terrace and panoramic views of Nice just steps
from the seafront costs around 1.3 million euros.
The least expensive area is
the Alpes de Haut Provence, in hilltop villages like Valbonne, Mougins and St
Paul de Vence. You may get a lot more for your money, but even there, a
three-bedroom house with mountain views and a swimming pool costs can cost
almost 1.3 million euros as well.
Side trips
Just travelling from one part of Provence to another can make for a wonderful day or weekend trip. There are train connections to all other parts of France and the TGV from Marseilles makes the trip to Paris in just three hours. There are intercity connections to Switzerland, Italy and Spain.
Provence is mainly served
by the Nice airport, and Air France has non-stop flights to New York and other
international cities. The Marseilles and Nimes airports are served by regional
European airlines with flights to the UK and the rest of Europe.
Practical info
In Provence, every hillside and town has its own personality and ambience, so to merely like a property is not enough, you must also like the location and the local village. If you are attracted by a house and are considering putting in an offer, let the agent know straight away. “You need to register your interest,” explained Mizrachi. “In France, a house can be sold and off the market within a day.”
When it comes to putting
money down, check with a currency broker and your bank to find out the best and
cheapest way of transferring funds. You will also want to know what is included
in the price, like fees for the agent and notary. There are other rates to
check on like the taxe fonciere and the taxe
d’habitation, along with maintenance charges.
“Provence has what everyone
wants: Mediterranean climate, varied architecture, the prestige and the
lifestyle,” said Mizrachi.
Further information
Provence Post: English-language blog on festivals, food and wine, tours and travel
Anglo-American Group of Provence: network of English-speaking expatriates that provide support and activities
The Riviera Times: English-language newspaper for the French and Italian Riviera
Provence Post: English-language blog on festivals, food and wine, tours and travel
Anglo-American Group of Provence: network of English-speaking expatriates that provide support and activities
The Riviera Times: English-language newspaper for the French and Italian Riviera
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário