Languedoc-Roussillon: the centre of the world?

Perfectly situated with the sea on one side  and the Pyrenees to the south, the Languedoc-Roussillon has turned out to be a trendy destination for English tourists. Plenty of popular seaside resorts are located here such as Marseillan, Valras, Sète and Le Cap d’Agde where you will find superb properties with a panoramic view over the Mediterranean Sea. It is a destination all the more interesting as there are ski resorts up in the mountains too. Towns in the countryside also remain attractive, such as the medieval city of Carcassonne, Nîmes and its Roman arenas or the Canal du Midi in Béziers… All offer a wealth of activities as well as a rich history. By the Mediterranean you can also find small but famous villages such as Argelès or Collioure (see the photo above) with a dramatic mix of mountain and seaside landscape. This beautiful region of contrasts and for the purchase of a French property.

Why is it the centre of the world?

These words belong to the famous Spanish painter Salvador Dalí,uttered when he arrived at Perpignan Railway Station. Whilst this may not be quite true, the town is the cultural, administrative and economic capital of the Languedoc, and the last French city before Spain.  With 300 sunny days a year, you can go from stunning beaches to the dramatic landscapes of the snow-covered Pyrénées that dominate the view over Perpignan. Even in December it is warm enough to sit outside on a bench under the palm trees or beside the fountains.

Moreover, Languedoc-Roussillon produces wine in abundance – it has the largest production of any area in Europe. Running through the centre of the region is the Canal du Midi, and there are also several national parks and parts of the course of the Tour de France in the mountains.

An attractive region but at what cost?

You might think you can’t find affordable property in the South of France, but think again! Despite these hard times with the value of the pound plunging against the euro, it is still possible to find properties for under – and sometimes well under – £100,000. It is also possible to buy an apartment or even a village house close to the Mediterranean or the Pyrenees. The main reason why the Languedoc is a perfect area to buy is that it offers a broad mix of properties – from studios to apartments, villas, huge country piles and village houses, there’s something for everyone. It is slightly tougher to find affordable properties by the seaside resorts in the North of the region- the cheapest area to buy is in the southern Languedoc near the Spanish border.

By the seaside:

Given the importance of tourism in the region, the coastal areas north and south of Perpignan contain a mix of recent apartments and villas primarily built for holiday use, and thus inhabited by non permanent residents. However, the recent influx of permanent residents to the region has led to Languedoc-Roussillon’s development of more modern houses, still at rock bottom prices. Prices start close to €110,000 for a two-room apartment with a nice view from its terrace,

Properties prices are slowly increasing in the Languedoc but are still very much cheaper in general than in neighbouring Provence. Offering similar amounts of sunshine, beautiful beaches and mountains and historic towns and villages all at a lower price, it seems like the wiser choice!