Buying Property in France
Part 3 will be available soon.
Buying Property in France
Part 3 will be available soon.
Purchasing real estate in a village with the Plus Beau Village de France label means the chance to enjoy a high-quality, protected living environment. Depending on the location and reputation of the village, property prices can vary significantly.
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Buying a property to enjoy a picturesque landscape or proximity to historic monuments motivates some people to purchase in one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, a label that honors the country's most remarkable villages. "It means living in a protected environment. I hope it won't change too much and that it won't lose its value," said Michel C., who has owned a second home in La Roque-Gageac (in the southwest Dordogne region) for 20 years.
Like the other 184 sites labeled Plus Beaux Villages de France, La Roque-Gageac must have at least two protected sites or monuments and have fewer than 2,000 residents. Architectural quality and heritage preservation are also among the criteria assessed. "Once selected, the village commits to continuing to improve," explained Jacques Gilibert, president of the Plus Beaux Villages de France association and mayor of Charroux, central France, a point that can appeal to buyers. The France's Favorite Village competition, organized annually by broadcaster France Télévisions, also shines a spotlight on exceptional villages.
In July, Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France, which holds the label, was named France's Favorite Village. Clinging to the hillside facing the Mediterranean, it is known for its pastel-colored homes, panoramic views of the Iles d'Hyères and its spectacular blooming mimosas. "It's also the city where the Fort de Brégançon is located, the official holiday residence of French presidents," noted Sarah Foti, a local real estate adviser.
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