In southeast France, close to the Italian border and the dazzling Côte d’Azur you’ll discover the world of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, commonly known as ‘Haute-Provence’. This can be a vacation spot bursting with actions, from snowboarding and white-water rafting to strolling round historic cities or lazing within the southern sunshine. Discover out extra in our property information to Haute-Alpes-de-Provence.
Property information to Haute-Alpes-de-Provence
US-born Darlene Duterrier has lived on this area for six years and says the local weather is likely one of the primary points of interest of Haute-Provence.
“We now have 4 stunning seasons right here, with at the least 300 days of sunshine a 12 months; it’s not as dry and sizzling because it will get additional south, but not humid or chilly like different components of France. Solely August tends to be actually sizzling, with a heat springtime, and mellow autumn, and whereas winters are fairly delicate, ski lovers will all the time discover slopes in simple attain.
“Folks come right here for the gorgeous pure landscapes, clear air and a way of calm. It’s a paradise for climbing and climbing and naturally biking, which is a Sunday sport for all ages. In addition to the winter sports activities of snowboarding and snowboarding, you have got paragliding from the mountains, kayaking and rafting within the freshwater rivers, fishing and crusing.
“A showcase of our area is the Valley de l’Asse, one of the stunning valleys within the area, full of lavender fields, olive timber and wild thyme. It has quaint little villages like Bras d’Asse, Estoublon, Mézel and Châteuredon, in addition to the Gorges de Trévans, well-known for its waterfalls, climbing areas and breathtaking views. Just like the geopark, with its uncommon geology, the Haute-Provence landscapes are actually fascinating: you must be right here, to breathe it in, to actually perceive.”
Properties in Haute-Provence
Since 2020 Darlene has labored as an actual property agent with Leggett Immobilier, and loving the place she lives makes it simple to search out the correct dwelling for her shoppers.
“Folks have began to find Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and costs are slowly rising, however you’ll positively get extra in your price range right here than additional south,” she says. “One of many issues I really like is that you just don’t get teams of an identical buildings, every constructing is exclusive, from small vacation pads to household properties, stunning Provençal farmhouses and Bastides with acres of land.
“Typically talking, 200,000 € to 250,000 € will get you a two-bedroom dwelling, whereas a 3 or four-bedroom dwelling prices between 300,000 € to 400,000 € relying on how fashionable or renovated it’s. If it wants any constructing work or renovation, you’ll have extra room to barter.
“If you would like the complete package deal – a pool, enclosed backyard, outbuildings and acres of land – you’ll in all probability be properties between 400,000 € and 900,000 €, it truly is nice worth for cash right here. I just lately offered a wonderful 250m² riverside property with greater than seven acres of land, its personal lake, properly and pond, plus terrain appropriate for horses for about 600,000 €, which is half the worth you’d pay additional down south.
“We’ve all the time had patrons from large cities like Marseille or Good, in addition to worldwide shoppers – largely Dutch, Belgian, Irish and British – and we’ve seen an increase in People shifting right here. Even so, Haute-Provence continues to supply unbelievable worth and its inhabitants density is loads decrease than the Côte-d’Azur, so you have got an actual sense of area.”
The place are the very best spots to stay in Haute-Alpes-de-Provence?
“In the event you’re shifting right here with youngsters, I extremely advocate Digne-les-Bains,” says Darlene, “about 130 km from Marseille and 145 km from Good. It’s a stunning, family-friendly city with a great deal of actions for kids. It’s nice for an excellent high quality of life and the dearth of visitors – the city is investing in cycle lanes and sports activities actions for all ages. You’re about an hour from luxurious procuring and massive malls, 50 km from the ski slopes, and it’s a preferred space for climbing and paragliding. There are many actions for all ages together with free out of doors yoga in the summertime, sport golf equipment, artwork college and theatre, all simple methods of attending to know the locals.
“In the event you want being away from all of it and surrounded by the grandeur of nature, attempt the villages surrounding the Gorges du Verdon, nicknamed the European Grand Canyon. It’s so stunning that it takes your breath away, and the azure-blue lake Saint-Croix is a good place to begin for the wonderful nautical expertise of canoeing within the waters between the gorges.
“Lake Sainte-Croix is just a few minutes away from Moustiers-Sainte-Maire, a spectacular village that’s well-known for its stunning structure, faïence pottery and ceramics and has unsurprisingly been voted probably the most stunning village in France.
“Equally picturesque is Valensole, well-known for its plateau and seemingly limitless fields of lavender that flip purple in mid-July. No phrases can describe it. The scent of harvested lavender flows within the valleys – it’s so stress-free!
“If accessibility is vital to you, the up-and-coming city of Les Mées is close to the motorway, 109 km from Marseille’s worldwide airport and fewer than 99 km from Aix-en-Provence, the place high-speed TGV trains take you to Paris in simply 4 hours. In the event you’re occupied with operating a B&B, this could be a perfect location because it’s not saturated with competitors however is extremely accessible and fascinating. To provide you an concept of the potential, there’s a stunning, stone-built Provençal home with 4 bedrooms presently in the marketplace, providing 229m² of dwelling area plus an residence with its personal entrance, set in 1.25 acres with a further two barns, all superbly offered and it’s priced at €399,899.
“In the event you’d moderately tackle an current enterprise, it’s price noting that there’s a generational change taking place in a lot of Haute-Provence as many homeowners who’ve been creating their B&B companies during the last 20 years are retiring now, in order that’s one other alternative.”
Are Haute-Provence properties that totally different?
“Only a few properties in Provence are constructed by builders, they’re normally constructed by the homeowners or by domestically employed builders,” Darlene explains. “Which means you get one-off designs that come up from a property’s origin, building and objective, so every dwelling is exclusive.
“Once you purchase a Provence property, you grow to be its custodian till it’s time to cross alongside the baton to a future proprietor and in flip you get an attractive dwelling. You additionally get all the things else about Provence: the solar, do-it-yourself olive oil and honey, the scent of lavender on the breeze, the sound of cicadas, the lakes and mountains, the scrumptious recent baguettes and native rosé, and naturally the Provençal way of life.
“Whether or not you resolve to purchase a vacation home or to maneuver to Haute-Provence completely, it truly is the nice life right here.”
See Darlene’s property portfolio right here: frenchestateagents.com
