Just east of central France, this region is famous for full-bodied wine, good living and wide-open landscapes. If you want a truly French experience, Annaliza Davis explains why Burgundy could be your dream location
Known to the British as Burgundy, the French region of Bourgogne sits south-east of Paris, towards the Swiss and Italian borders. Its location gives you a sense of its character: expanses of fields and lush vineyards highlighted by glittering rivers, red rooftops and step-backin-time villages. This is a land that’s generous with its space, food and flavours.
Let’s start with that generosity of space: England’s population density sits at 281 people per square kilometre; France’s national average is 105/km2; come to Burgundy and this drops to 59/km 2, mostly concentrated around the cities and larger towns, with much of central Burgundy housing fewer than 15 people per square kilometre. You get the picture? It’s an area of luxurious spaciousness, so if you’re looking for room to breathe, Burgundy is for you.
There are four departments in Bourgogne, namely Côte d’Or, Saône-et-Loire, Yonne and Nièvre. Each one offers its own major town or city, its own vineyards and its own adorable villages, and each has its own appeal depending on what you’re looking for.
This region has been largely overlooked by British buyers in recent years. At 31,582km2, Burgundy’s land area is roughly equivalent to that of Belgium, yet it is home to fewer than 2,500 British people. Compare this to 13,000 British residents living in Brittany (27,208km 2) and in Provence (31,400km 2), and you immediately understand that moving here gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in French culture and become part of the local community rather than simply part of an expat club.
People who settle here from other countries don’t come for the dazzling heat of the south or the Englishness of Dordogne: they come because they want to experience the Frenchness of France. As for buying property here, average prices are far lower than the country’s celebrity perennial hotspots, and if you’re looking to make the most of your money, this is an area where a house can be half the price of an apartment.
MATCH THE PLACE TO YOUR POCKET
In France, the national average cost for property is €2,749/m2and homes in Burgundy sit between €502 and €3,388/m 2so, generally, even the grandest properties here cost no more per squa
