The Mediterranean, the mountains, fabulous weather, countless vineyards – and attractive house prices. Annaliza Davis looks into the many pluses of housebuying in Languedoc-Roussillon
This is one of those southern regions overshadowed by its glitzy sisters, the French Riviera and Provence, so it’s unlikely you could point Languedoc-Roussillon on a map unless you already live here. It has something of a split personality: Haut Languedoc is a mountainous area in the middle of southern France that includes part of the Massif Central, while the flatter Bas Languedoc lies along the coast towards Spain and is more popular with tourists.
Since 2016, Languedoc-Roussillon has been part of the wider Occitanie region. The whole area is renowned for its strong cultural heritage, partly thanks to its Occitan language and Catalan roots, but also the medieval Cathar castles and the countless examples of glorious Roman architecture throughout the region, most memorably in Nîmes, home to an incredible Roman arena.
The departments within Languedoc-Roussillon are Aude, Gard, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales and Lozère, and the key cities are Montpellier, Nîmes, Carcassonne and Perpignan. This is a location that offers the advantages of the Mediterranean climate without the high-rise zones. Similarly, if you dream of living in the mountains, this could be the way to do it as Pyrénéan resorts can be a lot cheaper than those in the Alps and offer similar yearround options.
You have to visit to understand how diverse this region is, from snowy ski resorts to a beach in Béziers or the peaceful towpaths of the Canal du Midi; there’s an incredible variety to choose from. As for property, whether it’s rural retreats, palatial coastal homes, quaint village houses, city studio flats or vast equestrian estates you’re after, this area has the lot!
MATCH THE PLACE TO YOUR POCKET
If having plenty of space is important to you, the inland area of Lozère has an average of only 15 residents per square kilometre, followed by Aude (58), then Pyrénées-Orientales (109), Gard (121) and Hérault (168), although in Montpellier itself this rockets to 5,195/km2.
In terms of price, the national average has now risen to €3,302/m2while in Languedoc-Roussillon, properties cost an average of €2,726/m 2. There are huge variations depending on location though: in Aude, the average is €2,133 with some older homes at under €495/ m 2, while in
