Centre's property market is neither notable for its highs nor lows, in fact prices
sit just below the French average (at least it's central in one respect). Neither
does the region experience any drastic rises, increases or decreases in value –
though its steady growth has been constant over the past few years. Prices throughout
the region's six departments vary by up to €900, with the priciest, Indre-et-Loire,
commanding an average of €1,940 per square metre, dropping to €1,040 in Indre.
Within Indre-et-Loire, Tours is the costliest district, with prices averaging out
at €1,940 per square metre, translating to an average house price of €210,200. Not
only does Tours boast an airport serviced by the low-cost carriers, TGV and good
motorway links, but it is also right in the centre of the Loire châteaux trail.
The city itself is littered with parks and gardens, nestled between the white stone
buildings with their grey slate roofs. The medieval district features half-timbered
buildings while bars and restaurants are clustered in Place Plumereau and weekly
markets held along Boulevard Berranger. Despite property weighing in at just €1,250,
Chinon doesn't offer any less charm. The town itself rises above the river bank,
culminating in its château. Loches is cheaper still, with the average house costing
just €136,700, and is also brimming with charm with its walled château and 10th-century
church.
In the north, Eure-et-Loir can thank UNESCO-listed city Chartres for its relatively
high prices. The department's average property price stands at €1,890 per square
metre, rising to €2,030 in and around Chartres. It is the capital of France's 'Cosmetics
Valley', so named because of the concentration of cosmetics research centres and
factories around Chartres, employing up to 16,000 people and generating a turnover
of €2.5bn.
Between the two, Loir-et-Cher acts as a cheaper buffer – with house prices averaging
out at €1,460 per square metre (up 8.0%). However, within this department there
is a vast difference between prices in Vendôme, with its TGV link to Paris and Blois.
The former commands prices of €1,880 per square metre, thanks to its superb transport
links to Paris (just 40 minutes by train), and the town itself counts the ruins
of Vendôme castle, the Gothic-style Trinity church and old gate of St George among
its monuments.
Blois, meanwhile, can offer spectacular views over the Loire, with the city winding
up and around two hills, as well as surprisingly low property prices, with an average
of just €1,380 per square metre.
Bordering Loir-et-Cher to the east, Cher hardly lives up to its name. Average prices
are just €1,350 per square metre here, dropping to €900 around Vierzon. Bourges
is the most sought-after district, pushing prices up to €1,410 per square metre,
thanks to its pretty parks and squares, lively social calendar – more than 100 festivals,
shows and concerts are held around the city every year – and imposing cathedral
and palais. The city is surrounded by 135ha of green marshland, traditionally employed
as defence, but now a showcase of natural flora and fauna and used to provide the
city with an abundance of fresh vegetables.
Loiret to the north is home to regional capital Orléans. Consequently prices are
higher here, at €1,780 per square metre, but the city is widely held to warrant
the extra expenditure. The surrounding landscape is among the most impressive in
France, with the biggest state-owned forest in France and the lakes of Sologne nearby,
while inside the city, the Parc de la Source boasts a rose garden and butterfly
house and there are numerous bars, restaurants and museums.
The southernmost department, Indre, named for its river, is the most rural of Centre's
departments, and therefore the cheapest, with prices averaging €1,040 per square
metre, making the average house just €101,400 – however prices are rising fast,
with apartment prices up 12.5% in 2007 and houses growing 9.9% in value. Even prefecture
Châteauroux boasts 450ha of parks; that's 52m2 for every resident, including the
Jardins des Cordeliers and the Parc de Loisirs de Belle Isle. To the edge of the
city are the government-owned Châteauroux forest and the Brenne national park. The
old town nestles on the banks of the Indre, while the newer suburbs are spread further
inland.
Source: French Property Buying Guide - French Property
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