Champagne-Ardenne has been suffering from a declining population since 1982 and now ranks among France's least populated regions. In 2006, just 539,704 of Champagne-Ardenne's 613,835-strong housing stock were being used as principal residences.
The good news is that property prices are therefore low and your money will undoubtedly stretch further than in neighbouring regions. That doesn't mean, however, that prices aren't rising, although it has to be said that price rises are less lustrous than those witnessed in other departments.
Champagne-Ardenne's proximity to Paris and Lille means that the Eurostar will deliver you virtually to your doorstep and you can also reach the ferries and Eurotunnel at Calais or Paris' many airports with ease. A small minority of Brits have already discovered this to their advantage, but the British community is by no means established – yet.
Architecture varies hugely throughout the region. Around the great lakes of the champagne route and Troyes, half-timbered houses abound, with some dating as far back as the 16th century. In Dom le Mesnil, houses are constructed from yellow stone, while the architects in Charleville Mezières favoured bricks. The region is wooded and hilly to the west, while the east is built on a chalk plain, the perfect environment for storing champagne in specially-constructed chalk caves.
Price-wise, Champagne-Ardenne's Marne department commands the highest prices, and no wonder, given that it contains the region's capital, Châlons-en-Champagne and tourist hotspot Reims.
Average prices for the department as a whole start at €2,020 per square metre for apartments and €191,400 for houses – but the department's more elevated prices mean that growth is slower compared to the region's other districts – with apartment prices rising an average of 6.4% and house prices up 7.5% in 2007.
Although Châlons-en-Champagne is both the regional and departmental capital, Reims is the priciest district, with its many historical buildings, bustling cafés and restaurants and attractive squares. Prices here average €230,200. Châlons-en-Champagne, however, is a good bet for those who like to avoid swarms of tourists and, being just a quarter of the size of Reims, is somewhat quieter too. The city benefits from two TGV routes, connecting it with Lille and Paris and is near to Châlons Vatry airport, although despite its modern facilities and 3,860m long runway, the airport is currently used mainly for freight.
Epernay is considerably cheaper, despite its idyllic setting on the edge of the Cubry valley. The city centre features narrow, winding streets, while the surrounding suberbs are more modern and spacious. The La Folie district to the east is especially sought after for its handsome villas.
Although Marne is by far the most popular department for househunters and tourists alike, this desirability costs more than just euros. The department's crime rate is the highest in the region, though with only 72,000 crimes recorded in 2006 – for a population of over one million – the region can hardly be said to be a hotbed of crime.
To the south, Aube ranks second in terms of property prices which are rising fast, up 12.5% in 2007 to reach €1,390 per square metre. The average house price is currently €145,600. The city of Troyes, ancient capital of the Champagne province, is the main draw here, thanks to its bustling tourism trade and many historical monuments. By coincidence, the walled old quarter is shaped like a champagne cork and contains many 16th-century timber-framed houses. Bar sur Aube and Bar sur Seine are also pretty towns, and property here, at the heart of the champagne trail, is not as costly as you would imagine; the average house costs just €99,200.
Those looking to buy a holiday home should seek out property on the edge of the champagne vineyards, near the lakes of the Orient forest, to enjoy the many outdoor activities on offer and the beautiful views over the forest, which are magnificent in autumn.
Haute-Marne is the cheapest of the four departments (and the least populated), though this isn't to say that it doesn't hold its own in the charm stakes. The department houses three main districts: Langres, a town that sits between ancient defensive walls, St Dizier and Chaumont, of which Chaumont is the priciest with houses costing an average of €110,000. Langres is the least developed property market, with the average purchase tallying just €78,500.
Like its Belgian neighbour, the Ardennes department is carpeted with dense forests and its capital, Charleville- Mezières, mirrors the connection between the Belgian and French Ardennes region. Buildings are predominantly in red brick, particularly around the Place Ducale, and their tall, pitched slate roofs are reminiscent of Flemish architecture. Prices here are hardly prohibitive, with an average of just €117,100. Crime is low (Ardennes has the lowest crime rate in the region) and life is idyllic, if it lacks the excitement of more urbanised areas.
Those looking for a country pile should head west towards Thiérache, where the hilly, wooded landscape provides an idyllic setting for the many abbeys, castles and fortified country houses nestled in the countryside, or keen walkers could site their house in the east, handy for the Argonne forest.
Source: French Property Buying Guide - French Property
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