Thanks to the Limousin’s scant population, property prices have remained low. However, immigration from northern Europe, particularly the British and Dutch, has helped to keep the market buoyant.
Nevertheless, the tranquil, unspoilt scenery acts as a considerable draw for Brits looking for some splendid isolation. The Limousin landscape can be divided into three main areas: mountainous hills, reaching an altitude of 978 metres, above the Plateau de Millevaches, the plateaux themselves (which range from 300-700 metres in altitude) and the Brive basin, which has an altitude of below 200m.
Sunworshippers would do well to consider the altitude of any particular area when househunting, as it makes a difference to the climate – a drop in temperature can be felt as you climb higher, while in the Brive basin and towards the Dordogne, the climate becomes milder.
Limousin also has the added benefit of bordering the perennially popular Dordogne. While house prices in Dordogne average out at €1,449 per square metre, neighbouring Haute-Vienne can undercut this figure considerably – house prices here stand at just €1,337. What’s more, for such an underpopulated region, Limousin sure has a lot of transport options. Trains run directly from Paris to Limoges, which also has an airport served by low-cost carriers. The airport has recently been upgraded and, although previously little more than a shed with a runway, it is now quite smart.
The rail network in this department is also quite well developed with local trains stopping off at small villages and towns such as Bussière Galant on their way from Limoges to Bordeaux. Limoges itself is a strange city: in parts extremely pretty, with its 12th-century church, Gothic cathedral and arched bridge, but it can feel a little down at heel in some places and, considering it is both a departmental and regional capital, has relatively few shops and amenities, especially when compared with bustling Périgueux across the border in Dordogne.
Nearby Chalus is a pretty centre for its commune, with the ruins of the Château de Chalus Chabrol containing the bowels of Richard I – he was killed here in 1199.
Mortemart, meanwhile, is a Plus Beaux Village, known locally as the ‘petit Vatican Limousin’ because it boasts no less than three monasteries.
To the south, the Corrèze is slightly more expensive, with prices averaging €1,374 per square metre. Subprefecture Brive la Gaillarde (the brave) is so named due to its role as regional centre of Resistance networks during World War II. The medieval centre is now the commercial district and, because of its shops and amenities, house prices here are a steeper €1,505 per square metre.
Prices in the whole area could well rise further, following the long-awaited opening of Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne airport in June 2010, with flights to London’s City airport.
Red alert
Nearby Collonges la Rouge is another of France’s Plus Beaux Villages and it’s easy to see why: the car-free centre, red stone houses and tiny alleyways are stunning – and advertising boards are banned. Curemonte also carries this prestigious title, thanks to its three châteaux.
To the north-east, nestled in above the departments of Haute-Vienne and Corrèze, is Creuse, where house prices are cheaper still – just €983 per square metre on average.
Dominated by the Massif Central, the landscape here is hilly, covered with vast stretches of woodland. Subprefecture Aubusson is celebrated for its weavers, who have been knotting carpets and tapestries since the 14th century. The nearby tapestry museum houses a collection of some 600 carpets produced in the area between the 17th and 19th centuries.
The village of La Celle Dunoise inspired the Impressionist Monet thanks to its Gothic bridge, Roman church and views over the surrounding landscape.
Source: French Property Buying Guide 2010 / 2011
Back