With some of Picardy’s westernmost departments already within spitting distance of Paris, this region has always been prized for its potential as a base for those who want a country camp to retreat to after the hustle and bustle of the city. Now, however, thanks to the high-speed Eurostar, Picardy and Nord- Pas de Calais’ commuter potential has racked up a notch.
The Eurostar stops several times a day at Calais Fréthun, and the journey to central London takes a paltry 55 minutes. Meanwhile, Calais’ Channel Tunnel and ferry connections mean that London is a mere two- to three-hour drive, while Lille benefits from even more frequent Eurostar services delivering passengers to London St Pancras in just 70 minutes. In stark contrast to London’s more traditional commuter belt, what is surprising is that bargains can still be found throughout the two regions.
The regions’ architecture is most celebrated for its traditional Flemish heritage; examples of terraced houses with their distinctive gabled roofs can be clearly seen on the streets of Lille. A Gothic influence is also prevalent throughout the region, particularly in Arras’ celebrated squares. Picardy boasts several beautifully preserved medieval citadels, while the white limestone used in Senlis cathedral is starkly beautiful. In the Picardian countryside, houses are built from red brick.
Highs and lows
In Pas de Calais, prices reach the heady heights of €2,413 per square metre in Marcq-en- Baroeul, a suburb of Lille, but drop as low as €1,351 per square metre in Cambrai.
The Pas de Calais department is made up of several distinct districts – each with a personality and landscape of its own. Calais and its surrounding countryside (Calaisis) dominated by its port and lace-making industry, is remarkably cheap given its impressive connections with the UK – averaging €1,621 per square metre.
Below Calais is Boulonnnais, which, despite boasting the first fishing port to be established in France, is a less frenetic and altogether more rural outpost. Boulogne sur Mer is its principal town and the sector’s property market reflects its idyllic setting and convenience, with prices reaching an average of €1,587 per square metre.
Canche-Authie, Audomarois and Les Sept Vallées are renowned for their natural beauty – with beaches and agricultural land providing an attractive, if at times isolated, setting. Prices along the Canche river, in the vicinity of Montreuil command €1,618 per square metre. Haut-Artois and Artois, meanwhile, house Pas de Calais’ industrial centre. Cities such as St Omer and Arras are relatively pricey, with properties ranging from €1,465 per square metre in St Omer to €1,624 in Arras. Béthune, a 55-minute drive from Calais, offers a cheaper alternative (€1,394 per square metre).
Lille used to be Nord’s priciest district, but prices have dropped from an average of €2,250 per square metre to €2,001 over recent years. But prices in and around the regional capital are still high with Marcq-en-Baroeul, a suburb of Lille, now the most expensive with prices hitting an average of €2,431 per square metre.
Largely given over to agriculture and mills, Nord’s territory is less built up than its neighbour and therefore bargain hunters looking for a room with a view should take advantage of its less competitive property market. In Avesnes-sur-Helpe, for example, prices drop as low as €1,263 per square metre.
Picardy’s Oise department is its most expensive district thanks to its proximity to Paris. Many inhabitants commute to Paris, and Chantilly, one of Oise’s most picturesque towns, is considered a satellite of Paris, being just 24 miles from the metropolitan’s centre. The city boasts a château with garden designed by Le Notre and the Condé Museum, second only to the Louvre in size. Prices here average out at €2,920 per square metre, compared with €1,982 for the Oise department as a whole. The area also benefits from Paris-Beauvais-Tillé airport, served by low-cost carrier Ryanair, which is currently being upgraded to provide a better service to passenger airlines.
Tourist trap
The Somme district lays claim to a thriving tourism trade thanks to its World War I museums and memorials and city of Amiens, with its UNESCO-protected cathedral. Property in the St Leu quarter of Amiens is much sought after and properties cost an average of €1,884 per square metre, compared with the Somme’s €1,569 average.
In Aisne, meanwhile, there are bargains to be had in the town of Hirson, which is only a few miles south of the Belgian border and was an important strategic position due to its location near the intersection of two railways. Prices here are as low as €946 per square metre, below even Aisne’s average price of €1,402 which is the cheapest department out of both regions.
Source: French Property Buying Guide 2010 / 2011
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