The Pays de la Loire cannot lay claim to any great common ground when it comes to architecture either – in the north-east, halftimbered houses resonate with their Norman background, the south-west is home to a few of the Loire valley’s renowned châteaux, while Loire-Atlantique is dotted with the grey slate roofs of Brittany. Along the coast, houses are rendered and painted white with red tiled roofs redolent of the Mediterranean, and in Saumur white tuffeau stone cottages sit alongside belle époque apartment buildings and half-timbered houses.
House prices are similarly varied, with the Vendée commanding the highest prices for apartments, reaching an average of €2,765, due in no small part to the balmy climate that this area enjoys and its long stretches of white, sandy beaches, flanked by pine forests. House prices in the department are much cheaper, averaging out at €1,841. Apartments in Les Sables d’Olonne command an even higher average of €3,593 per square metre. This bustling port is renowned for its sailing and plays host to the Vendée Globe race every four years.
The port has 1,000 berths and the town prides itself on the many activities on offer, from the golf course to the casino, thalassotherapy spa and art museum.
Further south, the magnificent bay at Jard sur Mer and the longest southfacing beach at La Tranche sur Mer are a draw for watersports lovers, while within the winding lanes of Île d’Yeu, you could be forgiven for thinking you had been magically transported to a Greek island.
Further inland, Fontenayle- Comte is one of France’s Villes d’Art et d’Histoire and is surrounded by a series of pretty towns and villages, such as Nieul sur l’Autise, Vouvant and Faymoreau.
Further north along the coast, Loire-Atlantique’s square metre prices comes in at €2,052. The department encompasses coastal resort La Baule, a dynamic and bustling tourist trap that boasts several spas, a casino and golf course, and the more laidback Pornic, which benefits from building protection orders along its coast to prevent development ruining the idyllic views over small coves and gorse-covered cliffs.
By contrast, Nantes is an elegant city owing its charm to the 18th-century mansions along the port, Gothic cathedral and Château de Ducs de Bretagne, while the city’s many shops, museums and restaurants contribute to the vibrant atmosphere. Nantes airport acts as a gateway to the region, with low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet connecting the region to the UK, while the TGV carries passengers from Paris direct to the coast via Nantes.
Maine-et-Loire may be cheaper, at €1,570 per square metre, than its coastal neighbours, but it doesn’t lack in charm. The city of Angers is one of the priciest districts (€2,031 per square metre), offering something for everyone, with its slate roofs, vast château, vineyards and gourmet restaurants. Industrial Cholet is somewhat cheaper, at €1,560 per square metre, but shouldn’t be dismissed by fashion lovers; the town’s factory outlets are worth a visit alone.
Meanwhile, Saumur is known as the ‘white town’ owing to the proliferation of limestone buildings in and lays claim to no less than 54 listed monuments, excellent shops and restaurants and is home to France’s national equestrian college. As Saumur lies at the centre of a regional park, the surrounding countryside is idyllic, with six Petite Cités de Caractère and vineyards galore.
Mayenne is the cheapest of the region’s five departments (€1,260 per square metre), but doesn’t want for things to do and see. Jublains, for example is the most extensive Roman site in western France, complete with baths, a fort and amphitheatre. Nearby Lassey les Châteaux showcases the area’s unique architecture (houses made from rustcoloured granite), while Mayenne is a medieval city on the banks of the eponymous river. Laval sits south-west of Mayenne, downriver, and hosts a lively market each Saturday.
Last, but not least, is Sarthe and Le Mans, home to the world-famous 24-hour car rally. The town is surrounded by Roman walls and houses the largest collection of halftimbered buildings in the region. Prices here average out at €1,460 per square metre.
There really is something for everyone within the Pays de la Loire and those who have fallen in love with the culture and history of any of its neighbouring regions would do well to explore just across the border, as Pays de la Loire can be a cheaper, and unspoilt alternative to Normandy or Brittany.
Source: French Property Buying Guide 2010 / 2011
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