The Pays de la Loire cannot lay claim to any great common ground when it comes to
architecture – in the north-east, half-timbered 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,
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. Property prices in this department
average out at €2,510 per square metre, with Les Sables d’Olonne commanding an even
higher €2,800 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 Ile d’Yeu, you could be forgiven for thinking you had been magically transported
to a Greek island.
Further inland, Fontenay le 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 is marginally less pricey, at €2,450
per square metre, but prices are rising fast – up 13.0% in 2007. This department
encompasses coastal resort La Baule, a dynamic and bustling tourist trap which 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 carrier Ryanair 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 €1,760 per square metre, than its coastal neighbours,
but it doesn’t lack in charm. Unsurprisingly, Angers is the priciest district (€1,960
per square metre), offering something for everyone, with its slate roofs, vast château,
vineyards and gourmet restaurants. Industrial Cholet is somewhat cheaper, at €1,240
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 around the town. Saumur
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 (€1,340 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 Chateaux showcases the area’s unique architecture (houses made from rust-coloured
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
half-timbered buildings in the region. Prices here average out at €1,490 per square
metre – €10 above the departmental average of €1,480.
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 - French Property
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