Spotlight on the beauty of inland Provence
At the gateway to Aix-en-Provence...
Just like the city of Aix, thes surrounding region offers the appreciable privilege of choice. A choice of life-style, architecture and even prices. Members of the real-estate industry take us on a tour of one of the most sought-after areas in France. At the gateway to Aix-en-Provence...
Vauvenargues, a land of artists
Contemplating the Sainte-Victoire mountain is pure routine for inhabitants of Vauvenargues, a typical village north-west of Aix. Fabrice Truillet of L’Immobilière des Cardeurs shows us around.
The site, much visited by tourists in summer, is on the “Routes de Cézanne”, a starting-point for hikes to the Sainte-Victoire or the dam of Bimont. The scenery is superb, much more varied than that just north of Aix. The village is home to the Château des Clapiers, now owned by the Picasso family. The tombs of the master and his wife are in the park. In the historic centre, there are many ancient houses, often built of stone. The starting price of 370,000 € brings 90 m2 with a little courtyard, 600,000 € gives 140-180 m2 with a garden of 200-400 m2. The protected perimeter of Vauvenargues plays host to properties with at least 2.5 acres of land, except for the immediate proximity to the village, a 5,000 m2 zone. These town-planning rules explain the presence of homes priced from 1 to 3 million €. In partnership with an Anglo-Saxon group, the agency sells numerous properties to English clients. Locals avoid this area due to a lack of infrastructures considered insufficient, though newly arrived executives really go for Vauvenargues. Nevertheless, M. Truillet acknowledges a certain slowdown in the sector. Buyers take their time and wonder if they’re taking the right step, given the high prices. “We’ve hit a peak,” admits Mr. Truillet. The area can be compared with Le Tholonnet. The two communes stir a lot of interest, though Le Tholonnet suffers a penury of available properties.
Meyrargues, a strategic position
Ten minutes north of Aix, 45 minutes from Marignane Airport, Meyrargues boasts many attractions. Loïc Salebert of Hermès Immo explains…
“A medieval village with 2,800 inhabitants, it is rather touristy and comparable to Puyricard in many respects, especially for its classy houses.” Meyrargues overlooks the Durance valley and the Luberon mountains and shares the popularity of the Aixois region. The capital of “Green Provence” staggers beneath demand which extends to the area’s periphery. Meyrargues is thus building new accommodation and opting for expansion. The nearby Cadarache is a well-known source of jobs, home to 4,000 people and firms like Eurocopter and the famous ITER project. The setting is countrified, though urban amenities are close at hand. Accommodation is varied with houses costing from 350,000 to 1.5 million €. The typical house of 120 m2 in grounds of 1,000 m2 costs on average 450,000 €. The upper bracket consists of stone “mas”, typical of the region. 35 % of buyers are looking for holiday homes. The Swiss, English and Dutch are fond of this sector, and aim for the top end of the market. With prices lower than in Aix, the market is very active. “In 5 to 10 years’ time,” says Loïc Salebert, “the price difference will probably no longer exist”
North of Aix : Eguilles and Puyricard
Two of the most popular communes among the locals for main residences, they also both enjoy a high reputation amongst outsiders. Didier Cassin of the Pelletier & Savon agency conducts our tour.
Eguilles is a hill-top village with some fine buildings, including the town-hall, nestling around the shops. Accessible via two roads, it lies 8 km north-west of Aix. At the same distance from the city, one discovers Puyricard, a flat, residential sector “out in the countryside”. It can be compared to a dormitory town, particularly well frequented. New shops are opening their doors ; estates and other new developments are more numerous than at Eguilles, where the market for old properties is more active. A house of 100 m2 ranges from 400,000 to 450,000 €, 150 m2 from 600,000 to 700,000 €, while a property of 200-300 m2 costs from 900,000 to 1 million €. The few apartments cost around 3,000-4,000 €/m2. Finally, there’s the market for village houses, mostly enjoying a view : they range from 300,000 to 600,000 € depending on size. At Puyricard, new apartments are offered from 3,500-4,500 €/m2, old ones 3,000 €/m2. Houses of 150 m2 on estates with gardens of 700 to 1,000 m2 sell for 450,000 to 700,000 €. The clientele consists of families, 30, 40 and 50 year-olds. Both communes offer amenities for various sports activities, though neither of them has a high school. Newly arrived executives appreciate this area. The older inhabitants of Eguilles are of local origin and fond of authentic villages. In a radius of 10 km around Aix, only Venelles bears comparison. With just one difference : the wide diversity of its homes justifies a much broader range of prices.
Rognes, a vineyard region
This village between Aix and the Luberon is still one of the most “Provençal” in the region and produces excellent wine. Elisabeth du Petit Thouars from the John Taylor agency paints the picture…
“The location of Rognes, a 15 to 20-minute drive from Aix and just a few kilometres from the Luberon, explains why it is so sought after.” Two types of clients share the site in equal proportions : local families living here year round and foreigners from England, Belgium and even Scandinavia, owning holiday homes. Strewn with vineyards, the area offers authentic “bastides”, “mas”, châteaux and villas. Village houses costing from 250,000 € with no garden satisfy the lowest budgets. A house of 250 m2 in 5,000 m2 of land facing the vines will cost from 1.1 to 1.4 million €. A property of 320 m2 with 5 acres of land will go for 1.8 to 2.5 million €, depending on specific features and appointments. The John Taylor agency stresses the importance of a professional evaluation. In the very special case of the vineyard estate, it obtains the services of experts in the field. The slowdown observed over the past few months has had a regulatory effect. Today, the market is healthier and more active. It shouldn’t be long before a balance is struck between supply and demand. The region is quiet, a factor appreciated in the region near Aix, often subject to heavy traffic. If one had to compare Rognes with other communes, one might mention the neighbouring Puy-Sainte-Réparade, Lambesc (a less expensive sector as it is halfway between Aix and Salon-de-Provence), or possibly Vauvenargues and Le Tholonnet, without the Sainte-Victoire, but benefitting from a busy commercial centre.
Interview by Laetitia Rossi.
