The southern Alpilles, all the charm of Provence
The area to the south of the famous “montagnette” hasn’t even heard of the crisis ! Whether Maussane or Les Baux, the villages in this southern part of the Massif of the pre-Alps, covering 25 km from the Rhône valley to that of the Durance, have nothing to envy of Saint-Rémy or the very discreet Eygalières.
To the north, the Alpilles survey the plain of Saint-Rémy with its vegetable gardens, to the south, La Crau, alternating meadows, forests, cliffs, scrubland and marshes. The eco-system of the regional nature park is both diverse and well-balanced. Maussane has just over 2,000 residents. With its olive-groves, colourful festivals and ancient ruins, the town takes great care to preserve its authenticity and peaceful life-style. Between old wash-houses and ancient fountains, it’s a real pleasure to taste the local olive-oil or one of the warm wines produced in the region. Marseille and its airport are about 50 km away, the TGV station in Avignon only 35 km. Known for its medieval and Renaissance heritage, the village of Les Baux-de-Provence and its amazing fortress overlook the plain from their rocky outcrop. The tourist and cultural vocation of this site occupied since prehistoric times began to develop at the end of World War II. Only 380 people live there year-round. L’Oustaou de Baumanière owned by Raymond Thuillier contributes to its international renown. In 1998, the village was listed as one of France’s most beautiful villages. The region’s main urban centres, Saint-Martin-de-Crau (11,600 inhabitants), Saint-Rémy (10,200) and Arles (52,600) are all within a radius of 16 km.
“Saint-Rémy is in fact the only real town within the regional nature park,” says Muriel Ducloy of L’Agence des Alpilles. “Slightly set back from the general bustle, Eygalières is popular among an almost exclusively summer-loving crowd, while Les Baux with its commanding position offers breathtaking views of the mountains, the valley and the château. As for Maussane, its popularity continues to grow. Lively year-long, it is just as pleasant in winter as in summer.” Today, one discovers a certain uniformity in prices. Only the intrinsic qualities of a given property make a difference. Buyers are looking for village houses with generous living space, outdoor areas and pools, and “mas” with contemporary finishing touches, on the immediate outskirts of Maussane. Spaciousness, an open view and the absence of any nuisances are among recurring criteria. German clients have just paid over 1.8 million euros for a property of 250 m2 benefitting from a garden of 900 m2 and a swimming pool in town, while a Parisian couple parted with 1.5 million euros in exchange for a “mas” of 220 m2 in grounds of 8,000 m2 facing the Alpilles. They intend to spend more and more time in the South : a 35-minute drive takes them the TGV station in Avignon, then a 2 hr 40 train-ride to Paris. Foreigners also benefit from easy access thanks to the Marseille Provence Airport, a 45-minute drive away. An English couple, for example, recently acquired a “mas” of 320 m2 with almost 5 acres of land in the plain for 1.8 million euros, looking forward to making the most of all its advantages. Most “prestige” transactions currently range from 1.5 to 2 million euros. Beyond that level, they are few and far between, despite the presence of desirable specimens on agency files, such as a “mas” of 450 m2 on about 10 acres of land, on offer for over 4 million euros. Out of 20 sales, 14 are under 1 million euros, and 60 % concern holiday homes. Many retirees move in year-round, joining locals employed in the service sector, either on-site or in Aix or Marseille. If the international business climate is tense, and hesitancy inevitable, Muriel Ducloy admits that she has not yet been affected by the crisis, nor the new legislation regarding capital gains.
“Some time ago, the choice of north or south was important and clear-cut,” says Olivier Valancogne of Valancogne & Partners. “Even today, there is a difference between the two. The first implies facing south, with views of the mountains and the Alpilles. The second suggests valleys planted with olive-trees and panoramic views on a downward plane. The concepts of investment and long-term value do, however, now enter into buyers’ decision-making.” As long as a property is characterized by its environment and quality appointments, an address in the Alpilles is sometimes enough to convince a hesitant buyer. The regional nature park is more expensive than the Luberon, as it is very small and necessarily limited in terms of housing availabilities. The market is very buoyant, but less reactive than in the past. The time it takes to sell a property tends to be longer, while the bracket above 2 million euros reflects the weakness of the global economy. If the idea of personal enjoyment still prevails, an acquisition is almost automatically subject to rational factors and over-valued properties are simply ignored. The”locality” argument even applies to simple villages. As evidenced by the southern part of Maussane, well beyond the line linking the site to Les Baux de Provence. It is also clear that the segment above 1.5 million euros is easier to market within both entities. Yet Mouriès proposes appealing prices and should show improvement over the medium term : it thus now opens up prospects for buyers who were previously excluded from the market. A building plot of 2.5 acres planted with olive-trees, allowing for construction of 300 m2, costs 440,000 €. As for Le Paradou, much appreciated for its village houses and tranquillity, it is comparable to Maussane.
Valérie Lucien of Actuel Immobilier hasn’t noticed any massive influx of properties on the market, despite the change in legislation on capital gains. On the other hand, potential purchasers are clearly hoping to see lower prices, and thus a stonger bargaining position for themselves. The real-estate market no longer suffers from speculation. That being said, the safe-haven aspect of the investment reassures clients in these troubled times. The legendary call “back to nature” and a retreat in the country are in people’s minds. Many are no longer content with a flying visit in the summer and fully intend to settle in the Alpilles as soon as they retire from their professional activities. An old renovated “bergerie” of 250 m2 on 8,000 m2 of land recently sold for 1.4 million euros ; a contemporary house of 220 m2 in grounds of 3,000 m2 for 1.2 million. Finally, a building of 150 m2 in the village with a small garden was snapped up at 480,000 €. The first two, respectively acquired by French and Swiss clients, will be used as holiday homes, the third, bought by a couple working in the area, will be inhabited year-round.
By Laetitia Rossi
