Property for sale in the south of france

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Property for sale in the south of france

LOCAL INFORMATION

Departments: Dordogne (24), Gironde (33), Landes (40), Lot-et-Garonne (47), Pyrénées-Atlantique (64)

If you are looking for some southern warmth, gastronomic delights, rich history and a great variety of landscapes then you should be spending time exploring Aquitaine, the large region which encompasses the old historic regions of Aquitaine, Périgord and Gascony. The Region of Aquitaine is located in South-West of France, with the longest sandy coast in Europe (230km). It remains very natural with a complete shore system composed of beach, dune and pine tree forest, the most important in West Europe

The climate in this area is governed by the mighty Atlantic whose coastline stretches from glamorous Biarritz in the South West corner to the Medoc wine-growing estuary of the Gironde further North. It brings in the rain which makes this region greener (many forests and lakes) then the Mediterranean but the sun is warm even through winter and spring arrive earlier than Northern regions. Summers in the inland areas can be very hot (record temperatures of 40C+ in 2003) whereas the coasts and Pyrenees remain cooler thanks to sea-breezes and altitude.

The historic and picturesque Dordogne has always been popular with house-hunters and tourists alike and the flights into Bergerac have reinforced the many attractions of this area and kept house prices high. There is a kind of ripple effect with neighboring regions becoming almost as popular. Many people are exploring the Lot-et-Garonnes with its abundance of fruit and vegetables, ancient bastides (and alternative flights from Toulouse). Dordogne’s borders with Charente and Charente Maritime (rolling hills, proximity to beaches) are popular, as is the area North towards Limousin (flights from Limoges). Recently cheap flights have opened up to the lovely city of Pau in the Pyrenees Atlantique. This area experiences a mix of climates, with warm summers, heavy rains off the mountains in autumn and winter, but the beauties of the Pyrenees (great skiing) on your doorstep and easy drives to mountain and coastal Spain.

Bordeaux itself is a great historic port, with regular flights to the UK and Spain and fantastic shopping. The city is in the Gironde departement, most famous for growing some of the worlds’ most sought after wines. The landscape here is flatter and property hunters may find better value as long as you search away from the bigger towns and cities and avoid the more obvious tourist spots. Likewise the Landes is relatively unexplored by overseas buyers and offers forests, lakes and interesting domestic architecture.

Finally, it helps to love the traditional food of France if you plan to buy or live in this Region – foie gras, confit de canard, truffles, veal, hare, oysters – all washed down with some St Emilion. If all this sounds appealing then Aquitaine is for you!

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