A city with a fairy-tale castle, which is one of the most visited in France, and one of the cheapest areas to buy property – for international buyers Carcassonne is where property dreams can come true
Overseas Property investments in Carcassonne
If you are looking for good value property in the South of France, it is worth heading west and considering the town of Carcassonne and its surrounding areas. While some towns and villages along the Mediterranean coastline of the Aude and Pyrénées Orientales are some of the most expensive areas to buy property in South West France, it is a different story entirely if you move away from the seaside resorts and inland past Lézignan Corbières towards Carcassonne.
One of the most visited cities in France
Carcassonne and its medieval citadel La Cité, welcomes around four million visitors each year. When you consider that the entire Riviera welcomes around 11 million, it is impressive that this city with a small population of 45,000 attracts such a relatively high number of tourists.
High tourism figures are excellent news for buyers who are planning to invest in a property that they can also rent out. Property can be bought at a low cost and rented out at a high nightly rate during the summer season to help cover costs. Villas with swimming pools and multiple bedrooms can be rented out for hundreds of euros a night at peak times.
Vacation variety: history, wine and beaches
Tourists staying in Carcassonne and the surrounding area enjoy staying here because of the variety that’s on offer to them. Buyers end up falling in love with the area for the same reason and invest in a holiday home so that they can keep soaking up all the region has to offer year after year.
Visitors to the Carcassonne area can combine historic sightseeing at La Cité (and relax around the shores of Lac de la Cavayère for family fun and water sports); enjoy local wine tasting aplenty as the hills roll with vineyard after vineyard; and also weave in a beach holiday.
Something not many people realise is that it only takes an hour to drive to some of the best resorts on the Mediterranean coastline. The golden sands of Gruissan plage, Narbonne plage and La Franqui plage, which is one of the most highly rated and little-known stretches of beach on the coast, are within easy reach. The zen yoga beach in Canet-en-Roussillon is just over an hour in the car, as is the renowned Aqualand, one of Europe’s best water parks, at Cap d’Agde.
Low prices and high demand for rental properties
According to MeilleursAgents, some areas in the Carcassonne area property prices fall as low as €1,101 per m2, most don’t rise past €2,000 per m2.
By contrast property in some areas of Montpellier and Sête, or further south in Perpignan, can be upwards of €3,000 per m2. To compare, properties along the Riviera coastline are upwards of €5,000 m2, where the sky is the limit.
Property investments in Carcassonne
This stunning 17-bedroom château (HH-12312973) is already run as a B&B and its price tag of €995,000 shows how much you can get for your money in and around Carcassonne. There are four bedrooms in the main house, as well as four holiday apartments and a four-bedroom gite.
Ancient trees and beautiful parkland surround the property, so it is peaceful and calm, yet it is only five minutes from shops and facilities. Nestled at the edge of the Canal du Midi, this property offers a life-changing opportunity for a family who are interested in moving to France and running a business to make the most of the tourism industry in Carcassonne.
If you’re more into the idea of stepping into an 18th century château (HH-12469517) that looks like a magazine photoshoot then look no further. The sumptuous interiors and stately exteriors of this stunning property has been featured in numerous publications, such as Elle Decoration Russia. There are 28 hectares of vineyards already in production, so it could be the perfect choice to provide an additional income. There is also a home cinema, outbuildings and a caretaker’s house, so there’s lots of room for further development of this exceptional property, which is on the market for €2,950,000.
Some buyers prefer the idea of being closer to La Cité, and if this is you then this well-located three-bedroom property (HH-12185001) with views over the fairy-tale castle itself could be just what you’re looking for.
This three-bedroom property has so much potential because it needs refreshing inside, but the location and grounds are a dream come true for the right buyer as it is priced at €636,000. Highlights include stunning views from the terrace, a beautifully-decked swimming pool area and 5,000m2 of vines, and if it’s proximity to La Cité you’re seeking, you can get much closer than this.
If you are looking to buy a property in the Carcassonne area, you can search for more properties at www.home-hunts.com. To speak to a consultant directly about your property search criteria and requirements, call +33 (0)970 44 66 43.
