French regions

The Perigord plateaux and the valleys of Dordogne are famous for truffles and foie gras. The Aquitaine coast glimmers while nearby the renowned vineyards of Bordeaux stretch for miles. The Pays Basque impresses with its distinctive architecture and local flair. Such are a few of the treasures from France's southwest, which cannot be described without mentioning the "art de vivre". But the region is not only about fine foods and wines, 270 kilometres of sand dunes and protected coastline offer a wealth of outdoor activities.

Biarritz, once a whaling village and now a seaside resort, Saint Jean de Luz and Hossegor, provide surf lovers with some of the best waves in Europe. History buffs can explore vestiges of the past at beautifully preserved prehistoric sites such as the Lascaux caves. A cradle of art and history, with unparalleled gastronomy, this region, bordered by the Atlantic ocean, is a strong favourite amongst international property buyers.

Closer than you think

 Bordeaux, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Agen, Bergerac and Angoulême all have airports. There are daily flights from London to the international airport of Biarritz. TGVs from Paris take passengers to Bordeaux in three hours, to Toulouse in five and stop in Biarritz and Agen as well. There is also a TGV service from Lille to Biarritz, for travellers coming from the UK. The Southwest may be a region with its own identity, but it is just a short flight or train ride away.

From coast to inner country, prices are moving up

Homes along the Atlantic, particularly in Biarritz and further south, are charming and distinctive. White houses several storeys high, with red-coloured beams criss-crossing the façades, have red tile roofs and red, green or blue shutters. Further north and inland, lovely old farmhouses, country "manoirs" and local bergeries in solid wood or stone are to be found. This is a very popular region and property prices vary from higher prices along the coast to lower priced property as one moves inland.

Average price for Aquitaine
Source:  - FNAIM / 2007 
              - Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement et de l'Aménagement durables / 2006