The Bargains In The French Mountains

By Jim Barnaby.

Those looking to invest in property in France may have to be pretty savvy about it, experts have warned. In such a popular market, especially for British buyers, there are bound to be regional variations in price, making it important for those hunting bargains to do their research before looking to make a purchase.

Yet the bargains are still there. Liz Oliver of property specialists Francophiles told the Guardian at the weekend that "France is still very good value," adding that "if you are prepared to go inland a little bit, prices drop significantly".

Investors may indeed choose to head inland, away from the Cote D'Azur with its sunshine or the Brittany coast with its proximity to Britain, but to where? One option is to head to areas famous for their wineries, but another is to go to the mountains. The Guardian article lists the Pyrenees as an area to find bargains, along with Champagne-Ardennes, Poitou-Charente, and Limousin.

Read the rest of Jim's article at Let's Rent Property In France

Short term property rentals in the Champagne-Ardennes

Champagne-Ardennes, is in northeast France. The region, designated for the production of Champagne, includes parts of the adjoining departments of Yonne in Burgundy, Aisne in Picardie, Seine-et-Marne in Ile-de-France, and Meuse in Lorraine. The old French province of Champagne roughly covered this same area. The name Champagne, is derived from the Latin word campagna, meaning countryside.

Wildlife flourishes in the magnificent verdant forests and lakes and rivers are a backdrop for outdoor activities, including cycling, boating, fishing and hiking. When in Champagne, visit the world renowned champagne houses and caves.

Click below to view properties in a department within Champagne-Ardennes

Haute Marne | Marne | Aube | Ardennes | view all...

Short term property rentals in the Burgundy region

Burgundy is located in east-central France, southeast of Paris. To its northwest is the Ile-de-France, its west the region of Centre, the southwest Auvergne, to the south the Rhone-Alpes, east Franche-Comté and north Champagne-Ardenne. Burgandy is known for haute-cuisine and fine wines, the vineyards of the Côte d'Or, Côte de Beaune and Châblis yield some of the world's most venerated wines. The region is also renowned for its snails, Bresse chicken and Charolais beef, Dijon mustard, gingerbread and brandy.

Click below to view properties in a department within Burgundy

Saône et Loire | Nivère | Cote d'Or | Yonne | view all...

The French Climate

France benefits from a temperate and rather agreeable climate although there are significant differences from north to south and from east to west. Naturally the weather tends to get better the further south you go and the Atlantic Ocean brings the rainfall and mildness to the western regions. From very defined seasons to mild winters and warm summers France can offer pretty much any kind of weather. It is divided into four climatic zones:

Oceanic and humid climate with warm summers and mild winters to the west of a line from Bayonne to Lille, including Normandy, Brittany, the Poitou-Charente and western Aquitaine; within this there are significant variations with the Charente-Maritime and Vendee enjoying the second highest number of sunshine hours, after the Cote d'Azur. Naturally the climate is heavily influenced by the Atlantic which not only brings humidity but also prevents the harsh cold winters from penetrating.

Semi-continental climate with harsh winters and hot summers in Alsace, Lorraine, along the Rhone corridor and in the mountainous massifs (Alps, Pyrenees and Massif Central); very defined seasons with snow guaranteed for ski lovers and dominated by the mountains which can create very significant climatic differences from one valley to the next. It can be very dry in some areas in summer whilst the mountains create their own micro-climate bringing rain and snow to keep the lush green throughout the year.

Intermediate climate, with cold winters and hot summers in the Paris and central and north regions including Champagne-Ardennes, Bourgogne, Auvergne, Limousin, and the Midi Pyrenees; with very marked seasons - cold winters, mild springs, hot summers and crisp autumns. The areas have a lower annual rainfall than the west but still enough to keep everything green.

Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and very hot summers the area covers the Mediterranean south of France, through Languedoc and the coastal parts of Roussillon. Often characterised by sparse vegetation and a lack of rainfall throughout the year, some areas can suffer from sudden down pours of rain and occasional flash flooding. This usually occurs during the late summer months when they sun baked earth can't absorb the rain. The seasons are less distinct than all other regions of France but the short winters and early arrival of spring make the regions very attractive to foreign buyers.

by Grace Turner

Long term Property rentals in the Champagne-Ardennes region

Champagne-Ardennes, is in northeast France. The region, designated for the production of Champagne, includes parts of the adjoining departments of Yonne in Burgundy, Aisne in Picardie, Seine-et-Marne in Ile-de-France, and Meuse in Lorraine. The old French province of Champagne roughly covered this same area. The name Champagne, is derived from the Latin word campagna, meaning countryside.

Wildlife flourishes in the magnificent verdant forests and lakes and rivers are a backdrop for outdoor activities, including cycling, boating, fishing and hiking. When in Champagne, visit the world renowned champagne houses and caves.

For details on long term French property rental in Champagne Ardennes please visit our property for rent in Champagne-Ardennes page.