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Seaside property in France

French seaside property comes in a great variety of locations and prices


 

France has such a varied coastline from the rocky inlets found in Finistère in Brittany to the long windswept beaches of the Atlantic coast and the warm sandy beaches of the Côte d’Azur. It really is a treasure trove that you never tire of visiting. French seaside property also varies substantially not only in terms of architecture but prices too. Each resort or group of resorts has its own individual feel with an atmosphere reflecting its maritime village or town. Some resorts are very well known; others less so and below we shall summarise a mixture of both with some properties in each resort.
 

Côte d’Azur and Provence

Why don’t we start with the best known of them all - the French Riviera. It offers some of the best sandy beaches in France and the warm Mediterranean Sea, coupled with a superb climate and a glitzy reputation. The most famous of the resorts are Saint-Tropez, Nice, Cannes and Sainte-Maxime, however if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle then other lesser known resorts such as Villeneuve Loubet and Cavalaire-sur-Mer are well worth looking at.  Further along the coast towards Monaco the quieter yet highly sought after resorts of Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin known for their orange groves offer an excellent quality of life and often at better prices than their busy neighbours.

Prices on the Côte d’Azur are some of the most expensive in France and studio apartments near the beach start at around 150,000 Euros, while a 1 bed apartment will cost in the region of 240,000 Euros and a 2 bedroom apartment about 360,000 Euros. A villa on the other hand will cost upwards of 1 million Euros. Property investment on the Côte d’Azur has proven to be extremely lucrative over the years and with the ever increasing demand and short supply of property here it is a good investment as long as you can afford to get on the ladder in the 1st place.
 

Languedoc-Roussillon

Property in the seaside resorts of Languedoc-Roussillon are about two thirds of the prices on the Côte d’Azur and are an excellent alternative. Seaside resorts here are also not as busy and it is proving to be a very popular area indeed for property hunters. Probably the prettiest and most authentic of all the seaside towns is Collioure which is on a world heritage site where you can find properties with magnificent views of the sea and the town. It is buzzing with culture and Catalan history and is the most sought after area on the Mediterranean outside of the Côte d’Azur and prices here are actually almost on a par with them.

Further up the coast is the seaside resort of Saint-Cyprien with its 27 hole golf course and sandy beaches, though less authentic than Collioure does offer a good alternative to holiday home buyers. Narbonne Plage is further north again and eastwards you arrive at Valras Plage and Sète which both offer sandy beaches and good value French seaside property. A studio apartment with sea views can be found from around 90,000 Euros, while a 1 bed apartment 140,000 Euros and a 2 bed apartment 200,000 Euros. Over the past few years the Languedoc-Roussillon has become incredibly popular with property buyers from France and abroad and has seen prices rise by a good 20% each year. There are some excellent leaseback opportunities and classic New Build property here that are perfect for holiday and long term rental.
 

Aquitaine

The region of Aquitaine has the longest stretches of sandy coastline in France. They literally go on for miles and miles and are far less crowded and less built up than other coastal areas in France allowing for more open green spaces and nature. In Les Landes there are also magnificent pine forests where you can enjoy fabulous walks, bike rides and horse riding.

The south west coast like the west coast generally is also more typically French and tourists are mainly French. There are a number of resorts on this coast: Lacanau in Gironde which is famous for surfing and has a large lake offering numerous activities then below this Arcachon in the near Bordeaux which is very exclusive and attracts people from the city, many of whom have holiday homes there. Further south in Les Landes you reach Mimizan; a lovely seaside village growing in popularity and then Capbreton which is a more expensive resort with its own harbour. Finally in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department you find the coastal towns of Biarritz, Anglet, Hendaye, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Ciboure. They have a heavy Basque influence and their distinctive culture and history can be felt all around you.

Seaside property all the way down the coast is fairly expensive and some of the resorts like Arcachon, Hossegor, Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Capbreton are almost as expensive as the Côte d’Azur largely due to their very limited building allowance in order to protect its natural surroundings. Property in seaside villages in this part of France should prove to be excellent investments in the long term as they have shown over the years. A studio apartment in a typical seaside resort in Aquitaine starts from around 100,000 Euros, a 1 bed apartment from 130,000 Euros, a 2 bed apartment from 200,000 Euros and a 3 bed apartment from 250,000 Euros.
 

Charente-Maritime, Vendée and Loire-Atlantique

The coastline here is similar to that found in Aquitaine with some long sandy beaches and authentic French Resorts. The most famous seaside villages in these areas are La Rochelle, Ile d’Oléron and Ile de Ré in Charente-Maritime, Les Sables d’Olonne in the Vendee and La Baule in Loire Atlantique. Although not as well known to foreigners as other seaside locations these coastal towns are very popular with French holiday makers. Upmarket La Baule in particular is extremely sought after and is a popular area for wealthy Yachtsmen who sail here and stay in its pretty harbour and a polo club nearby signifies this town’s notoriety. Les Sables d’Olonne is better value and also a famous area for sailing and hosts the Vendée Globe boat race every 4 years. Meanwhile La Rochelle has a beautiful old port and the islands of Ile d’Oléron and Ile de Ré are very attractive and seafood here is second to none- especially oysters cultivated on Ile d’Oleron. Prices for 1 bed apartments start from 125,000 Euros, 2 bedroom apartments from 190,000 Euros and 3 bed apartments from 260,000 Euros.
 

Brittany, Normandy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais

The climate in this area is very similar to that found in the south of England, getting a little more rain than other areas (especially Brittany) and pleasant summer temperatures. The benefit of buying a property in Northern France is that prices are typically less expensive than the south and their proximity to UK makes weekend trips easy. Sought after seaside villages include Audierne and Benodet in Brittany, Houlgate, Deauville and Port en Bessin in Normandy and Le Touquet-Paris-Plage in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. The prices of 1 bed apartments here start from 130,000 Euros, 2 bed apartments from 170,000 Euros and 3 bed apartments from 240,000 Euros.
 

Corsica

If a warm climate, restful environment and picturesque sandy beaches is what you are after then buying a property in Corsica is a good idea. There is so much to discover on this island from its beautiful architecture and strong local culture to its mountains and forest where you can go for long walks, bathe in their natural springs and even ski! There are many traditional villages to explore and delicious local cuisine to savour plus of course its magnificent sandy beaches with clear blue water.

The most popular resorts are Bonifacio in the south and Porto Vecchio on the east but there are many smaller seaside resorts found near Ajaccio in the south and Bravone on the east coast. Property prices in Corsica are more reasonable than the Côte d’Azur and you can find a New Build studio apartment with sea views in Corsica from 110,000 Euros, a 1 bed apartment from 160,000 Euros, a 2 bed apartment from 190,000 Euros and a 3 bed apartment from 260,000 Euros. New development is very limited in Corsica and there are strict regulations on the height of buildings and architectural style assuring property investors not only a pleasant place to stay but also solid capital growth due to the limited supply and strong demand for property here.


 

Have a look at our selection of seaside property in France.

Email or call us on 00 44 (0) 203 59 77 030 with any questions.