Lorgues and Flayosc, the charm of La Dracénie

With scenery characterized by the terraced embankments so typical of Provence, La Dracénie is comprised of communes nestling in the midst of nature and vineyards. With their lovely old stone, local produce, and a laid-back life-style, Lorgues and Flayosc attract many buyers wanting to acquire holiday residences with enough potential to become their year-round homes.

One of the loveliest hill-top villages in La Dracénie, Flayosc is set on a rocky spur 7 km from Draguignan and close to Lorgues. Crossed by little rivers, the commune is home to almost 4,500 year-round residents, fond of its typically Provençal atmosphere, its quietness, charm, numerous amenities, and its position between the coast, the Verdon Gorges and large towns.

“Except for the few apartments in the historic centre ranging from 1,500 to 1,700 € per sq. metre, our property market mostly consists of villas and properties,” explains Bruno Sabatier, manager of the Agence SOGIP opened in Flayosc in 1985. “Pleasant recent neo-Provençal, early 20th-century houses, and a few “mas”, available from 300,000 € for standard examples and up to 700,000 € and more for the loveliest properties set in vast grounds with swimming pools and annexes. Starting-prices for houses range from 250,000 to 400,000 € depending on their size, location and condition. Our clientele mainly consists of retirees or future retirees from all over France, and north Europeans looking for comfortable year-round or holiday homes.” The agency’s activity has chalked up significant growth since 2015. “The market is very buoyant. Buyers of quality have returned, and sellers accept our estimates more readily. Properties on offer at the going market price soon find buyers if they do not suffer from any particular nuisances.” Properties ranging from 500,000 to 700,000 € are in much higher demand than in previous years.

Occupying an area of 64.4 km2 and ideally positioned between the sea and mountains, Lorgues is an historic commune in Le Haut-Var with close on 10,000 year-round residents. Lively in all four seasons, this little town benefits from lots of shops, schools and other amenities ensuring pleasant everyday life. Well-known for its art of living and rich religious heritage, Lorgues is surrounded by 14 renowned vineyard properties and exports its wines well beyond French borders, together with its excellent local products : olive-oil, honey and truffles. “2016 was a satisfactory year and we are optimistic for 2017, even though the first two months have been rather quiet,” says Dominique Vare, manager of the Agence Pierre Azur based in Lorgues for over 25 years. Comprised of retirees mostly from Paris, Lyon or Grenoble and north Europeans, the agency’s clientele is as mixed as the types of properties in the area. “Even though a good number of sales went through in 2016, there is still a satisfactory stock of properties available, both in the category of houses priced from 300,000 to 500,000 €, villas from 500,000 to 800,000 €, and residences offering high-quality appointments, costing from 800,000 to 1.2 million euros. We also propose a few outstanding properties at prices ranging from 2 to 15 million euros.” Now rather rare, the traditional stone “mas” still attracts fans of authenticity. One charming example of 130 m2 in need of renovation, in grounds of 4,000 m2 with a pool, just sold for 350,000 €. “However, today’s buyers hesitate to launch themselves into extensive and costly renovations. Most of our enquiries involve more recent homes.”