The Vallée de l’Hérault
By Laetitia Rossi - 01 March 2013
Not far from Montpellier, this valley has 28 villages in all, accommodating 32,000 people. There where the A75 meets up with the A750, the Valley of L’Hérault, a real compromise between town and country, has seen a considerable rise in its population figures over the past few decades.
Now making its living from the service sector, the area benefits from a strategic location in the middle of Le Languedoc-Roussillon. In order to cater for this constant rise in its population, the Vallée de l’Hérault has committed itself to providing 450 homes a year while controlling urban growth and protecting natural and agricultural areas. Which are, in fact, two of its most appealing attractions : in 2008, over 150,000 people visited the region around Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, either hiking or on mountain bikes.
“At the gateway to Montpellier and the Cévennes, the Vallée de l’Hérault offers a wide array of shops and services,” says Frédéric Gasser, manager of Dupin Immobilier, which has three agencies, one in Saint-Martin-de-Londres. “Because of the appealing prices, clients are willing to drive 15-20 minutes to and from their work-places.” They are employed in the CHU hospital, small and medium-sized firms and large shopping centres in Montpellier north. Budgets range from 270,000 € - the sum required for a “pavillon” of 90 m2 with a garden of 800 m2 - to 450,000 € - bringing a villa of 140 m2 in grounds of 1,000 m2 benefitting from a pool. The particularly lively rental market often serves as a stepping-stone to an acquisition. A few north Europeans are looking for holiday homes, though this segment of the market, seeing a slowdown due to the economic climate, is mostly of interest to French buyers.
Christophe Joullié of Saint-Benoît Immobilier has been based in Aniane since 1998, on the Route de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle at the exit from the Hérault gorges in a lush green plain with vines and olive-trees. The “Grand Site” of the Pont du Diable and Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is not far away, and it only takes 20 minutes to reach the capital of L’Hérault. This address offers a good balance between proximity to job pools and a quality environment. Unlike other localities which have become dormitory towns, it has retained a village atmosphere and a busy social life. Local buyers usually pay from 150,000 € for a village house of 75 m2 giving onto a courtyard, to 300,000 € for a 3-bedroomed villa in grounds of 1,000 m2, sometimes with a pool. The clientele is mainly comprised of young couples, though the share of first-time buyers has dropped since the government abandoned zero per cent mortgages. Nevertheless, lower prices and historically low interest rates are promising indicators.
“The closeness of Montpellier is, in fact, a real asset for the area,” confirms Dominique Le Tallec of L’Agence Galerie based in Clermont-l’Hérault, 40 km from the Mediterranean, 48 km from the prefecture of Département 34, and 45 km from Béziers. The nearby lake of Le Salagou is popular among fans of wide open spaces, fishing, mountain biking, riding and hiking. The inauguration of new motorway sections and the opening up of the site just before the year 2000 gave a boost to the property market, bringing a fresh influx of clients from outside the region, retirees in search of the sun and people who can work from home thanks to development of means of communication. By car, Paris is 6 hrs 20 away, Perpignan 1 hr 15. In this setting traditionally dedicated to wine and olive-oil production, the locals co-exist with French buyers from the northern half of the country, Belgians, Swiss and Germans, charmed by the authentic countryside. Village houses without any outdoor areas are harder to sell than practical and comfortable homes of character. Out of every five sales handled by L’Agence Galerie, one will become a holiday home, and three are priced over 500,000 €.