Villefranche-sur-Saône and the valley of Azergues

The capital of Le Beaujolais is 35 km from Lyon, the only real urban area in the region, while the valley of Azergues, spread out along the river of the same name, offers rural landscapes, dense forests and green pastureland.

Villefranche has lots of shops, a wide range of services, schools up to secondary level, two theatres, three cinemas, a mediatheque and the headquarters of the Chamber of Commer-ce and Industry of Le Beaujolais. In 1973, the town was distinguished at national level as the most sports-oriented town in the country. With a good road network, including the A6 motorway, it also benefits from a very busy railway station. As for the valley of Azergues, it offers an idyllic setting, to the taste of nature-lovers and the region’s many fans of wine tourism.

“Villefranche “intra-muros” gives priority to old apartments, both listed buildings close to the Rue Nationale, residences built in the 1950’s or others that appeared later on,” says Nathalie Taton of the Agence Pierres Dorées. The “Golden Square” around the prefecture and town-hall, ie. Rue de la Paix and the Place du Théâtre, is very popular among seniors wanting to be as close as possible to the town centre. Overall, the price-grid for apartments ranges from 1,800 to 2,000 €/m2, or around 3,000 m2 for new developments, with peaks rising to 4,000 €/m2 for the most recent offerings in the Golden Square. A few houses can still be found on the outskirts of the historic heart of town, such as one example of 77 m2 in excellent condition, with no garden or parking place, on offer at 169,000 €. The comunes of Limas, Pommiers and Lachassagne then propose a wide array of accommodation, from villas to large properties of character and century-old residences. The average budget proposed by buyers, company directors and self-employed professionals based in Lyon or even Paris, is around 450,000 €. The only downside : a shortage of properties with character that are correctly estimated. Currently, the agency offers a charming building of 273 m2 featuring a tower in a garden of 709 m2, priced at 550,000 €. When it appeared on the files, it drew a considerable number of calls.

Thierry Liatout of the Cabinet Montagne & Liatout has also noticed strong interest on the part of first-time buyers. This clientele inevitably needs to obtain a mortgage and can afford to pay 150,000 to 200,000 € for apartments with living space of 70 to 90 m2. The charm of properties in the town centre compensates for parking problems. Villas in suburban areas - 4/5 main rooms, from 90 to 120 m2 - are also in demand among those concerned about energy savings and transportation, ready to pay from 220,000 to 260,000 €. They are happy to obtain a small garden, easy to maintain. Able to pay cash, 50 and 60 year-olds target luxury apartments and properties on the outskirts, within a 10-km radius west of Villefranche. They are looking for properties from 300,000 to 650,000 €. Some even go as far as paying 700,000 to 900,000 €, in the case of private mansions. If market activity is still a little uncertain, it seems that most people think they can no longer afford to“wait and see”.

“The valley of Azergues is seeing steady demand as far as Le Bois d’Oingt, Morancé, Chazay-d’Azergues and Lozanne. Close to the Monts d’Or, now very expensive, the region is an obvious second-best,” says Vincent Swierc of the Agence du Grand Ouest. A quality life-style, lots of associations, a busy schedule of events and proximity to the capital of “département 69” are all assets contributing to its appeal. The site’s development is closely tied to expansion of the shopping and leisure centre in Civrieux. Most transactions here fall between 300,000 and 350,000 €, a sum bringing living space of 100 m2 in grounds of 800-1,000 m2. In certain localities - including Civrieux and Chazay, poised to compete with Dommartin -, budgets exceed 400,000 and even attain 550,000 €, the price asked for a property of 200 m2 with grounds of 1,000-1,500 m2. Potential buyers work in Lyon and take the train which places Lozanne just 20 minutes from La Part-Dieu : with the introduction of the “train-tram”, Vaise will soon be only 15 minutes away. Finally, the region boasts some magnificent “golden stone” residences priced from 500,000 to 1.2 million euros. Given today’s economic climate, this type of property is hard to sell. Some are being divided into several lots, others are transformed into guest-houses.