In the historic capital of Provence, prices are high and sometimes prohibitive. Further out, some buyers find housing solutions or even - and this is often the case - generous living space and rural settings. Spotlight on Puyricard, Venelles, Puy-Sainte-Réparade and Rognes...

Surrounded by luxuriant nature, Puyricard lies between Venelles and Eguilles, still, however, on the territory of Aix. In fact, since the 15th century, it has been considered more as a neighbourhood than a village in its own right. Now very popular, this authentic bourg, built around a paved esplanade hosting market stalls on Fridays, lends its name to a famous chocolate factory founded in 1968. Venelles with its 8,110 inhabitants stands at the edge of the valley of the Durance. From its central square, one can contemplate the Sainte-Victoire mountain, Sainte-Baume and the Luberon. The town has two nurseries, two kindergartens and three primary schools, and the “Foire du Pays d’Aix” attracts crowds in the month of September. The community, which still boasts some beautiful works by the sculptor Louis-Félix Chabaud, benefits from AOC Coteaux de Provence. Famous for its wine, truffles and stone, quarried as long back as the Roman era, Rognes, home to 4,520 residents, has undeniable charm. The wheat fields alternate with vineyards, orchards, flowerbeds and truffle oaks, producing the famous “black gold”. Provençal scenery distills its charm. Local fêtes and markets perpetuate traditions and illustrate the locals’ fondness of country values and a genuine quality of life.

“Benefitting from buses, Puyricard also enjoys easy access to the motorways, TGV station, a 15-minute drive away, and the airport, 25 minutes. Shops and services make life easy for the residents, who also enjoy the country atmosphere,” says Caroline Laurent of the agency Caroline Laurent & Associés. Buyers include those looking for main homes, transferred for work purposes, drawn by the convenient and luxuriant address, people working in and around Paris, keen to settle their families in a reassuring world of peacefulness while keeping their jobs in the capital, foreigners attracted by the proximity of an international school and the region’s excellent reputation, or seniors looking forward to retirement. Many of them do not need to find loans. Houses are doing well, as are spacious apartments, popular among the more elderly. This category of clients pays from 700,000 to 1 million euros and beyond. Some local buyers naturally find what they are looking for at around 400,000 €. Caroline Laurent has just sold a house of 90 m2 with a garden of 200 m2, on an estate, for 350,000 € ; a house of 170 m2 in good condition, in grounds of 700 m2 with swimming pool, in the historic heart of town, for 700,000 € ; a home of 200 m2 in grounds of 850 m2 situated in the same area and with comparable amenities, for 800,000 € ; and another of 250 m2 with a self-contained 1-bedroom apartment, in a haven of peacefulness of 5,000 m2, for 1.2 million euros. Puyricard seems to be oblivious of the crisis and prices seem to have stabilized.

Catherine Barilari of CG Immobilier agrees : “The market is very active, as long as buyers are guided in all their proceedings by a specialist”. Like Puyricard, Venelles is close to Aix, with only a 7-minute drive separating the two localities. Its elevated position affords magnificent views of the surrounding relief. It is also better served in terms of large shopping centres. Generally, its real estate seems more affordable, offering a price advantage of 5 % for equivalent properties. Oddly enough, clients are under the impression that Venelles is “further out”. A feeling that disappears from their first visit. That step taken, some then head for Puy-Sainte-Réparade. Recently, a “bastide” of 300 m2 in good condition with grounds of 3,500 m2 changed hands at 700,000 €. An identical property would have cost 850,000 € over in Puyricard. And while the commune is blessed with some very lovely properties, first-time buyers with budgets of 300,000 € can also find what they need. Engineers at Cadarache never miss an opportunity to show their enthusiasm for the address.“Rognes is characterized by a village spirit,” says Marina Dejasse of the Agence Immobilière Scarlett. Furthermore, most of its old centre still remains the fief of the locals, while the surrounding countryside attracts buyers from northern France, Paris, Belgium and Germany, determined to change their surroundings and way of life. They are very happy to spend 500,000 to 600,000 € on properties ranging from 140 to 250 m2 in grounds of 4,000 to 10,000 m2. Within the village, houses sell very quickly and often by word-of-mouth. 100 m2 in satisfactory condition, without a terrace or garden, will be snapped up for 260,000 €. This graduate in property law admits she was not really affected by the crisis, doubtless due to the strategic position of Rognes. It is in fact only a 5-minute drive to the motorway, 20 minutes to Aix and 25 minutes to the airport.

Surrounded by luxuriant nature, Puyricard lies between Venelles and Eguilles, still, however, on the territory of Aix. In fact, since the 15th century, it has been considered more as a neighbourhood than a village in its own right. Now very popular, this authentic bourg, built around a paved esplanade hosting market stalls on Fridays, lends its name to a famous chocolate factory founded in 1968. Venelles with its 8,110 inhabitants stands at the edge of the valley of the Durance. From its central square, one can contemplate the Sainte-Victoire mountain, Sainte-Baume and the Luberon. The town has two nurseries, two kindergartens and three primary schools, and the “Foire du Pays d’Aix” attracts crowds in the month of September. The community, which still boasts some beautiful works by the sculptor Louis-Félix Chabaud, benefits from AOC Coteaux de Provence. Famous for its wine, truffles and stone, quarried as long back as the Roman era, Rognes, home to 4,520 residents, has undeniable charm. The wheat fields alternate with vineyards, orchards, flowerbeds and truffle oaks, producing the famous “black gold”. Provençal scenery distills its charm. Local fêtes and markets perpetuate traditions and illustrate the locals’ fondness of country values and a genuine quality of life.

“Benefitting from buses, Puyricard also enjoys easy access to the motorways, TGV station, a 15-minute drive away, and the airport, 25 minutes. Shops and services make life easy for the residents, who also enjoy the country atmosphere,” says Caroline Laurent of the agency Caroline Laurent & Associés. Buyers include those looking for main homes, transferred for work purposes, drawn by the convenient and luxuriant address, people working in and around Paris, keen to settle their families in a reassuring world of peacefulness while keeping their jobs in the capital, foreigners attracted by the proximity of an international school and the region’s excellent reputation, or seniors looking forward to retirement. Many of them do not need to find loans. Houses are doing well, as are spacious apartments, popular among the more elderly. This category of clients pays from 700,000 to 1 million euros and beyond. Some local buyers naturally find what they are looking for at around 400,000 €. Caroline Laurent has just sold a house of 90 m2 with a garden of 200 m2, on an estate, for 350,000 € ; a house of 170 m2 in good condition, in grounds of 700 m2 with swimming pool, in the historic heart of town, for 700,000 € ; a home of 200 m2 in grounds of 850 m2 situated in the same area and with comparable amenities, for 800,000 € ; and another of 250 m2 with a self-contained 1-bedroom apartment, in a haven of peacefulness of 5,000 m2, for 1.2 million euros. Puyricard seems to be oblivious of the crisis and prices seem to have stabilized.

Catherine Barilari of CG Immobilier agrees : “The market is very active, as long as buyers are guided in all their proceedings by a specialist”. Like Puyricard, Venelles is close to Aix, with only a 7-minute drive separating the two localities. Its elevated position affords magnificent views of the surrounding relief. It is also better served in terms of large shopping centres. Generally, its real estate seems more affordable, offering a price advantage of 5 % for equivalent properties. Oddly enough, clients are under the impression that Venelles is “further out”. A feeling that disappears from their first visit. That step taken, some then head for Puy-Sainte-Réparade. Recently, a “bastide” of 300 m2 in good condition with grounds of 3,500 m2 changed hands at 700,000 €. An identical property would have cost 850,000 € over in Puyricard. And while the commune is blessed with some very lovely properties, first-time buyers with budgets of 300,000 € can also find what they need. Engineers at Cadarache never miss an opportunity to show their enthusiasm for the address.“Rognes is characterized by a village spirit,” says Marina Dejasse of the Agence Immobilière Scarlett. Furthermore, most of its old centre still remains the fief of the locals, while the surrounding countryside attracts buyers from northern France, Paris, Belgium and Germany, determined to change their surroundings and way of life. They are very happy to spend 500,000 to 600,000 € on properties ranging from 140 to 250 m2 in grounds of 4,000 to 10,000 m2. Within the village, houses sell very quickly and often by word-of-mouth. 100 m2 in satisfactory condition, without a terrace or garden, will be snapped up for 260,000 €. This graduate in property law admits she was not really affected by the crisis, doubtless due to the strategic position of Rognes. It is in fact only a 5-minute drive to the motorway, 20 minutes to Aix and 25 minutes to the airport.