Cerdagne (or Cerdanya) is divided almost evenly between France and Spain. Crossed by the Yellow Train, it is home to the skiing resorts of Font-Romeu, Bolquère Pyrénées 2000, Porté-Puymorens and Puigmal 2900. Le Capcir, a plateau at an altitude of 1,500 metres, marks the junction between the latter and the valley of the Aude.

Known for its solar furnaces and power plants, Cerdagne is one of the least densely populated regions of Europe. Straddling the border, Puigcerdà is the only urban agglomeration, boasting almost 11,000 inhabitants. The Yellow Train runs from Villefranche-de-Conflent to Latour-de-Carol, a small town on the Barcelona-Paris line. The 13 villages comprising the group of communes, home to 6,040 people in all, lie to the far west of the “département 66”, not far from the Principality of Andorra. Real open-air play-grounds, they welcome fans of hiking in summer, skiing in winter. Le Capcir is a typical example of the Catalan mountains. Its forests, waterfalls and lakes have nothing to envy of the snowy slopes offered by the four resorts lying within a radius of 20 km. Since the 1970’s, the region has continued to grow. Les Angles and Formiguères now attract a good many tourists.
Stéphanie Will of Immo des Cimes mainly deals with buyers of holiday homes, fans of hiking, biking, riding and skiing : people from Toulouse, Perpignan and the region around Béziers, joined by Spaniards who are making a timid comeback following the recent difficult period. The majority spend 50,000 to 80,000 € on cabin studios at Font-Romeu. This lively bourg shares the skiing domain with Pyrénées 2000. Slightly more affordable, the latter offers the great advantage of accommodation at the foot of the slopes. Some prefer 1- or 2-bedroomed apartments priced at around 120,000 € or small houses proposed from 200,000 to 300,000 €. An example of 70 m2 in excellent condition, at the centre of Font-Romeu, is currently on offer at 250,000 €. Some of these buyers, hoping for rental income, come up against competition from tourist residences. Less numerous than in the past, new developments are characterized by reasonable prices when they are French, and irreproachable quality if they happen to be Spanish. Weakened by the crisis and maybe also by work being carried out on the road to Perpignan, activity picked up slightly in the summer. Visits are frequent and negotiations rather tough.
“People don’t come by chance to Le Capcir : they like its exuberant nature, wide open spaces dotted with ponds, streams, generous fauna and flora, the grottoes of Fontrabiouse and the animal park which is home to the heroine of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s masterpiece, “L’Ours”,” says Laura Christofeul of Capcir Immobilier. Unlike Cerdagne, the site, further away from Spain, does not benefit from any interest on the part of Spanish buyers. The seasonal market is split into two active periods : November to April and July-August. Usually locals or hailing from the capital of the Eastern Pyrenees, a 90-minute drive away, buyers first come for the skiing, then discover a taste for other outdoor disciplines. Small surface areas costing under 80,000 € are highly popular, though the average budget ranges from 200,000 to 250,000 €, the sum required for a 2 year-old apartment offering 3 bedrooms or a house of 150 m2 opening out to a garden of 30 m2 in a resort. Les Angles has lots of fans. The vast domain, culminating at an altitude of 2,300 metres, certainly satis-fies all levels of skiers. Thanks to free shuttles, residents do not necessarily have to use their cars and benefit on site from a wide choice of bars and restaurants, entertainment provided by a bowling alley and a cinema. Less sports-oriented, Formiguères is appreciated by families in search of tranquillity, just like Puyvalador, known for its panoramic views of the mountain peaks. “Given the number of rentals already reserved, the winter season looks promising. A healthy pick-up in activity,” says our estate-agent.