Avignon and Montélimar, towns with lots of character on the banks of the Rhône

Over 800 km long, the Rhône has played a significant role in the development of numerous towns which still maintain close ties with its flowing waters. Among them, Avignon and Montélimar : two very different cities, yet linked by the river.

On the left bank of the Rhône, Avignon is an agglomeration with 90,000 residents which can lay claim to a remarkable historic heritage. Very few French cities have succeeded in conserving their architecture to the same extent. The ramparts, of course, are essential viewing, together with the Popes’ Palace, the largest Gothic building dating back to the Middle Ages, a pontifical residence in the 14th century (to which Avignon also owes its nickname, “City of the Popes”). Not forgetting the famous “Pont d’Avignon”, the 12th-century bridge whose real name is “Pont Saint-Bénézet”.

“We also benefit from a Mediterranean climate with lots of sunshine, proximity to the sea, the mountains and Paris, just a 2 hr 30 ride away on the TGV,” points out Guillaume Laplaud, associate manager of the Agence du Centre Gauthier & Laplaud. Specializing in sales of properties intra-muros, near the ramparts, and on the neighbouring communes of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and Les Angles, he des­cribes a special market which has remained lively throughout the crunch : “In the area we cover, prices range from 1,700 to 3,200 € per sq. metre. An apartment or town house within the city walls costs on average 2,500 € per sq. metre. Setting aside addresses with exceptionally high prices such as Gordes, Avignon is the town with the most expensive real estate in the Vaucluse”. Inevitably with relativ­ely substantial budgets, his clients are looking for properties in the centre with small gardens or terraces, and parking facilities. “Old buildings are particularly highly-prized,” adds Guillaume Laplaud, “though new homes can also be found, such as this conversion of a house intra-muros that we are proposing today”. His last three transactions consist of an entire building in need of renovation, priced at 500,000 €, a family apartment with a balcony, at 192,000 €, and a private mansion, at 605,000 €.

An hour’s drive from Avignon, one arrives at Montélimar, a tourist attraction with 35,000 residents on the banks of the Rhône in the Drôme Provençale. Known as the “Gateway to Provence”, it is famous for its nougat. The climate here is also Mediterranean, and in terms of heritage, it certainly holds its own : Montélimar in fact boasts about 15 monuments either listed or of historic interest, including the Château des Adhémar (or Château des Papes), the domain of Serre-de-Parc, the Saint-Martin gateway and Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Rose.

Montélimar and its nearby villages offer a varied choice of properties,” says Christine Navarro-Gougne, manageress of Provence Immobilier, one of the town’s oldest estate agencies. “They range from apartments in residences costing under 80,000 € for small surface areas, to properties of character, Provençal “mas” or “bastides”, priced at 600,000 € or more. Between the two, medium-sized surfaces are available from 100,000 to 150,000 €, and high-quality apartments from 300,000 €.” In the case of houses, one can expect to pay from 190,000 € for a house on a suburban estate to 350,000-500,000 € for a more substantial home. “In high demand, stone properties to renovate fall into a wide price bracket, from 150,000 to 300,000 €,” adds Christine Navarro-Gougne. In her opinion : “The market here hasn’t declined, but rather undergone an adjustment following a long series of price rises”.

These articles might interest you :

Update on the borderline market

Whether in Le Pays de Gex or Upper Savoy, the real-estate market on the border with Switzerland is still in good shape. For both new and old properties, buyers have a wide choice. Possibly a little too wide ?…

 

Le Pays de Gex, a privileged location

At the gateway to Geneva with its airport and international institutions, Le Pays de Gex appeals for its natural, quiet and residential setting. Benefiting from efficient transport networks, shops and amenities, this area in the north-eastern part of...

 

Annemasse, a very buoyant market

An average-sized town with 32,000 residents, Annemasse offers the advantage of a convenient location on the Franco-Swiss border, 2 km from the canton of Geneva. Its very lively property market mainly revolves around acquisitions of year-round homes b...

 

Le Pays de Gex, a market in its own right

Lying in the midst of luxuriant landscapes between the Massif du Jura and Lake Geneva, Le Pays de Gex offers immediate proximity to the border with Switzerland as its N°1 feature. This strategic location endows its with a unique and persuasive argume...

 

The Franco-Swiss region known as “Le Pays de Gex”

Between the Jura mountains and Lake Geneva, the main assets of Le Pays de Gex are its magnificent green scenery and, above all, its immediate proximity to the cantons of Geneva and Vaud. A strategic position, boosted by very efficient transport netwo...

 

La Chautagne, an authentic region

At the north-western tip of the département of Savoy, La Chautagne consists of 8 communes on the banks of Lake Bourget, the largest natural lake in France.