La Vallée d’Azergues, villages on a human scale
By Laetitia Rossi - 28 May 2013
This valley runs along the river of the same name, unfurling rural scenery, forests and pastureland. Not far from the greater urban area of Lyon, La Vallée d’Azergues is an idyllic setting, much appreciated by nature-lovers and fans of “œnotourism”.
“The villages in the upper Vallée d’Azergues in Le Beaujolais cling to the hillsides, giving precedence to local produce,” explains Sébastien Dufossé, associate manager of the Groupe Mercier. Fans of hiking and riding, mountain biking and cyclotourism are in their element here. This spot of nature at the gateway to Lyon, the wooded areas and welcoming houses in the Vallée d’Azergues are extremely popular.
“Outside the urban community of Greater Lyon, the site enjoys easy access on the A89 and benefits from lower taxes than the Prefecture of département 69 and the first ring around it,” note Virginie Bouchet and Nathalie Meuric of Foncia Le Parc Immobilier. 40 and 50 year-olds, usually employed in Lyon, are very fond of the undulating scenery, the villages built of “golden stone”, the sweeping views and houses of character. They pay from 300,000 € - the budget required for a home of 130 m2 with a garden of 1,000 m2 - to 500,000 € - bringing a house of 250 m2 in a quiet spot, with quality appointments and grounds of 2,000 m2. Demand is steady for the 200,000 to 300,000 € bracket, ie. the category devoted to traditional villas. The market is more complicated for first-time buyers who cannot afford to pay more than 200,000 €. Correctly estimated, properties find takers without any real difficulty. Among their latest sales, our estate-agents mention a small house of 75 m2 with a garden of 160 m2, priced at 185,000 €, an example likely to meet the needs of first-time buyers, a “golden stone” property of 160 m2, refurbished as new, with a garden of 1,000 m2, at 380,000 €, and another of 300 m2 on about 4.2 acres of land, at 800,000 €. The communes of Le Bois d’Oingt and Charnay top the bill. Quite naturally, the distance separating localities in the Vallée d’Azergues from Lyon’s lively employment pool has an effect on prices. For example, in Lamure-sur-Azergues, a 50-minute drive from the capital of the Rhône region, a house of 200 m2 which just needs a lick of paint and comes with a small garden is up for sale at 170,000 €. The presence of a train station in the village is regarded as an important advantage by young couples who have to keep an eye on the cost of petrol.