Maussane-les-Alpilles and Eygalières

Together with Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Maussane-les-Alpilles and Eygalières form the legendary “Golden Triangle” in the Alpilles, embodying a life-style composed of elegance and Provençal traditions.

With its aqueducts, old wells and wash-houses, water provides the key to discovering Maussane-les-Alpilles. This discreet little commune with 2,500 inhabitants offers a peaceful life-style. Lined by century-old plane-trees, its central square is a general meeting-place offering good restaurants and friendly cafés. As for local produce, the commune is well-known for its artisanal expertise : oil-mills, vineyards, honey, confectionery, bull and sheep breeding… Not forgetting its fields of silvery olive-trees and almond-tree orchards. Scenery long celebrated by poets and immortalized by artists, which still draws a clientele fond of old stones and authenticity.

The Colpaert & Werhle agency opened its head office here five years ago. “At first, we had lots of clients from northern Europe - especially Belgians. Nowadays they are usually French - Parisians in most cases -, actively seeking holiday homes in the Alpilles,” explains Eric Didner, director of this agency which proposes lovely old “mas” and luxurious properties all over the southern part of the Alpilles - in Maussane, Mouriès, Paradou, Les Baux, Fontvieille and Saint-Remy-de-Provence -, and has just launched development activities in Uzès. “Clients are active and the market has retained a regular pace despite the national slowdown. In fact, given a context still referred to as a “crisis”, buyers don’t hesitate to make offers that are very low compared to the prices posted. Some owners refuse to bargain, others give in, especially if the property has been on the market for one or two years and they really need to sell.” By way of example, Eric Didner mentions an elegant “mas” of 350 m2 set on almost 5 acres of land. On offer at 1,800,000 €, it found a taker after 12 months for 1,550,000 €.

20 km further north one comes across Eygalières, also offering the authentic life-style of a hill-top village nestling at the heart of “Green Provence”, far from the flows of tourist coaches. Fountains, wash-houses, the Sainte-Sixte Chapel and Maurice Pezet Museum form part of the heritage of this commune home to 1,800 residents. The internationally renowned “Jardin de l’Alchimiste” has been the subjet of many articles by magazine contributors who have fallen for the charm of its enchanting atmosphere and maze. Here, fans of old “mas”can find lovely properties with well pres­erved period features. “In 2014, buyers were in fact thin on the ground,” says Françoise Boscolo who opened the Alpilles Luberon Immobilier agency in Eygalières in 1993. “Bargaining thus became tougher. Today, offers are often 20 % lower than asking prices.” Here again, purchasers, mostly French, are mainly targetting charm and the authenticity of old stone. Benefitting from generous budgets and frequently paying cash, they are not set against renovation or restructuring work which would correspond more to their life-style, if the property has a certain stylishness embodying their ideal of Provence. “With or without a swimming pool, old “mas” are the properties that sell the most easily,” adds Françoise Boscolo, citing a 17th-C. “mas” which has retained several original features (hearths, flooring, vaulted ceilings…) and is enthroned at the heart of almost 15 acres of meadows. Up for sale at 1,650,000 €, this outstanding property offering total living space of 500 m2, half of which has already been renovated, is a typical example of the dream home sought by many buyers from Paris and Lyon.