“Pays grassois”, a balcony surveying the Côte d’Azur

This area spreads out around its capital, the perfume city of Grasse. About 20 villages, wide open spaces and sweeping views of the Siagne gorges and the Mediterranean from the rim of high-altitude crests make it an essential experience in south-eastern France.

The integration of its perfume-related know-how into UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in November 2018 brought the “Pays de Grasse” international recognition. A spotlight shone on this little corner of France, a harmonious blend of Prov­ence and the Alps, appreciated by fans of hill-top villages, unique landscapes, hiking or horseriding in the midst of nature.

Its vast expanse allows the region around Grasse to play host to very different properties. Such as “bastides”, or country houses, in which charm competes with authenticity. “Set on former farming land, in Saint-Jean, Saint-Mathieu or Plascassier, they attract a mainly foreign clientele, but also Parisians who acquire them as homes for when they retire,” explains Florence Jaudronnet of Blue Square. These buyers all have a fondness for the old stone, red floor tiles and old beams of these buildings, sometimes in need of renovation. In which case, one can expect to pay 800,000 € (on average) for living space from 250 to 400 m2, with outbuildings, in grounds of 2,500 to 5,000 m2. Once renovated, the price of the same property can rise to 4 million euros, though 1.5 million euros will already bring you a very pretty “bastide”. People working locally opt for houses in the Saint-Jacques or Saint-Antoine neighbourhoods, benefiting from access to main roads and proximity to schools. For 450,000 €, a starting price that can reach 600,000 € (depending on the view and appointments), these couples with children buy houses of 100 to 170 m2 with three or four bedrooms, a garden of 500-700 m2 with a pool and garage. Currently, supply in all categories largely meets demand, and the announcement of the postponement of the extension of the Pénétrante road should boost an already dynamic market.

”Cabris, Spéracedes and Le Haut du Tignet are sought after for their spectacular views,” says Bertrand Bourgoin of the Agence du Panorama in Cabris. This “Golden Triangle” in the region around Grasse is home to large houses and substantial properties, in a quiet residential environment. Here, a 3- or 4-bedroomed villa with a pretty garden, swimming pool and total privacy can be found from 500,000 and up to 1.5 million euros. Higher up, towards Saint-Cézaire and Saint-Vallier, far from the bustle of the seafront, but within a reasonable distance from Nice airport (a 45-minute drive), the price per sq. metre is lower. Those who enjoy renovating houses will find what they are looking for here, as will owners of horses. All close to Grasse, a town posting spectacular growth. Big names like Vuitton have recently invested here, guaranteeing a bright future. Local dynamism and low mortgage rates, offering buyers more substantial loans, are all positive indicators for a healthy property market.