Saint-Remy-de-Provence, capital of the Alpilles

A stable and very attractive micro-market, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence continues to draw many French and foreign buyers looking for holiday homes embodying all the charm of Provence.

A wine-producing area with lots of tourists, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence lies north of the Alpilles mountain chain, about 10 kilometres north of Les Baux-de-Provence, between Avignon, Cavaillon and Arles. A commune with some 11,000 inhabitants, it forms part of the Regional Nat­ure Park of the Alpilles, and its heritage, both natural and man-made, enjoys a highly favourable reputation. Many French and a few north Europeans acquire delightful second residences here, appreciating the area’s charm, life-style, climate and proximity to the TGV station in Avignon. Saint-Rémy is full of refined boutiques, shops selling artworks and decorative items, appealing furniture and antiques to grace classic or contemporary villas, as well as numerous good restaurants such as Chez Xa, La Maison Jaune-François Perraud, Les Terrasses de l’Image and Le Mas de l’Amarine. Each year, from May to October, the commune organizes the “Route des Artistes” : a large contemporary art market in which many artists and craftsmen take over the town centre for several days at a time throughout the season, for the greater enjoyment of tourists and summer holiday-makers.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is still undeniably a sound investment, whatever the economic context,” observes Sandy Marquis, sales manageress of Acanthe Immo created 20 years ago in Saint-Rémy. “Even though the market has seen an adjustment in its prices, activity remains steady and, after the usual winter slowdown, quality contacts have picked up again since the spring.” She has just finalized the sale of a charming “mas” of 180 m2 in grounds of 1,700 m2. Situated in the Saint-Paul neighbourhood, on the Alpilles side - a sought-after location less than 1 km from the centre of the village -, it now has a lucky English owner who spent 725,000 € to achieve his dream of living in Provence. While they are always present, foreigners are no longer the ones showing the most interest in Saint-Rémy : Swiss, Belgian and British clients are now thinner on the ground. Mostly French, the clientele is increasingly comprised of Parisians and Lyonnais who appreciate the proximity of the TGV station in Avignon, about 20 minutes from Saint-Rémy. “This clientele is now looking for a life-style in which they can do everything on foot. Wanting easy access to to shops and restaurants, they ask to be nearer the centre than before,” adds Sandy Marquis.

Currently, according to Julia Braille, manageress of AJC Immobilier, two distinct types of properties are the most widely sought after. “The market can be split in two. Firstly, properties priced from 250,000 to 700,000 €, including village houses, pleasant family “mas”, villas with charm and apartments in residences with swimming pools ; and secondly, prestigious properties in desirable locations, offering lovely views and generous volumes to accommodate families. The latter easily post prices beyond one million euros.” Among her most recent sales, Julia Braille cites an impeccably renovated country “mas”. In a quiet spot, near the centre, offering four bedrooms and a lovely mature garden with a pool, it just sold for 1.5 million euros.

”We are seeing rising demand for properties between 1 and 2 million euros,” says Valérie Lucien, manageress of the agency Actuel Immobilier, created 10 years ago. “Res­idences offering views of the Alpilles mountain chain from the Plateau de la Crau or La Galine are particularly rare and highly-prized.” For this estate-agent, Saint-Rémy is still, together with Eygalières and Maussane, the most highly sought-after commune in the Alpilles. “Between a high quality property further out and a less classy home in Saint-Rémy, most of my clients opt for the second. The address reassures them and serves as extra security for their investment,” says Valérie Lucien, giving the example of an old house renovated in contemporary style. With five bedrooms and a garden of 800 m2, it found a taker within four months at 1 million euros. A real blue-chip value in the Alpilles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence seems to be reducing more and more the gap between buyers’ budgets and prices posted by sellers.

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.