Suze-la-Rousse and Bouchet

Situated to the far south of the Drôme, Suze-la-Rousse devotes 3,952 acres of land to the production of AOC wines. Once owned by the Princes of Orange, the château in fact houses a university dedicated to the subject. Bouchet also has excellent vineyards producing Côtes du Rhône Villages, and a rich historic legacy.

This two towns extend a warm invitation to discover the Drôme Provençale. A neighbour of Bollène, Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, Tulette, Rochegude, Saint-Restitut and Solérieux, Suze accommodates 1,950 inhabitants in an area of about 5,560 acres. Wine production is its main activity. The historic part of town with archeological sites dating back to different eras clings to the side of a hill. The church and “jeu de paume”, an early tennis court built for Catherine de Médicis, are undergoing renovation. Eleven km from Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and 19 km from Orange, the locality on the left bank of the Lez offers a lovely view of Mount Ventoux, La Lance and the pre-Alps of Le Dauphiné. The population of Bouchet rose from 700 residents in 1999 to 1,250 in 2011, a figure expected to attain 1,600 between 2015 and 2020. Activities here include fishing, hunting and hiking. In the 12th century, Raymond des Baux, Prince of Orange, had a Cistercian abbey built. Giuliano della Rovere, the future Pope Jules II, waged a war in order to incorporate it, in 1480, into the College of Roure. In the 19th century, it became a textile factory which would close its doors in 1972. It was then used as a wine-aging cellar and reception room, a site listed in the supplementary register of France’s historic monuments. Today, it is the property of the commune. On the River Lez and its tributary L’Hérin, Bouchet offers a junor school and sports stadium.

“Just like Grignan, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux and Taulignan, Suze has all the shops needed for everyday living, thus distinguishing itself from other villages in the southern part of the Drôme. It also has an intermediate school, a factor which explains its particular type of clientele,” says Jean-Fabrice Bonnardel of the Agence Province Immobilier, offering 20 years of experience in Suze and Grignan, 40 in Saint-Paul. Out of every ten sales, six concern main homes. The convenience offered by this little town and its closeness to the motorway attract people working in the Rhône valley, ready to pay from 200,000 to 300,000 € for a villa of 110-150 m2 with a garden of 800-1,500 m2. Two of the sales involved investments, likely to generate a net return of 5-7 %. Recently, a local buyer acquired a village house for 150,000 €. Creation of the six planned apartments will require additional expenditure of 200,000 €, but once rented they could bring in 30,000 € per year. The three remaining sales concern holiday homes,. Suze benefits from the appeal of Grignan. It is, in fact, not rare to persuade a buyer drawn to the latter to cast an eye on Suze, proposing equivalent amenities and slightly lower prices. One client from Lyon with a budget of 400,000-550,000 € was easily encouraged to take a look at houses of 150 m2 in grounds of 1,500-3000 m2 with swimming pools, in which to spend holidays, and even weekends.

“While the slowdown currently affects all segments of the market, the top end still has its fans, among Parisians hoping for a major life change when they approach retirement age,” comments Danielle Romano of SAS - Azur Immobilier. “In fact, guest-houses seem to be rekindling a certain interest, especially as there are very few hotels.” A “mas” of 400 m2 in grounds of 1,250 m2 backing onto the Abbaye de Bouchet, its two apartments for paying guests of 97 m2 and 47 m2, plus a studio, are up for sale at 1,030,000 €. The property could bring rental income of 1,630 €/mois. In the same category, a residence of 600 m2 on almost 2.5 acres of land over towards Chantemerle-lès-Grignan, an address well-known for its high level of tourist occupancy, is available at 1,380,000 €. Otherwise, some buyers are apparently willing to spend up to 500,000 € on their holiday homes. Recently, a couple from Geneva visited a house of 200 m2, beautifully restored, in grounds of 2,000 m2, priced at 457,000 €. Properties at the bottom end of the scale also find takers, while those in the middle are hard to shift. Today, Bouchet is obliged to manage its rising population and the spread of housing estates. Some clients prefer the large grounds offered on the old Route de Bollène, a main road in Suze surrounded by pine-trees and hills, and the highly-prized neighbourhoods of Saint-Turquois and Bellevue.

“Bouchet with its “boulodrome” has succeeded in preserving a Provençal atmosphere,” says Sophie Regnaudin of La Maison de l’Immobilier. First-time buyers have a preference for village houses as long as they have an outdoor area, the kind of property offered from 150,000 to 280,000 € depending on its condition, or building plots costing from 80,000 to 90,000 €, further out towards the vineyards. After a few stays in the area, French buyers from the north, Alsace, Normandy and Paris, evidently drawn by the mild climate, often start out with a modest purchase before taking the leap, selling their main home and setting their sights on a “mas” from 400,000 € and beyond. Finally, foreigners, and Belgians in particular, have an excellent impression of the Drôme Provençale. They all dream of restoring an old stone farmhouse in an elevated position and peaceful surroundings. Between their dream and signing on the dotted line, there is one barrier to be negotiated : some are frightened by the idea of renovation work while others are very vigilant about future development of the surroundings. “No-one wants to see a housing estate built just next door a year after they’ve moved in,” says Sophie Regnaudin.

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