The Cap Ferret peninsula : prestigious and well-preserved

On untamed land solely occupied by a few fishermen from the Bassin d’Arcachon, the Cap Ferret peninsula has succeeded in protecting its environment thanks to well-controlled tourism and urban planning. A very special residential address...

A strip of land 25 km long covered with pine-groves and edged by lovely sandy beaches, Cap Ferret proposes an exceptional setting between the Atlantic Ocean and the Bassin d’Arcachon. Highly-prized by a discreet and privileged clientele since the early 20th century, especially for its southern tip offering a view of the Dune du Pilat, it has remained peaceful, wild and authentic. Sometimes called the “Saint-Tropez of the Atlantic coast”, this haven of tranquillity lapped by the waves is occupied by the commune of Lège-Cap-Ferret (pop. approx. 8,000), itself made up of several fishing villages, sailing harbours and charming seaside resorts (Le Four, Les Jacquets, Le Petit Piquey and Le Grand Piquey, Le Canon, L’Herbe, La Vigne, Claouey, Piraillan, Lège-bourg and Cap-Ferret).

As for its property market, its offerings are often prestigious and expensive, but also pretty limited : “The number of properties for sale is always low, which in fact and notably explains the value of the Cap Ferret market,” says Brigitte Baillet, manageress of the Grisel Cap Ferret agency, based in Le Canon since 2002. “In high demand, its property prices are very steady. An acquisition here is a sound investment, especially as the area, fueled by development being carried out in Bordeaux, is destined to become its seaside suburb.” A real institution in Bordeaux, founded in 1945, Grisel Immobilier, which has three other branches in Bordeaux, Arcachon and Libourne, specializes in prestige properties : “By way of example, we recently handled the sale of two houses with six bedrooms each, priced at 900,000 and 1,260,000 €, and we are currently proposing a charming house of 100 m2 at the tip of the cape with a garden of 730 m2, priced at 2.5 M €”. Building land is also rare and thus sells at impressive prices. “One plot of approx. 1,000 m2 in Les Vallons du Ferret is on offer at 850,000 €, another one of 1,115 m2 in Les Dunes du Piquey at 685,000 €”.

Associate director of Ateliers, Lofts & Associés, Carmen Milcent has been working out of Arcachon since 2008, in the very popular neighbourhood of Le Moulleau. Specializing in the sale of unusual properties (houses built by architects or offering original design, revamped fishermen’s houses, prime locations…), she finds on the pensinsula’s unusual market the properties sought-after by her clients (mainly from Paris and its surrounding region or foreign - from the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) : “Our most recent sales have included a large house designed by an architect, built of timber with a flat roof and a pool, priced at 800,000 €, and a villa to renovate in the 44 Hectares area, also with a flat roof, in grounds of 1,200 m2, at close on 1 million euros”. The agency is in fact currently proposing a luxurious new house with original architecture at the heart of the village of Le Cap-Ferret : “Offering living space of 300 m2, vast terraces and a pool, it is up for sale at 3,150,000 €”. On the cape and at the edge of the ocean or Bassin, Carmen Milcent describes vitality in transactions and real stability for prices. “Further inland, on the other hand, they are subjected to bargaining which can attain 15 %.”

“Even though it’s seasonal, the market on Cap Ferret is very active,” confirm Sophy Vaissié and Christophe Vaissié of the Barnes International agency in Le Pyla, specializing in the sale of high-end properties. “Mostly villas of character nestling in a unique holiday setting, they are rare and therefore expensive : you can, in fact, expect to pay at least 2 million euros for villas in the most sought-after areas at the water’s edge, such as that of the lighthouse, near Le Mimbeau. Being within walking distance of the beach or shops is a particularly highly-prized asset.” Among the cape’s most charismatic addresses, the Barnes agency also cites Les 44 Hectares, an area where building is no longer possible and which plays host from time to time to celebrities and very wealthy owners in search of tranquillity : “Small villas to renovate here cost at least 1 M €, while high-class properties on the seafront start from 4 M €. Given the legal restrictions on projects for extension, buyers give precedence to villas with high potential. We are handling the sale of a very appealing villa, for example, in need of renovation, in Les 44 Hectares, priced at 1.7 M €. We also have high-quality properties whose sales remain confidential at the owners’ request, particularly in the case of oceanfront villas or homes belonging to well-known personalities”. As for other small villages such as La Vigne, L’Herbe, Le Canon and Piraillan, they are more affordable. “And Les Jacquets is becoming more popular, due especially to the fame of our oyster-farmer actor, Joël Dupuch. In this area, prices range on average from 700,000 to 1.6 million euros. Our agency recently sold a villa, for example, in the village of Pir­aillan, for 1 M €.” Disposing of high purchasing power, French and foreign clients of Barnes International make high demands in terms of locations and appointments. “Barnes International offers them the advantage of assistance with renovation plans, thanks to a team of experts it can place at its clients’ disposal. Spotlighting of Cap Ferret by the cinema and the press increases its popularity rating and contributes towards keeping

the market active.”