The centre of Montpellier

The historic heart of the capital of L’Hérault, L’Écusson owes its name to its shape recalling an old French shield. Boulevards have replaced the medieval moats which once surrounded the protective city walls. Yet it’s now hard to restrict the centre to the old enclave. Focus on a neighbourhood undergoing considerable expansion...

L’Écusson contains the Place Albert-Ier, Boulevards Louis-Pasteur and Louis-Blanc to the norrth, Boulevards Bonne-Nouvelle and Sarrail to the east, the Place de la Comédie and Boulevard Victor-Hugo to the south-east, and the Boulevards du Jeu de Paume and Henri IV to the west. Since the inauguration of line 1 of the tramway in 2000, four stations serve the site, which is largely pedestrian. Rue Foch and Rue de la Loge are pretty much devoted to shops, along with several administrative services. But what is now called the centre of Montpellier extends significantly beyond the frontiers of the historic part of town, seeming to push out constantly towards the Mediterranean.

“It’s really pleasant to live or stroll around from La Comédie to Le Peyrou, from Sarail to Le Jeu de Paume,” comments Sylvie Barbera of Sylvie Barbera Immobilier. “Round the corner from Haussmann buildings, one discovers Les Halles, Le Corum and the theatre. The Polygone shopping centre rubs shoulders with independent boutiques.” In addition to heavy traffic on some of the main roads, detractors often criticize L’Écusson for its parking problems, partly resolved by the existence of public car-parks and the introduction of a subscription system at preferential rates. At the turn of this century, it was treated to a facelift. The apartments composing the neighbourhood are not lacking in charm, just like the rare houses which have survived in the area. Such as a mansion proposing a ground-floor apartment of 300 m2, opening out to a private garden benefiting from a pool, annexes of 150 m2 and a garage accommodating up to five cars. Its owners are hoping to sell for 1.5 million euros, a high price justified by the property’s ex­ceptional character. Generally speaking, L’Écusson is an active market posting steady prices.

Based in Antigone at the edge of L’Écusson, Carlos Montoro of Consil Immobilier describes two radically different property markets, only separated by a shopping centre. Largely split into small units, that of L’Écusson mainly consists of apartments with one or two main rooms. Clients looking for large surface areas come up against a real scarcity. A ground-floor apartment with 2/3 main rooms, rather dark, will cost 2,500 € per sq. metre. Studios are in steady demand thanks to the town’s large student population and the well-established presence of rental investors in the historic centre. As soon as an apartment on an upper floor offers generous volumes and high ceilings, it will reach or go beyond 3,000 €/m2 depending on its appointments. Antigone, a neighbourhood dotted with three tram stations on the other side of the Polygone shopping centre, has more modern residences benefiting from parking facilities, lifts and even terraces. If for equivalent properties, buyers have to pay 10 to 15 % more, they enjoy the proximity of shops and amenities without having to sacrifice certain advantages. Demand is steady, mortgages are reasonable and prices somewhat calmer.

“It is indeed hard to limit the centre simply to L’Écusson,” says Françoise Argence of the Argence & Deflandre agency. “The neighbourhood deserves a wider approach. The heart of town now extends outwards to the south and south-east, accompanied by a good public transport policy. In other words, it encompasses the Bassins Jacques-Cœur, Parc Marianne and Odysseum, in the direction of the sea.” Administrative services and large private shops are moving in. In the prestige sector, offerings are rare in the face of strong demand. This agency is marketing new developments in Les Arceaux, high-quality residences with 20 to 30 apartments from 110 to 140 m2 with terraces of up to 150 m2, priced from 550,000 to 650,000 €. At this price-level, buyers benefit from customized finishing touches. Fans of penthouses should let themselves be tempted by a 3-bedroom apartment prolonged by a terrace of 170 m2 benefiting from a jacuzzi and facing the River Lez, currently on offer at 685,000 €.

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.