The charm and authenticity of the Luberon

A must destination for tourists in Provence, the Luberon plays host to hill-top villages with heritages that are remarkably well-preserved and beautifully showcased. Sunny addresses with lots of character, also offering fascinating scenery.

Less than an hour from Avignon and its TGV station, the Luberon is an undulating area with a pronounced Provençal identity whose architectural heritage, sumptuous panoramic views, gastronomic and crafts specialities attract tourists from all over the world. Protected by the Luberon’s regional Nature Park, picturesque villages clinging to rocky spurs in the Massif du Luberon and Monts de Vaucluse in fact perpetuate traditions that are centuries old in an environment known for its spellbinding light : Gordes, Ménerbes, Roussillon (all three listed among the “Plus Beaux Villages de France”), Bonnieux, Gargas, Rustrel (with its famous “Colorado provençal”), Oppède, Murs…, all reasons for falling for the charm of the region. Not forgetting Apt and its well-known authentic markets.

As for real estate in the Luberon, it is seen as a sound investment characterized by inevitably high prices . “Determined in particular by the view, location, overall condition and degree of stylishness, prices of village houses and larger properties range here from 200,000 to over 7 million euros,” says Céline Pourrot, in charge of sales and seasonal rentals in the Luberon for Valancogne & Partners, an agency based in the region for the past 7 years (in Bonnieux) and in the Alpilles for over 30 years (in Eygalières), specializing in prestige properties of charm and character (exclusive partner of Savills in Provence). “For example, we recently handled the sale of a small village house of over 70 m2 in Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt with a small garden, priced at 180,000 €, and a lovely stone house of 250 m2 in Gordes, with an orangery and swimming pool in grounds of 8,000 m2, priced at 1,050,000 €.” According to Céline Pourrot, prices have seen some bargaining these past few years, “leading to adjustments more in line with market realities”. Her French and foreign clientele, mostly actively employed and aged over 40, are looking for holiday res­idences with easy and rapid access, preferably ready to move in. “For those with fewer professional commitments, the property often becomes their semi-main home. Otherwise, we are also contacted by a few young couples dreaming of treating themselves to a small pied-à-terre.”

Backed by several years of experience in local real estate and manageress of the Joys of Provence agency, Joy Mason mainly has clients from abroad - Swiss, English and Belgian. And for good reason : British by birth, she proposes property management in addition to sales and seasonal rentals, including solutions for renovation, follow-up of the work etc. for people who do not speak French. “A service widely appreciated here, as administrative procedures are not necessarily self-evident to foreigners and newcomers.” Opened in May, her agency mainly covers the area stretching from Gordes to Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, where it is based : “An area where prices are gradually becoming more well-balanced and a market whose prospects are very encouraging, given the much weaker euro”. The most frequent sales involve houses priced from 350,000 to 700,000 €, as exemplified by a 3-bedroomed stone house of 155 m2 designed by an architect in Saint-Saturnin, offering unimpeded views and currently up for sale at 490,000 €. “Though there’s no lack of prestige properties : still in Saint-Saturnin, a house of 450 m2 in Provençal style offering 9 main rooms, grounds of 6,000 m2 with a pool and superb view, is, for instance, currently on offer at 1,680,000 €.” On the other hand, building land is very scarce : “Our portfolio contains just one building plot of 1,400 m2, at 140,000 €”.

Founder and manageress of the agency Un Mas en Provence, Marie-Madeleine Nelson has been based in Cabrières-d’Avignon since 1997. Specializing in prestige properties and “mas” (80 % of activity), she also has a majority of foreign clients - Belgian, Swiss, British, German, Dutch - and a few French. “Demand is thus primarily for old properties which have been renovated, even fitted and furnished. Another particularly important criterion is the view.” By way of example, two properties have just found takers : a house of 200 m2 in Murs in 12,000 m2 of grounds, priced at 1.3 M €, and another of 220 m2 in grounds of 3,000 m2 in Gordes, at 1.25 M €. “Houses in villages or on their immediate outskirts must now imperatively benefit from good-sized outdoor areas. Those with courtyards of less than 10 m2 are no longer of any interest.” In Gordes, a village house of 100 m2 with a garden of 450 m2 recently changed hands for 500,000 €. “We have also just sold a house of 150 m2 in grounds of 1,500 m2 in Cabrières-d’Avignon, priced at 660,000 €, and another of 140 m2 in grounds of 2,500 m2, at 780,000 €.” As for building land, two sales are currently underway : a plot of 2,700 m2 in Cabrières, costing 280,000 €, and another of 4,400 m2 in Goult, priced at 370,000 €.