The “community of communes” in the Pays du Bois d’Oingt

Situated in the mid-altitude valley of L’Azergues north-west of Lyon, between countryside and the Beaujolais vineyards, this entity is composed of 18 localities, overshadowed by mountains with fir-trees, and home to around 16,400 people. Our estate-agents take us on a tour…

Part of the “arrondissement” of Villefranche-sur-Saône, Le Bois d’Oingt stretches out along a flowery road in the southern part of Le Beaujolais, often referred to as “Le Beaujolais of golden stone”. This collectivity alone hosts almost 2,100 people. It commercial dynamism, combined with the address’s natural appeal, incited self-employed professionals and notables from Lyon to build cosy residences here. The “community of communes” to which it lends its name is made up of villages such as Bagnols, Chamelet, Châtillon d’Azergues, Chessy-les-Mines, Frontenas, Jarnioux, Le Breuil, Légny, Létra, Moiré, Saint-Laurent d’Oingt, Saint-Vérand, Sainte-Paule, Ternand, Theizé and Ville-sur-Jarnioux.

“Le Bois d’Oingt is, without any doubt, the most popular address in the area, given the quality of its commercial fabric, its array of amenities and numerous associations. The calendar of events is particularly rich, and the market brings in many visitors on Tuesdays,” says Sophie Garcia-Escobar of Pierre de Lune Immobilier. Set on top of a hill, Le Bois d’Oingt is served by a train station in its lower part, around which a shopping area has sprung up. It takes 27 minutes at best to reach Vaise by train, versus 45 by car. Naturally, the community of communes is not completely homogeneous. All the addresses in the immediate vicinity of Oingt - Thernand, Saint-Vérand, Le Breuil and Légny - are very popular, while those in the direction of Chamelet propose more attractive prices. Theizé, Bagnols, Moiré, Frontenas and Oingt, a listed site, then comprise the so-called tourist region : a highly-prized area, characterized by panormaic views and golden stone buildings, not far from Le Bois d’Oingt and only 15-20 minutes from Villefranche. Further out, Jarnioux, Sainte-Paule and Ville-Jarnioux are less built-up, while Châtillon d'Azergues and Chessy-les-Mines, at the far end of the valley, are closer to Lyon. There are two categories of buyers. Investors buy properties to renovate, restoring them before placing them on the rental market, which shows steady demand. Locals, often couples with children, can be divided into two sub-groups. First-time buyers are looking for raw space to transform, available when properties are split up, priced around 1,500 €/m2 in Le Bois d’Oingt, which they rehabilitate for 500-1,000 €/m2 depending on the appointments required. Fans of golden stone houses, usually working in Lyon, pay 500,000 € or more for living space of 150 m2 in good condition, in grounds of at least 1,000 m2 with a lovely view.

“The typology of properties available is as wide as the price range,” comments Antoine Duperray of L’Immobilière du Pays d’Oingt. A “vingeronne” house in need of restoration costs around 1,400 €/m2 provided that it proposes a main structure which is in perfect condition, space that can already be lived in and a generous amount of land. Once restored, it revolves around 2,300-2,500 €/m2, given that one cannot always predict the tastes of potential buyers. Less expensive barns and farm buildings are ideal for first-time buyers : 100-120 m2 of golden stones in need of rehabiltation cost 120,000 €, with an equivalent property in the valley of Azergues costing 60,000-80,000 €. A 1970’s villa, presented “as is”, sells from 1,000-1,200 €/m2. To attract buyers, recent or new properties need to be in the 260,000-300,000 € bracket. Beyond this symbolic barrier, they come up against competition from building plots. Generally speaking, prices rise the closer one gets to the Prefecture of the Rhône.

“People are currently looking for properties ranging from 250,000 to 350,000 €,” says Sébastien Dufossé of Mercier Transaction. Among his latest sales, he cites a town house of 170 m2 built of golden stone, in need of minor refurbishment, near the center of Le Bois d’Oingt, at 380,000 € ; a farm-house of 220 m2 in grounds of 1,500 m2 over towards Saint-Vérand, at 340,000 € ; and a new apartment of 95 m2 with a terrace and parking place, at 284,000 €. Apartments do have their fans, particularly among older people looking for comfortable appointments and convenience, mostly attracted by the amenities offered by Le Bois d’Oingt. Finally, there are still opportunities for acquiring land with development potential, provided one opts for a central location.