The “GoldenTriangle” in the Luberon : a prestigious part of Provence

Comprised of picturesque hill-top villages offering well-preserved Provençal authenticity and sumptuous panoramic views of the Luberon mountains and Monts de Vaucluse, the “Golden Triangle” has won wide-ranging - and well-deserved - renown.

Originally designating the area formed by Gordes, Ménerbes and Bonnieux, remarkably well-preserved medieval villages on the rocky spurs of the Luberon and Monts de Vaucluse, the “Golden Triangle” has gradually spread to encompass neighbouring communes such as Roussillon, Murs and Joucas. And for good reason : renowned in both France and abroad, this outstanding address continues to cast its spell on a growing number of fans of old stones. Offering an inestimable architectural heritage (Gordes and Ménerbes are listed as two of France’s most beautiful villages), superb views, a lush environment protected by the Luberon’s Regional Nature Park and an incomparable market comprised of second residences, it is only 45 minutes from Avignon’s TGV station.

“The Luberon’s “Golden Triangle” posts high prices, but it ensures sound investments - Gordes in particular benefits from urban planning regualtions among the strictest in France (stone construction…). Purchases motivated by “love at first sight” are, of course, frequent, but there are also those based on reasoning, with buyers very often acquiring a property with a view to reselling over the medium to long term,” explains Claude Reinhart, negotiator covering the Luberon/Ventoux sector for Emile Garcin, a family-run firm founded in 1963 in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence which now has 26 agencies in France. Based in Ménerbes for the past 30 years, Claude Reinhart’s agency specializes in high-quality properties : “Three types of homes can be found here : village houses ranging from 300,000 to 900,000 € depending on the kind of outdoor area - a terrace, courtyard or garden -, the possibility or not of building a pool, and, of course, the view ; stone “mas”, mostly on the plain, proposing generous living space - about 300 m2 - at prices from 800,000 to 2 million euros, depending on their location ; and “bastides”, prestige properties sometimes boasting a vineyard estate of about 100 acres, which can easily attain 5 million euros”. A market dominated by second residences which draws a high-end clientele, mainly from Paris or abroad (Switzerland, Belgium, the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand…), “in search of discretion”.

Janssens Immobilier is a group created in Bonnieux in 1999 with three other agencies in Lourmarin (southern sectors of Luberon/Aix-en-Provence), L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (Pays des Sorgues and Monts de Vaucluse), and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (the Alpilles). It also specializes in sales of luxury homes targetting an international clientele (affiliated to the worldwide real-estate group Knight Frank International - 300 agencies in 43 countries). “Old renovated properties here benefit from such stylishness that they present the unusual feature of being more expensive than new or recently-built homes,” says Rudi Janssens, the group’s owner and General Director. “Especially when exposed stone is set off to its best advantage. The difference in value can then attain 25 %. For old properties, prices range from 250,000 € for a village house of about 100 m2 on several floors with a small courtyard, to over 3 M € for a “mas” or “bastide” of 250-300 m2. These properties have frequently been treated to more than one renovation.” As for recent homes, a Provençal villa proposing modern appointments and living space of 150 m2 in 2,000 m2 of grounds with a pool will cost from 500,000 to 600,000 €. “The price per sq. metre for these properties ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 €. Though it easily soars to 5,000-6,000 € if they offer exposed stone !” Rudi Janssens’s clients are mainly comprised of buyers from northern France and foreigners (from Britain, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg…) with more substantial budgets.

“An elevated view is one of the criteria imposed by the vast majority of people interested in this area,” comments Marc Gargani of L’Immobilière du Château, an agency opened in the 1990’s, focusing on high-end properties all over the Luberon. “By way of example, we recently sold a property consisting of two house on the hills of Murs, with total living space of 250 m2, priced at 700,000 €. Some renovation is on the cards, but the property benefits from almost 6.25 acres of land in an elevated position, offering a magnificent view stretching into the distance.” Another illustration at the upper end of the price range : on a luxury gated estate, a house of 300 m2 with a view, on offer at 1.4 million euros. “A house on a small estate with a pool also found a taker just recently at 450,000 €.” What about building land ? “The very few building plots sell from 100 to 200 € per sqm. A plot of over 5,000 m2 with an elevated view is, for example, currently up for sale at 650,000 €.” Noting a decline in prices notably caused by long negotiations, Marc Gargani is nevertheless confident about the future : “Foreign buyers - Belgian, Dutch, Swiss, British -, who account for 50 % of our turnover, are back ! And the fall in the euro can only be positive.”