James Properties France

NEWSLETTER No. 27 - JUNE 27th 2006

Dear Readers,

The James Properties France newsletter is now one year old and to celebrate this, an article was run in the Worldwide Properties magazine summarising the attractions of the Languedoc. In order to introduce newcomers to the newsletter to the region, a copy of the article is given herein.

There are two top properties. The first is a fabulous stone farmhouse in the Ardèche, with swimming pool and over two and half acres of grounds. The second is a high potential restoration project, comprising a farmhouse and various barns and sheepfolds, in the Lozère.

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Theme of the fortnight: A summary of the Languedoc

France: the great magnet for thousands of British holiday makers, and the great magnet for thousands of British home-buyers seeking their dream property. And why France? -Because the attractions of France are self-evident: its extensive and varied geography, its rich heritage and culture, its gastronomic delights, and, of course, its weather. -The Briton fleeing dingy British skies and who heads, for example, to the South of France is guaranteed thousands of hours of sunshine per year and long summers with temperatures of over 25°C. But where exactly to head for in the South? Where to find all this geography, this culture, this food, and weather? Well, the Languedoc could well be the place to start looking.

The Languedoc, a region that runs along the Mediterranean to the Rhône delta and the Camargue, has great appeal not only for those seeking the sun. The landscape is varied: broad-sweeping plains, gentle rolling hills, and mountains. Much of the lower land is garrigue, a rocky arid terrain with aromatic wild flowers and plants, but in other areas richly fertile, and carpeted with endless vineyards. The Cevennes mountains offer cooler vantage points from which to admire these spectacular panoramas.

This land is punctuated by dramatic natural features: stark, rocky outcrops such as the Pic St. Loup, by gorges, for example those of the Hérault, and Gardon, and by fascinating medieval villages such as St. Guilhem-le-Désert and Pézenas. Again, a more distant historical heritage is equally rich, notably the famous Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, and the Roman Amphitheatre and Temple in Nîmes. Thus it is in part this land and heritage that has drawn leading names in English literature to travel or settle. The widely travelled Lawrence Durrell set up home here for the latter part of his life. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote his Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes following an adventurous trek in 1878, a story dear to the hearts of many Languedociens.

Preservation of the local culture and traditions is a constant concern. A regional language, Occitan, from which, incidentally, derives the name of the region (langue d'oc meaning language of occitan) is still learnt by children and proudly used in the media. Also of interest is the extraordinary sporting calendar which blends traditional events and activities with sports practised the world over. Nautical jousting and sports involving bulls firmly link the region to its medieval past - and arguably surpass pétanque in exotic appeal.

The olive is one of the emblems of Mediterranean civilisations past and present. Olive groves punctuate the Languedoc landscape. Competitions are held to establish the best oils and award them for their fruitiness. Olive oil is central to all Mediterranean cooking, adding its flavour and colour to dishes with evocative names such as gaspacho, bouillabaisse and fricassée. Fish is used in many regional dishes. Bouillabaisse is the result of a stew of mullet, eel, sole, daurade, crayfish in white wine. Seasoning in Mediterranean cooking is added via a variety of olives, herbs, capers, anchovies, fennel, garlic, cepes and truffles. A comprehensive selection of wines of the region complete the gastronomic menu.

Beautiful homes in stone are scattered across the region. Neatly rendered limestone walls and pantile roofs blend particularly well with a landscape of cypress trees and vines against blue skies. One of the immediately apparent traits of local houses is the genoise, an external feature where walls meet the roof and made up of a number of layers of roof tiles, generally two, three or four that create an attractive decorative feature. Another common characteristic is ground floor barrel- and cross-vaulting or even, in the grander houses of the anient nobility, ribbed vaulting. A common contemporary feature among such houses is, of course, the swimming pool, in use from spring to autumn.

And finally, the dynamic heart of this fascinating region is Montpellier, a modern city with a medieval centre. Its opera house which overlooks a vast central square, its canopied cathedral and its thousand-year old medical faculty all position it among the great tourist centres in France. But why not come and see (and taste) all this for yourself? Montpellier and Nimes are easily accessible by direct flights from London.

(Article by JPF run in summer edition of Worldwide Property magazine)

Top Properties Of The Fortnight:

Spatious stone house with immense character set in the hills beside the medieval village of Largentière in the Ardèche, and with views of the Mont Ventoux (Vaucluse) and the Alps beyond. The house stands in a small hamlet and 10,142m² of meadows and one might say, combines all the charm of a historical building and the comfort of everyday living. It has a spatious interior comprising in the main dwelling, a living room with fireplace (40m²) and dining room (30m²), an artist's studio of 40m², three large bedrooms, two shower rooms and a bathroom. An independent dwelling comprises an additional bedroom. Beside the house are a swimming pool (10x5m), greenhouse, a partly roofed courtyard and an authentic bread oven. Particular features include stone bordered openings for doors and windows, magnificent cross vaults and exposed stone and timberwork. Nearby Balazuc falls into the prestigious qualification of being one of the most beautiful French villages. The Ardèche gorges and Vallon Pont d'Arc are a short drive. Double glazing and a new fuel fired central heating system add significantly to the comfort of the house.

Property reference: 375. Asking price: 438,000€. http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/viewpropNP.php?id=375
Information on the village can be found by clicking here: http://www.largentiere.net/office.html

Traditional 'Lozerian' two storey farmhouse near the Gard / Lozère border. This property is a high potential restoration project in that it comprises a main dwelling and also stables, barns and sheepfolds, set around an interior courtyard. Ample exposed stone and timberwork give significant character to the building and a generous amount of space makes possible the creation of a very comfortable home. The property is set in a hamlet on 2500m² of grounds comprising a meadow. Traditional features include a Cevenol chimney and bread oven. The house being situated at an altitude of approximately 900m, it benefits from tremendous views. It is a one hour drive north of Alès and two hours from Nimes city and airport. Nearby Villefort (ten minutes) is an excellent source of shops. A nearby lake offers multiple possibilities for water sports, bathing and in general, a lot of nature.

Property reference: 374. Asking price: 246,100€. http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/viewpropNP.php?id=374
Information on the town: http://villefort48.free.fr/ or http://www.villefort-cevennes.com/

+33 467 297 068
+33 626 581 415
Enquiries can be made through the following page: http://www.jamespropertiesfrance.com/contact.php
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About James Properties France:

Based in Montpellier in the south of France, bringing to you a carefully picked selection of properties within a 70 mile radius - with the occasional more distant exception - that are chosen for their combinations of attributes, most notably:
- Setting of outstanding natural beauty
- Distinct character or unusual features
- Quality of renovation or authenticity
- Value for money

James Properties France (JPF) serves primarily an English speaking, though often highly Francophile clientele looking to move or own a second home in the south of France around such places as Uzes, Nîmes, Montpellier, Anduze, St. Hippolyte du Fort, the Southern Cevennes, Gignac and Clermont l'Herault and the Hauts Cantons. The property selection proposed by JPF is targeted to fit buyers from abroad in terms of types of location, accessibility, environment / landscapes, and types and formats of construction. Besides bringing you a wide array of properties, JPF helps by running specific searches in the Gard and Hérault.

JPF acts as an intermediary between you and a number of regional estate agencies, at no extra charge. Selections of properties that meet your criteria can be established prior to your visits, any linguistic issues totally alleviated, questions about French procedures and legislation addressed quickly, and information on prices and property details addressed plainly by all parties.

JPF helps you with your purchase from the beginning to the end of the process, often communicating with the assigned notary to make sure that content and conditions of sale are correctly documented, ensuring all is in order for completion, and keeping you informed of progress. Insurance and utilities can also be arranged.

In addition, should you wish to have assistance in maintaining or making alterations to your house, or any formalities associated with property ownership or financing in France, JPF can give assistance on an hourly basis.

Should you wish to sell your property in the south of France, JPF can also help.

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