The South of France is synonymous with glitz, glamour, and out-of-this world real estate prices.
But look beyond the beaches of Cannes and the high-end celeb hangout of Antibes and it is possible to find bargain homes in the South of France.
And one region in particular is worth paying attention to…
Languedoc-Roussillon essentially covers the area of southern France where the Occitane language was once the common tongue. It’s just west of Provence and stretches all the way to the Spanish border where you’ll find Roussillon—French Catalonia—sandwiched alongside the Pyrenees Mountains.
In 2016, the region joined with the Midi-Pyrénées region and was christened Occitanie. But for most folks, the Languedoc is still the Languedoc.
This region boasts sun-drenched Mediterranean beaches and colorful resort towns, wild mountain ranges, dramatic gorges, and stunning hill towns, and big cities like Perpignan and Montpellier. And it’s the biggest wine-producing region in France. In fact, it accounts for 5% of global wine production.
The Languedoc was once known as the “poor man’s Provence” and so it’s not overrun with the same volume of tourists as its more well-known neighbor…yet.
Here’s what my research team found…
Azille
Listing Price: €80,000 ($93,170)
The medieval village of Azille is located in the heart of the Aude department of the Languedoc. The Canal du Midi is just 5 minutes away, you can be in the citadel city of Carcasonne in just over 30 minutes, and Mediterranean beaches are less than an hour from here. The village itself is centered around a 14-century church and has bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and a new bakery!
This 3-bed, 1-bath house is located right in the village. It also has a living room, a fully fitted kitchen, and there’s space off the living room that could be turned into a small office. At the rear of the house there’s a small space on the pedestrianized street where you could put some seating to enjoy an evening glass of wine.
Quillan
Listing Price: €95,000 ($110,650)
Quillan was once a stopping point on the ancient winding road between Carcassonne and Perpignan. It was also famous for its hat making. That’s all changed now and today the area is known for its eco-tourism and activities like kayaking, rafting, and hiking. There’s a regular €1 bus service to both Carcasonne and Perpignan from Quillan for when you need a big-city fix.
This 2-bed, 1-bath house is located in a residential area but is a short walk to the center of town. It features a living room with a wood burning stove, a kitchen/dining room, and a small garden to the rear of the house.
Montalba-le-Château
Listing Price: €79,000 ($92,000)
If you’re looking for a quiet life in a small village, then the medieval village Montalba-le-Château will tick the box. There’s a weekly local food market with bread, cheese, fruit, wine, beer and meat on offer, a local shepherd sells lamb, and there’s a local goats cheese producer. And a pizza van visits the village once a week. But Perpignan is just 20 miles to the east and the town of Ille sur Tet, with its restaurants and supermarkets is a 10-minute drive away.
This 2-bed, 1-bath stone village house also has a living room with a fireplace, a kitchen and utility room with access to an attic space above that could be turned into more living space. One of the bedrooms has a small balcony with views over the village.
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