dordogne valley: ask the agent

Ask the agent No one knows the area like a local estate agent. We asked Peter Elias, of Allez-Français, for the inside track on the Dordogne Valley

What’s the cheapest with stunning scenery, enchanting rivers and tell them what you want, tell them what to property you have on a rich history. It is famed for its gastronomy avoid, and then keep an open mind about your books right now? and enjoys a fabulous climate – how long areas of compromise if possible. We have a partly have you got?! There is something here for finished oak-framed new everyone, and at an affordable price for UK What are the regional specialities? house which will offer four buyers. There is easy access via the airports Truffles are probably the most noted bedrooms. It is still being constructed but all at Brive (the most central), Bergerac, Limoges speciality, but there are truly many: foie gras, of the basic work has been done, and it is or Toulouse, and a good motorway network. cèpe mushrooms, walnuts, strawberries and very competitively priced at €86,000. chestnuts. In the small village of Branceilles, What are your predictions for the vines cover the countryside to produce a How much would you expect to pay for: property market in the Dordogne Valley? delicious local wine, and there is also a sweet  a detached property with land in All the signs for our agency are that 2015 will wine, vin paillé, very similar to the Pineau of good condition? be a good year. Last year we saw a distinct the Cognac area. Worth trying! You are looking around the €200,000 mark, improvement in the market, and our but if you were looking for an in-ground enquiries are currently running at record What local attractions are there in the swimming pool and a larger garden you levels. The pound hovering around the 1.35 Dordogne Valley? would perhaps have to pay more. mark (a seven-year high), has to be good We have a high concentration of Les Plus  a three-bedroom townhouse? news, coupled with record low French Beaux Villages de , all of which are We don’t have many townhouses, as we find mortgage rates. There are some absolute worthy of a visit. For me, the stars of the that our clients prefer a village or countryside bargains to be had. show out of the small towns are Argentat and property. We do however currently have a Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, both of which sit on character house in the charming town of What advice would you give to somebody the River Dordogne. I still have a great Martel. It is just off the old market square, who is thinking of buying in your area? affection for Sarlat-la-Canéda, but out of close to several restaurants, has five Do your research ahead of the visit. There are season, when there are fewer tourists. bedrooms and a patio garden for €222,600. quite distinct climatic differences between the haute Dordogne and the lower Dordogne Describe the area in five words? Why do British people buy houses in the Valley. An awful lot of time can be saved by Spectacular, friendly, affordable, accessible Dordogne Valley? doing good research ahead of viewing visits. and welcoming. The Dordogne Valley is a spectacular area But talk to your agent and don’t hold back, www.allez-francais.com

DORDOGNE VALLEY is it right for you? Fact file Property prices Of the three departments that make up the Regions: Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées, Dordogne Valley, Corrèze has the lowest average Limousin resale price at €110,000; Dordogne is second at Departments: Dordogne, Lot, Corrèze €115,000 and Lot is slightly more expensive at Capitals: Périgueux, Cahors, €120,000. They are all considerably less than the country average of €157,500. Ryanair and CityJet operate flights from London Stansted and London City respectively to Brive Vallée de la Weather Dordogne airport. Other nearby airports include Bergerac The Dordogne Valley tends to enjoy hot summers and mild winters, although and Limoges which have regular flights from the UK. temperatures can drop below freezing. There is plenty of rainfall, especially in winter and early spring, and the weather can vary significantly from one area to another. Eurostar to Paris and then TGV to Brive-la-Gaillarde which takes just over four hours. Activities The Dordogne Valley boasts lively towns, such as Sarlat-la-Canéda and Brive-la- For driving times consult one of the many online Gaillarde, pretty villages, including the Plus Beaux Villages of Collonges-la-Rouge route planners such as those at www.viamichelin.com, a and Carennac, historic châteaux, lush countryside and the River Dordogne. The area www.mappy.com and www.theaa.com. i is rightly famed for its wine and food, counting culinary treats foie gras, truffles and fotol © duck among its specialities.

32 Living France April 2015 completefrance.com