The best villages to buy a second home in Provence have been named, in a new ranking that considers not only culture and village life, but also factors such as internet speeds and TGV connections.
The top 5 best villages to buy a second home in Provence
The ranking, compiled and published by Le Figaro (see the methodology below), put the top 5 villages as:
A view of Saint-Étienne-du-Grèsalpillesenprovence.com
A relatively lesser-known village located between Avignon and Arles, Saint-Étienne-du-Grès has the beauty of the Alpilles limestone, vineyards and olive trees, but is less touristy or high-end than the super-popular Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, les Baux de Provence, or Eygalières, states Le Figaro.
“It's an authentic, old-fashioned village,” said Axel Legros, estate agent at Daniel Féau Provence - Luberon & Alpilles, to Le Figaro. “There are no luxury brands, only small shops and small designers; as well as all the amenities, including small traditional restaurants, a wine shop, [and] a local fishmonger.
“That's what people are looking for: they can have their little daily habits, go and drink their coffee in the morning in the village…it's a restful and peaceful place.”
One resident, whose parents bought a second home in the village in the late 1960s, and whose mother now lives there permanently, said that the village is “one of the most authentic [Provence villages] because it's very lively”.
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Regular events include the festival of Saint-Eloi, which takes place in the second week of August, and sees locals dressing up in traditional Provençal costumes.
“There are tourists, but it is not at all fake. The population is really attached to this festival.”
Estate agent Mr Legros said that the property market in the village is relatively healthy, with 10% of second homes in the area, and a price of €3,500 per square metre. “There are some beautiful farmhouses, village houses and mansions,” he said.
The village of Maillane, which is just eight kilometres north of Saint-Etienne-du-Grès, came in third place, and also stood out for its safety and calmness.
It also won on proximity to transport links (the Avignon TGV station is less than 15 kilometres away), and has many trains to Paris, given it is where two lines (from Marseille and Montpellier) meet.
Second place: Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt
A view of Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt including the village and surrounding lavender fieldsNevodka/Shutterstock
This village came in first place on the same ranking last year, and slipped just one place this year, with Le Figaro calling it “one of the most underrated villages in the Luberon.
“The village is less affected by overtourism than Rustrel or Roussillon,” said Bettina Matias, director of the Apt-Luberon Tourist Office. “The village is just as beautiful as the others, but is less in the spotlight.”
It also has slightly lower property prices than similar villages in the region, mainly because it is 20 minutes’ further away from the nearest TGV station than some ‘golden triangle’ villages, said Emmanuel Garcin, a director at the luxury property network Emile Garcin in south-east France.
“It’s a very pretty village, with beautiful views of the Luberon mountains. The countryside is beautiful, but it is not the most sought-after village, especially by foreign clients [because] it is not in the 'golden triangle',” he said.
Property tends to sell for less than €4,000 per square metre as a result. “A property worth €2 million in the golden triangle would be priced 20 to 30% less here,” Mr Garcin said.
