French property watch: Grand Est
REGIONAL CAPITAL: Strasbourg DEPARTMENTS: Ardennes, Aube, Bas-Rhin,Haut-Rhin, Haute-Marne, Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Vosges MAIN CITIES: Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Colmar, Reims, Troyes, Nancy, Charleville-Mézières, Metz, Thionville
France’s most north-easterly region, home to the famous wine-making areas of Champagne and Alsace, enjoys relatively sunny summers and cold, overcast winters – which are warmed by the seasonal joy of the Christmas markets.
When it was formed in June 2016, the Grand Est united the historic regions of Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine.
Its largest city, regional capital Strasbourg, is home to a range of EU institutions, including the European Parliament and the Court of Human Rights.
Its picturesque historic centre, the Grande Ile, was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1988.
Given the political importance of its capital, it is no surprise that the region enjoys good transport links, while it also boasts several English-language international schools, most of which are based in Strasbourg.
The city dominates the housing market in the Grand Est, with older properties close to the centre likely to set you back about €406,300.
In the metropolitan area as a whole, however, you should be able to find a similar traditional house for a little over €320,000.
The biggest property mover in the region over the past year or so has been Metz, which – after a slow 2018 – saw prices for typical older properties jump more than 13% in 12 months to reach €242,000 at the end of 2019.
Meanwhile, properties in and around Reims are likely to set you back in the region of €215,000, and it will cost roughly €207,000 to live around Nancy.
