How much does a house cost in ‘the healthiest department’ in France?
This area scored well in a national study on air pollution, green spaces, healthy shops, and hiking trails
The department has train links to its major towns such as Sisteron, pictured here
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Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the south-east of France finished top in a national study of the healthiest departments in France, scoring particularly well for its low pollution, green spaces, and hiking trails. Here is how much it costs to buy a house there.
The study, published in January 2024 by British telemedicine firm Zava, established a wellbeing score for each French department, ranked by a range of criteria, including air quality, the number of green spaces, and sports facilities.
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) came out top overall, with an overall score of 8.1 out of 10. In particular, the department scored:
Top for the presence of shops considered ‘healthy’ (15.51 per 100,000 inhabitants)
Top for the number of public bathing areas (434.34 per 100,000 inhabitants)
Top for pollution ranking (1.58/10).
Third for the number of green spaces per 100,000 inhabitants (22.90 per 100,000 inhabitants)
Fourth for the number of sports centres (7.33 per 100,000 inhabitants)
Fifth for the number of hiking GR trails (39.14 per 100,000 inhabitants)
Read also: GR, GRP, PR: What do the French hiking signs mean?
‘Greenery and fresh air’
“People who come here are looking for greenery and fresh air,” said Carine Chauvet, head of local estate agency Orpi Mylène Murano to Le Figaro.
“They appreciate the fact that there are lots of GR trails, lots of nature paths, and also that there's life all year round!"
The population of the department is on the rise: between 2014 and 2024, the number of residents increased by more than 5%, show figures from national statistics bureau Insee.
“It's not an area dominated by second homes,” added Ms Chauvet. “The majority of residents live here all year round.”
Homes on the market tend to be priced between €300,000 to €500,000, she said.
For a house with three or four bedrooms, a swimming pool, and 800 to 1,000 square metres of land, you should expect to pay around €400,000, she said.
Read also: PHOTOS: Study shows greenest and healthiest places in live in France
Read also: France residents in better health than other countries, study shows
Department shortfalls: Healthcare and transport
Ms Chauvet added that the department is not perfect, however.
“The region has several hospitals but suffers from a shortage of doctors,” she said. “It's not a medical desert, but it can still be difficult to get treatment. Some residents choose to go to Aix-en-Provence or Marseille for treatment as a result.”
Read also: How can I find out which parts of France are lacking doctors?
Read also: Seven questions about ‘medical deserts’ in France
In terms of transport connections, the department is served by several TER and TGV lines, with links to towns such as Manosque, Barcelonnette, Sisteron, Digne-les-Bains, and Briançon. There are some bus routes, but most residents find they must rely on cars.
