Properties: see what you can buy in Orne in rural France for €40,000 and €1.123m

Dept 61 Orne
Prefecture: Alençon.
Other main towns: Flers, Argentan

Orne is a sausage-shaped department in Normandy, stretching east to west, which is appropriate because it is famous for at least three different types of sausages – a boudin noir (black pudding) from Mortagne-au-Perche, a boudin blanc from Essay, and an andouillette (tripe sausage) from Alençon.

Until the mid 2000s, it was often the department where British drivers began to realise they were in France, with lightly trafficked roads passing through beautiful countryside.

Since then two autoroutes have been completed – the A88 running south from Caen, and the A28, which also runs north/south, heading toward Rouen and Le Havre.

The N12 is another major route, linking the east of the department with Alençon, the prefecture.

Trains are also good, with three different lines going through the department, used by Intercité and TER Basse-Normandie services.

The great escape

The countryside is mainly hilly and bocage (high, thick hedgerows) still mark many fields.

Brown-and-white Normandy cattle are popular with farmers and provide milk for Camembert, named after the Orne village where it was first made.

Normandy has always been popular for Parisians seeking a second home for the weekends, and Orne is no exception – across the department 10% of properties are second homes.

Read more:  Properties you can buy in French Nord department for €200,000 and €1 million

Villages are small and usually well kept: Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei in the hilly Alpes Mancelles in the south-west of the department is listed as one of the plus beaux villages de France.

Despite this, property prices in Orne are reasonable, with village homes available for under €40,000. Between €100,000 and €150,000 there are lots of houses ready to move into with large gardens.

The popularity of Normandy means that a fair number of properties have already been converted to a high standard, and many luxury gites built. 

At the time of writing, the following houses were available: 

Under €50,000

This stone-built townhouse, on the market for €40,000 in the small town of Tinchebray, near Flers, could be split into two flats, or left in its current layout of two bedrooms, living room and kitchen.

The total living space is 90m2 and there is a 265m2 garden at the back.

The wallpaper looks as though it dates from the 1960s, and the wood floors could do with a sand and polish, but overall it seems in good condition. 

See: seloger.com/annonces/achat/maison/tinchebray-61/222622649.htm

Under €100,000

Located in the commune of Tourouvre, this small post-war house has a split-level design, with the living quarters set over a part-underground garage/cellar space.

On the market for €96,000, it has a large balcony designed to catch the best of the sun, and is situated between two large state forests, with a 2,794m2 garden and open views.

In the garden there is a second garage, large enough for a campervan.

There are two bedrooms, a living room, and a chair lift has been installed for easy access to the cellar from the house.

A lot of insulating, decorating and modernisation will be needed, but the house has a new gas boiler for the central heating system. 

See: https://www.seloger.com/annonces/achat/maison/tourouvre-61/226960933.htm

Over €1million

Originally a longére farm complex, this 1.3 hectare property in Mortagne-au-Perche is at the end of a little road in the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche.

It is now a complex of four, fully restored houses, each with their own terrace and expansive views of the rolling green hills, which could be run straight away as a gîte complex.

The asking price is €1,123,500. In total there are 17 rooms, 11 bedrooms and five bathrooms, and around the houses a well-kept garden has been created with mature trees. 

See: seloger.com/annonces/achat-de-prestige/maison/mortagne-au-perche-61/219565651.htm