Published in French Property News in March 2004

Ariège – A New Frontier For British House Buyers

You have probably never heard of the Ariège. But this beautiful department of the Pyrenean south, one of the least populated parts of France, is increasingly opening its doors to British home buyers and there are some great bargains to be found.

The Ariège starts out flat south of Toulouse, and gradually gains in height as it approaches the Pyrenees to reach the borders of Spain and Andorra with peaks of nearly 3000 metres. The climate is hot June – August (it can easily reach 30°C +) and warm September – October. November – February can be cold (especially in the mountains of course) and towards Toulouse the temperatures are comparable with winter in the UK. March – May is often rainy but with warm days inbetween (25 – 30°C).

The Ariège is a tourist destination. The Pyrenees have 6 stations de ski de piste, 5 stations de ski de fond, and over 5000 km of marked pathways for walking. There are also incredible caves such as Niaux with its breath-taking paintings from the Magdalenian era. In the western corner is the Couserans where the valleys are renowned for their beauty and traditions. There are also medieval villages and towns such as Mirepoix. The Ariège is part of the tourist area ‘Pays Cathar’ and the dramatic, crag-top castle of Monségur sheltered members of this outlawed, religious sect.

House buyers hoping to set up gîtes or chambres d’hôte can take advantage of the tourist potential. Also, especially near the mountains, rooms can be let year round.

The Ariège also appeals to anyone looking for beautiful scenery and a life ‘away from it all’. Foix, Pamiers and St-Girons have all the facilities but are quiet. Foix is the smallest préfecture in France. Anyone wanting excitement can live nearer to Toulouse, or close to the newly opened A66.which puts Foix only 45 minutes away from the city. The proximity to Toulouse’s airport, which now has direct flights to most parts of the UK, is another good reason for considering the area.

Dominique Perilhou at Privilege Immobilier in Mirepoix says that 6-10 years ago the market in her area was essentially local and houses were selling at under market price. But then, as the Côte d’Azur, Dordogne and Lot became expensive Northern Europeans began to look for somewhere else to buy their dream home in the sun and they found the Ariège. Prices began to climb and since then have nearly doubled. Evelyne Biard at L’Habitat in Daumazan-sur-Arize, in the north of the department, says in her area prices have risen about 30% in the past 5 years.

The most expensive area and the most popular with British buyers is around Mirepoix. The charm of the town and its proximity to the dry Mediterranean climate, the vineyards of the Aude, and Carcassonne airport (with low-cost RyanAir flights) has fuelled the area’s popularity. A stone village house in reasonable condition with 3 bedrooms and a living area of 100m2 is about 150,000€. For a larger character property with a living space of 200m2 and 2000m2 of land, 4 bedrooms, and a pool, the asking price might be over 500,000€.

Prices come down nearer to St Girons and the Pyrenees. Nicky Kendall at Arieg’Immo in St Girons says that exclusive properties are harder to find here because the area is poorer and properties sometimes need a lot of work. However, the good news is that you can find a 3 bedroom house in good condition for about 120,000€. A 3 bedroom village house in the Seronais (between St Giron and Foix), with 150m2 living space might be under 100,000€. Recently a 4 room village house in the Bellongue valley (near Castillon-en-Couserans) came on the books for 33,400€ but needed considerable renovation. Similarly priced (and even cheaper) properties can be found in the other mountain valleys, though they are often unrenovated barns with very limited access and perhaps no electricity. There are more upmarket properties for sale in the area too. Privilege Immobilier are featuring a stone character property, chalet-style, with a pool, near St Girons, for 234,600€. Properties in the valleys south of Tarascon are available for a similar range of prices.

Towards Toulouse property prices begin to rise but can remain reasonable and are less than in the city’s suburbs. Evelyne Biard at L’Habitat says that British buyers aren’t very interested in the area yet, although it is popular with the Dutch. She has a 3 bedroom, renovated farm near to Daumazan with 9684m2 of land for 287,000€, and a 6 bedroom, maison de maitre, with living space of 250m2 and 6400 m2 of land, requiring some work, for 397,000€.

According to Dominique Perilhou prices around Mirepoix and towards Aude seem to be stabilising. They might rise slightly in the next 2 years but the average budget now is 100,000 – 150,000€ so the sellers asking price has to reflect this. Newer, modern houses are becoming popular, even on estates. There’s no hard work involved and people know what they are getting.

Evelyne Biard says that in her area prices should continue to rise, especially in villages along the A66. Toulousains are interested in second homes near to the mountains and are helping to keep prices moving upwards.

The Ariège is a beautiful and diverse department which, with low-cost flights going into Toulouse and Carcassonne from many parts of the UK and an improved road network, has never been so accessible to British house buyers. For those thinking of opening a chambres d’hôte or gîte the possibility of year-round letting is an attractive option, especially given the low property prices in the valleys. The advantages for skiers are obvious. Sun-seekers can head nearer the Aude – since the prices round there have stabilised for now it could be the time to make that move.