HOUSES AND PROPERTY FOR SALE IN Brittany

Brittany is one of the prettiest and most diverse areas of France – you probably know it as a popular holiday-home destination, but did you know that in a poll of French homebuyers it was the area they most want to move to?

The reasons are obvious – let’s start with the beaches and coastline, which stretches to an astonishing 2,700 km’s (that’s 1,677 miles in old money). Take your pick from a hike along the rugged cliffs, to lazing on the golden sands or eating freshly caught seafood in one of the traditional fishing villages. No matter where you buy in Brittany, you will have access to these delights. Inland you will find a beautiful rolling landscape with picturesque towns and villages, famous for the variety, colour and quality of the markets. The renowned Lac de Guérledan is right in the heart of Brittany, covering 300 hectares the paths around it wander through glorious forests and are a haven for walkers, cyclists and those seeking peace and tranquility.

Property prices have risen in recent years, but still represent excellent value for money, no wonder this is such a popular place for both domestic and international buyers. Indeed, French buyers have been to the fore in recent years, choosing Brittany as the region they want to buy a holiday home. There have been many reports in the French news putting this down to “climate migrants” who prefer the milder climate to the more severe extremes to be found in Spain, Portugal and parts of the Mediterranean.

Brittany has several airports, with flights within France and to international destinations. Rennes Bretagne airport has direct flights to 18 European countries, and 17 countries outside Europe (including Canada/USA, the UAE, Singapore, South Africa and Brazil). It also flies to eight cities within France. The airports in Brest and Lorient are all smaller and mainly service domestic flights.

The TGV runs daily between Paris and Rennes (around 2hrs 12 mins), and regional trains connect the smaller towns in the region.

Many UK visitors like to take the ferry, with regular services running from Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Poole to the ports of Saint-Malo and Roscoff in Brittany, or via Normandy ports such as Cherbourg.

Several major highways run through Brittany, giving easy access to Paris, Belgium, Holland and the Channel Tunnel car terminal. The A84 leads up to Caen, whilst the A81 heads due east towards Paris. Meanwhile the RN137 heads south to Nantes.

Record demand and low stock levels pretty much sum up the Brittany property market over the last couple of years. Prices have risen accordingly, with a typical apartment in Rennes seeing an increase of almost 11% in 2022. A family home in Brest will have seen a rise around 12% in the same period.

Low interest rates have been a bedrock of this demand and it helps that a French Government report, comparing employment data from 100 towns, declared Rennes as having the strongest labour market in France. With interest rates rising we are likely to see a slight dampening of demand, which should mean more stock being available and more choice for buyers.

One other driver of the Brittany property market is the trend towards home working. Télétravail (working from home) has exploded, and people are looking for country houses that offer more space/light with a view, and high speed broadband. There has been a population explosion in cities like Rennes, and families are tempted by the lower prices in the countryside. The third factor is the temperate climate to be found in Brittany, with clients looking to escape the extreme temperatures, fires, and floods to be found in Spain, Italy, and some Mediterranean destinations.

Brittany is home to some fine manoir, chateaux and country estates. They may be fewer in number than further south in the Loire number, but what they lack in quantity they make up for in quality. The good news is that, because they are inland away from the more costly coastline, they tend to be well priced and offer excellent value for money.