HOUSES AND PROPERTY FOR SALE IN Centre-Val-de-Loire

Well, you can’t ask for much more than the most beautiful chateaux in France. Nothing beats a day out at Chambord, Chenonceau or one of the dozens that line the Loire riverbank. Immerse yourself in French history, or simply wander around the glorious formal gardens . You won’t be alone though, as they attract tourists from around the world, throughout the year. This means that property in the Loire valley is an excellent investment, with plenty of short-term rental opportunities.

Expect more than pretty chateaux though – the Loire valley is also home to some of the most attractive towns in France. Blois, Tours and Bourges are just three that have historic centres to explore and, as the French would say, “un patrimoine exceptionnel”. The climate is ideal, with warm, sunny summers and mild winters. Ideal for growing grapes, which is why you will find plenty of vineyards and some excellent local wines .

You can also expect to see an excellent mixture of property – from renovation properties in the Loire countryside, at bargain prices, to beautiful family homes and mini-chateaux. Buy a property in Centre Val de Loire and you can be certain that you will be in good company.

Many visitors come to the Loire valley via Paris, and the international airports are easy to access by car or train. However, there is also a small and convenient regional airport in Tours. You can fly direct to London, Dublin, Porto, Marrakech, Marseille and Montenegro.

Centre Val de Loire has a well-developed railway network that connect to major cities in France and Europe. The TGV high-speed trains run from Paris Montparnasse to Tours (around 1 hr 15 mins), Orleans (around 1hr 5 mins) and Bourges (around 1 hr 57 mins). Indeed, the French Government is investing 300m euros in the regional SNCF network in 2023, with much of this being spent on modernising the Paris-Orleans-Limoges-Toulouse line.

Accessing the Loire valley by car is easy, and you get to drive through the beautiful vineyards and countryside. The A10 motorway connects Paris to Tours, while the A71 heads south and west from Orleans to Clermont-Ferrand and the French Alps. The A28 heads north and will take you to Le Mans and then up towards the ferry ports.

The market in Centre Val de Loire has been strong in recent years, throughout all six departments. On average, prices rose between 4-6% last year, with the lowest prices being found in Indre, and the highest in Indre et Loire. Obviously, you will pay a premium for property in one of the larger towns (Tours, Orléans, Bourges, Blois or Chateauroux), although none of these are major cities. Tours, for example, has a population of around 136,000.

You will find that property in a town or village that attracts a high footfall of tourists, also attracts a premium for both sales and rentals. So, if you want to have a view over the Chateau de Cheverny, or Chateau Royal d’Amboise, then you will pay a pretty penny for the privilege.

The good news is that property throughout the region offers exceptional value for money, and there are a plethora of pretty towns and villages to choose from. Our property portfolio in the Loire valley typically ranges from townhouses for well under 100,000 euros, up to mini-chateaux and majestic country estates. This is definitely a region where “local knowledge” is worth its weight in gold, you will find that our agents on the ground have a wealth of knowledge about the prettiest towns, best markets and tourist traps to avoid. They will also be able to advise on local property prices and help you find your dream house in the Loire Valley.