18 Leggett International Real Estate
THE REST OF
FRANCE
Châteaux and country estates in rural
France have seen a resurgence in sales
over the last two years, particularly to
buyers from the USA and UK.
The former has been taking advantage of the
strong dollar, and are particularly keen on
the history and architectural significance of
the properties. Demand from the UK seems
to have been driven by the glut of TV shows
dedicated to the purchase and running of
French châteaux. Each region of France has
a different appeal in the prestige market.
Whether it is a maison de maître in Nouvelle
Aquitaine, an equestrian property in the
Grand Ouest, country houses with lakeside
fishing in the centre of France, or a rambling
estate in Occitanie they are at the top of the
shopping list.
Meanwhile, it is not just Paris that has
seen strong demand from high-end buyers.
Cities such as Bordeaux carry a prestigious
reputation, in this case linked to its renown
as the home of the world's finest vineyards.
Indeed, fine wines have seen their values
increase since 2015, and last year they
outperformed mainstream equities.
Leggett Prestige has a team of agents
covering Bordeaux and the surrounding
region, we have a long-established office
in Saint-Émilion. Simon Liddiard is one of
our agents in Bordeaux and he explains
that HNWI's tend to look in Bordeaux's
"golden triangle":
"Sales of apartments between 1M€ and
2M€ with 100 to 200m² of living space tend
to be concentrated in the golden triangle,
behind the Intercontinental hotel and Opéra
and around the Jardin Public park in central
Bordeaux. Buyers of luxury apartments in
central Bordeaux often have second homes