Buying guide - Midi Pyrenees

By Alexander Garrett
June 2009

Still bargains to be had in Midi Pyrenees

Midi Pyrenees is the region of south-west France that sits immediately above the Pyrenees and Andorra, and is dominated by Toulouse at its centre. It is the largest region in France – bigger than Denmark or Holland – but does not include any coastline. The region was artificially created for administrative purposes, and consists of eight departments: Ariege (09), Aveyron (12), Gers (32), Haute Garonne (31), Hautes Pyrenees (65), Lot (46), Tarn (81) and Tarn et Garonne (82).

  • Still bargains to be had in Midi Pyrenees

    Midi Pyrenees does contain some of France's most historic places, including parts of the ancient provinces of Gascony and Quercy, and in places people still speak the traditional Occitan languages. It is also strongly associated with food – from foie gras to Toulouse sausages – and rugby, and is home to the religious pilgrimage centre of Lourdes. The main attraction for outsiders to buy property there, though, is its relative isolation. Almost half its 2.7m population live in the Toulouse metropolitan area, and the rest of the region has been undergoing population decline for decades.

    So it is particularly attractive to those looking to escape northern Europe's crowded cities, and find a remote farmstead in an isolated valley, nestling in the shadow of the mighty Pyrenees. It's also perfect for people who are into outdoor activities such as hiking, various types of trekking, kayaking and rafting, and even has some opportunities for skiing.

    And climate-wise, Midi Pyrenées receives more than 2,000 sunshine hours a year making it one of the sunniest place in France. With no coastal breezes, temperatures can get too high in places during the summer, and many prefer the spring and autumn, with winters fairly mild.

    It's not the most accessible region of France, but has got better. The main airport is Toulouse, though there are flights from budget carriers to a number of smaller towns in and around Midi-Pyrenees. Access by motorway has been improved by the construction of Norman Foster's stunning bridge, the Millau Viaduct, over the river Tarn.

    Property in the region outside Toulouse itself is generally very good value for money, reflecting the extremely rural nature of the region, and the low population density. Unrenovated village houses start from as little as €20,000; and with a budget of €100,000 to €200,000 you would be spoiled for choice, with prices falling as you get higher up the mountains. A view of snow-capped mountains is one feature definitely worth looking out for when you are property hunting.

    The more expensive departments of Midi-Pyrenees include Lot and Gers. Lot owes its popularity to the fact that it is on the edge of the area which the British know as the Dordogne. Its main town is historic Cahors, capital of ancient Quercy, and it is renowned as a wine-producing area. Gers, on the other hand, is a lush green land that was at the heart of ancient Gascony, and is famous for armagnac, foie gras, magret de canard and other gastronomic delights. Here you'll find spacious country houses with swimming pools for €300,000 to €400,000, still a bargain relative to other parts of southern France.

  • Alexander Garrett is a freelance property writer who contributes regularly to The Observer and British Airways' Business Life.

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