Buying Property in the Dordogne

If you’re considering buying property in France you would be well advised to check out what Dordogne property has to offer.

Situated in the Aquitaine region of the hilly south-west of France, the Dordogne is home to famous French wines (including Bergerac), ancient ‘bastide’ towns, mouth-watering cuisine (including the famous Pâté de foie gras), incredible historic monuments and castles (it has 4000 chateaux, 10 per cent of all in France), and a wide variety of cultural attractions

The region takes its name from the river that runs through it, although locally it is known as the Perigord, a name derived from Gaulish word ‘Petrecore’ the collective name of four tribes who used to inhabit this diverse and beautiful region.

These tribes, who once formed part of a resistance against the Romans, give their colourful names to the four parts of the region.

"Périgord Vert" (Green Périgord) a region of lush and verdant valleys with Nontron as its principal town.

"Périgord Blanc" (White Périgord) situated around the capital of Périgueux and named after the white limestone that characterizes this area and gives it its landscape of plateaux, wide valleys and meadows.

"Périgord Pourpre" (Purple Périgord) a wine growing region whose capital is the renowned Bergerac.

"Périgord Noir" (Black Périgord) situated around its capital of Sarlat and named after the Oak and Pine woods that comprise much of the region.

Weather - Despite the lushness of its beautiful landscapes, the region enjoys wonderful weather. Summers tend to be hot with average temperatures ranging between 25 and 35 degrees centigrade, while spring and autumn are only slightly milder with the range between 22 and 28 degrees. Although the region is prone to some rainfall the skies are rarely grey with sunshine averaging over 2000 hours of sunshine per year (that’s 5 ½ hours a day).

Getting There - The best way to travel to the Dordogne is by air and then continuing your journey by car. The region’s principal airport is situated in Bergerac and is served by Ryanair and flybe who also serve nearby Limoges. Bordeaux (British Airways, flybe, bmibaby, Aer Lingus and easyJet ) and Toulouse (British Airways, flybe, bmibaby, easyJet and bmi) are also close.

Property Prices - The Dordogne has traditionally been a popular destination for those people choosing to relocate to France. It has been particularly popular with the Dutch, the Germans, and above all the British, with young families and retirees making up the greater part of the demographic. As a consequently prices have traditionally remained high. However due to the rising popularity of other destinations in France, prices in the Dordogne have recently stabilised, making it an increasingly affordable choice.

The most popular Dordogne properties tend to be those that are located within their own grounds within easy access of local shops. Naturally, however, these tend to be the highest priced properties.

For full details about buying property in France contact Home Hunts sales team on 00 33 970 44 66 43 or look at our website www.home-hunts.com