The city of Bordeaux in France has been somewhat renowned for its byproducts of viticulture since the eighth Century; it also happens to be one of the most reasonable locations in which to buy property in France. The reason for this, I hasten to add, is not because of the crime rate according to 2006 statistics, it boasts the lowest in France, barring the occasional blip.
However, having hung around some of the portside establishments on numerous occasions, I admit I find this surprising. There were plenty of two-headed space cowboys lounging at the Star Wars bars in the vicinity as I recall. Regardless, Bordeaux is an endearing European city seated at the head of Aquitaine a region of south west France renowned for its vineyards, les chateaux and exquisite gastronomy.
It has been popular with Britons for decades and has witnessed increasing foreign interest since the city embarked on a rejuvenation programme some years ago. There are those that draw comparisons with the redevelopment of Manchester in the UK: I can assure you that the weathers far better but the football team is not!
Most property seekers focusing on Bordeaux will find inventory for all seasons at relatively low prices as compared to other major European cities. It is still possible to buy impressive townhouses and apartments in the historic central areas of Bordeaux for less than dhs1.6 million supported by mortgages at modest interest rates.
Despite the motley crew I encountered on the Gironde estuary, Bordeaux is an intelligent city. A centre for military, space as well as aeronautics research and with a contingent of 100,000 students, the university is lauded for its research units in crop science, new materials and nanotechnology. 2007 has been tipped as a regional investors El Dorado as prices flatten.
Prior to this, property values had increased by an average of 13 per cent per annum from 2004, while those of classical apartments rose by 17 per cent. Beside the town centre, some of the most popular areas are Chartrons, Cauderans, Le Bouscat and Victoire. The regions to the north and east of the Gironde are now teeming with UK expatriates, making integration with French society for the newcomer increasingly difficult. These areas also tend to be entirely rural and lacking in facilities so, unless you genuinely crave the rustic way of life, Gironde provides a more stimulating and sophisticated environment.
With 270 kilometres of fine beaches, Europes best surfing locales and a climate rated by many as even better than the Mediterranean, Bordeaux surely has to be worth a look.
Andy McTiernan is editor-in-chief of Property World Middle East. Contact him at: pworld@eim.ae
www.propertyworldme.comRead more UAE News on www.7days.ae
