For buying and selling property in Sainte Foy la Grande
Ste Foy la Grande is a bastide town that carries all the significant characteristics of the 13th century "new towns", built to provide protection against marauding armies of English in the French/ English wars. Ste Foy follows the distinctive design of grid patterned streets centring in on a main arcaded central square with a fortified church. Because it is such a good example of a bastide (and also because it is very beautiful and atmospheric), Ste Foy is popular both with holiday makers and those seeking a full-time home in France.
Ste Foy la Grande has a Saturday market that is said to be one of the best 50 markets in the country... quite an accolade when you consider the competition! The town is also extremely well equipped with shops, supermarkets, bars, restaurants and all other amenities.
The town of Ste Foy la Grande is not only known for its lovely old buildings and wonderful markets, but also for its deep river port, which has been of such importance to the wine trade over many years. Port Sainte Foy is largely a fishing village, but has also been very significant for the wine trade.
Ste Foy la Grande has plenty of opportunities to get active and outdoorsy, and the good news is that the weather is usually good enough to make this an appealing proposition too! In the surrounding area you can play golf, ride horses, hire bicycles, go fishing, swimming, play tennis... and, of course, try your hand at the quintessentially French game of petanque... a great way to while away a lazy summers evening with friends!
If you want to use Ste Foy as a base for exploring the region, there are lots of fascinating places within easy reach. Visit Bergerac, Bordeaux, Eymet, St Emilion... the list of possibilities is endless. Try the great wines of the region in the land in which they were made, and enjoy the fascinating wildlife found on the Gironde estuary and on that unique stretch of the Atlantic coast.
Flying is easy as the international airports of Bordeaux and Bergerac are both within reach. Bordeaux is served by British Airways, bmibaby, Aer Lingus and easyJet, while Bergerac is served by flybe and Ryanair. If you prefer travelling by train, the TGV will take you to Bordeaux, so you can make almost the entire journey by rail, beginning with Eurostar to Paris, then changing to the TGV for Bordeaux.
Prices of fully restored properties in the Gironde can be on the high side, as it is not just a beautiful department, but the area is economically successful and offers a great quality of life as well as access to one of France's great and cosmopolitan cities, Bordeaux. Properties range from small village houses to huge wine growers' estates, with everything in between... so you should find something to suit close to Ste Foy! The area does have the distinct advantage of offering some rare renovation projects in the countryside near Ste Foy, however, so if this is what you are after make the most of the opportunities, as these properties can be hard to find in much of the Aquitaine these days.
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Sainte Foy la Grande is located in the south-west of France. It lies in the very east of the Gironde department, right on the border with the Dordogne.
Sainte Foy la Grande Property Map
Aquitaine Property Map
Gironde Map
Population: 2,748
Access: By air: Bordeaux and Bergerac airports are both near enough to make air travel a simple matter. By rail: The TGV runs to Bordeaux, so you can make almost the entire journey by rail.
Economy: The economy is (perhaps unsurprisingly in a town that lies near Bordeaux), based on the wine trade, with important wine markets held in Sainte Foy.
Interesting fact: Sainte Foy la Grande has a deep water port on the River Dordogne.