192m2 village house in a quiet area.
EUR €122,000
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Charming house of 90 m2 with many outbuildings
EUR €100,000
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For buying and selling property in Haute-Loire
Haute-Loire was formed in 1790 out of areas that previously formed part of the Languedoc. The department boasts some of the prettiest mediaeval villages in the whole of France. In fact, four of the Haute-Loire's villages have proudly made their way onto the Plus Beaux Villages de France list. The Haute-Loire is also where the Loire River begins its journey. Its source is at the Gerbier de Jonc.
There's definitely something slightly surreal about the Haute-Loire's departmental capital, Le Puy. The town's houses have distinctive red roofs and are situated among a series of volcanic mountains. Le Puy's popularity with visiting pilgrims during the mediaeval period explains the large number of churches dotted around the town, which is also home to the Cathedral de Notre Dame - undoubtedly one of the most impressive reminders of medieval France. Le Puy celebrates its rich history every September with a festival which culminates in an archery competition!
Brioude is a small and lively town with fantastic views over the spectacular Allier plain. It is famously the home of both a saint and a sinner. The former was named Julien and was a Roman legion before converting to Christianity. He was given refuge by the town's people but was eventually martyred.
The sinner, or more accurately, criminal, was the infamous smuggler Mandrin who is still the notorious subject of a number of local tales. It is said that in 1754 Mandarin came to Brioude with his men and forced an unpopular local tobacco tycoon to purchase his contraband at a much inflated price. This was the source of much hilarity in the area for years to come.
The city of Yssingeaux is a perfect base for ramblers since it is surrounded by a landscape of contrasts. On one side is the harsh volcanic mountain range and on the other is a lush, rolling wilderness. The 15th Century Chateau, which became the summer residence for the Bishops of Le Puy, is now the town hall.
There are a number of "black Madonna" sites throughout the department, which have been the focus of many pilgrimages. The statues of the Virgin Mary were carved out of either cedar or dark walnut and have darkened with their age.
The small town of Le Chaise Dieu is home to Europe's highest abbey, built in 1043. Inside there is an "echo room" built with perfect acoustics. This allowed a priest and a leper to talk while as far away from each other as possible.
The village of Chambon sur Lignon has a well known golf course, international tennis centre and a renowned trout fishing river, the "Lignon", which will be hosting a stage of the French National Fly Fishing Competition.
The nearest airport is in Lyon, which has regular flights to and from the UK with a range of airlines. If you're not a keen flyer then the TGV train service, which also stops in Lyon, is recommended. Other airports to consider include Rodez and Clermont Ferrand, though the latter currently only offers seasonal direct flights to and from the UK. Saint Etienne Airport, although close, currently does not offer direct flights to and from the UK. This, however, may be worth checking in future.
Property prices are more expensive in Haute-Loire than the rest of the region due to the vast amount of cultural and geographical attractions on its doorstep.
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Haute-Loire is located in the Auvergne region of central France. It can be found just southwest of Lyon.
Sextant France
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