Pyrénées Atlantiques Property Guide & Information

Situated in the Aquitaine region in south-west France, this department is called Pyrenees-Atlantiques due to its geographical location. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Pyrenees mountains to the South. Given the proximity with Spain, this department has always conserved special economical and cultural links with the neighbouring country.

Overview

Originally, the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department constituted the former provinces of Bearn, Gascony and Guyenne. The southern part of the department forms the homeland for the French Basque community. The Basques have a long tradition in this part of France and this presence is very evident in the local Basque language, history and local culture.

Thanks to quality accommodation and cheap flights to the Pyrenees airports - Pau & Biarritz-, the Pyrenees-Atlantiques is increasingly appealing to holidaymakers, nature lovers and property purchasers from France and abroad.

Pyrénées Atlantiques Immobilier & Property Market Trends

The property market in Pyrenees-Atlantiques remained pretty stable until 2006. Demand for properties remains stable, but activity is at a considerably lower level than during the previous years. For instance property prices only rose by 2.5% during 2007-2008.

House prices are relatively high in the Pyrenees Atlantiques due to the high demand for second homes and holiday accommodation. In 2008, the average price of property in the department was €3,227 /sq m (French average being €3,200/sq m). Renting a house in Pyrenees-Atlantiques is also quite expensive when compared with neighbouring departments and the national average. The average rental price for a property in 2008 was €10/sq m /month.

In 2008, the average price for an house was €277,600 and more than 62% of Pyrenees-Atlantiques properties were detached. Regarding house ownership, about 60% of people in the department are property owners.

To get updated info about housing prices in Pyrénées Atlantiques, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Pyrénées Atlantiques

• Varied landscapes: a real advantage of this department is that you can enjoy completely different landscapes. You are never far from the beautiful coastline and sea and you can enjoy the lush rolling countryside and scenery to the north and the east. To the south the stunning Pyrenees mountains provides stunning scenery and breathtaking views.

• Outdoor activities: you can practise plenty of outdoor pursuits in Pyrénées-Atlantiques. A wide range of activities are accessible across the department, these activities include: cycling, horse riding, canoeing, skiing, climbing, bird watching, caving trekking, fishing, paragliding, golfing, etc. If you are interested in outdoor activities then buying a property in this department is definitely appealing.

• Rich cultural heritage: as said before, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department forms the pays Basque (Basque country) area of France. The area is influenced by many Basque traditions: Basque dances, sports (the pelote Basque is the most famous one) and food. The Basque culture is quite unique and the area offers a historic way of life to discover!

• Nature: Pyrenees Atlantiques is an attractive destination for people looking to explore real nature. The Pyrenees mountains stretch along the southern border of the department from the coast in the west to the border with Bigorre in the east. The mountains form part of the Pyrenees national park which covers over 4.500 hectares, comprises of 6 valleys and offers an exceptional array fauna and flora, it is a truly natural paradise. The beautiful coastline and woodland throughout the department are also great places to discover the local nature of south west France.

• Transport links: Pyrenees Atlantiques offers excellent transport links. The recent A63 improvements makes the towns of Biarritz and Bayonne more accessible from Bordeaux and northern parts of France. The region also offers good road access to Toulouse and the eastern side of France while Spain is easily accessible to the south Accessing the Pyrénées-Atlantiques from all over Europe by air is easy thanks to low cost airline companies.

Local Property Market: 5 Popular Towns

• Anglet property: a river, numerous beaches and a pine forest…Anglet has many assets that will definitely seduce you.

• Bayonne property: this historic coastal town is also considered as an active urban centre of the department. Bayonne is fiercely Basque and bases its activities on the historic port and tourism. The town continues to be a desirable locations for holiday makers and property investors in South west France.

• Biarritz property: this chic seaside resort is especially famous amongst surfers, it annually attracts professional surfers from every part of the world! With a perfect location on the Atlantic coast, this popular tourist location offers 4 health centres: 2 thalassotherapy centres, 2 spas and a whole range of other tourist facilities. Biarritz is an ideal town for those people looking for a combination of buzzing town and seaside resort.

• Pau property: Pyrénées-Atlantiques' dynamic urban centre and the capital of the Bearn area. It remains a popular destination for foreign property purchasers. Thanks to improved transport links and the availability of old property its popularity has enjoyed a renaissance with the English, following its initial popularity in the 19th century. More recently it has been called the “petrol capital” as natural gas was discovered nearby in Lacq in the 1950s. This vibrant town lies within easy reach of the mountains and coast and numerous picturesque and traditional small villages throughout the Béarn .

• St Jean-de-Luz property: famous for its port and renowned catches of anchovies, tuna and sardine - Saint Jean de Luz is a buzzing town and a great seaside resort ideally located close to the border with Spain and nearby towns of Biarritz and Bayonne.

Property Styles and Architecture in Pyrenees Atlantiques

The architecture in Pyrenees-Atlantiques is diverse, but some property styles characterise the property found within the department.

• Maisons Basques: these red and white coloured villa style houses were originally constructed of wood, but in recent years stone has been used. The houses are often of huge dimensions and rectangular shape. The basque houses are a real symbols of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques culture.

• Maisons Béarnaises: as their name indicates, the maisons béarnaises are typical houses of the Béarn province. This kind of house is recognisable due to the walls constructed of stone, pebbles and cob and the steeply pitched roofs often covered in tile or slate. The entrance to a maison béarnaise often has a square courtyard and attached buildings, together forming a ‘U’ ot ‘L’ shape residence.

• Farmhouses: the availability of farm houses and plentiful countryside makes the Pyrenees Atlantiques an ideal location for property buyers looking for authentic country life. Country life is widely accessible and the area offers lots of horse riding opportunities and a strong hunting. You can find different farm houses styles in this department, the typical ones being maison basse-navarre and maison labourd.

Click here for more info about Architecture in Aquitaine.