Cote d’Or Property Insight
The Côte d’Or department is located in the north east of the Burgundy region. It accounts for more than 531,000 inhabitants called Costaloriens. The department was created in March 1790 from the former province of Burgundy. It is the only French department, the name of which does not originate from a geographical criterion. Indeed, the name ‘Côte d’Or’ was given because of the gold colour of the vineyards of the coast of Beaune – côte Beaunoise – during autumn. Côte d’Or shares borders with the departments of Yonne, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Jura, Haute-Saône, Aube and Haute-Marne. The prefecture of the department is Dijon.
Overview
The Côte d’Or department can be divided into four geographical territories: Morvan (south west), Langres’ plateau (north), Saône’s plain (east) and Auxois-Châtillonais (north west). It is the fourth French department in terms of surface: with 8,763 square metres, Côte d’Or represents 1.6% of France.
The department has always been a crossroads. Indeed, the Gauls fought against Caesar under Vercingetorix in Alesia, or today the town of Alise-Sainte-Reine. The area, as many other French departments, suffered from varied invasions. But it managed to develop again and is nowadays famous for its art de vivre, heritage and gastronomy.
The area boasts very good wines with the famous Route des Grands Crus. This touristy route goes from Dijon to Santenay and offers people the possibility to discover 38 villages where fine wines of the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune are produced. Famous villages such as Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Beaune, Pommard, Meursault or Puligny-Montrachet belong to Côte d’Or. The department offers therefore outstanding landscapes with the numerous vineyards and an unspoilt nature.
Cote d’Or Immobilier & Property Market Trends
When it comes to property market, the Côte d’Or department offers reasonable prices. The average price for a property to buy there in 2009 is €2,386 / square metre against €3,197 / square metre for the national average. However, it is the most expensive departments of Burgundy in terms of housing prices. Indeed, a property costs about €1,881/sq m in Yonne, €1,322/sq m in Nièvre and €1,616/sq m in Saône-et-Loire.
In 2008, an apartment cost approximately €2,030 / square metre, a new one about €2,700/sq m and a house €182,600. Below are some figures about property prices for apartments and houses that cover the period of March 2008 to February 2009.
House Prices in Cote d Or: March 2008/ February 2009
| Bedrooms: | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Average |
| Côte d’Or | €113,500 | € 155,300 | €196,200 | €230,900 | €182,600 |
| Dijon’s area | €134,400 | €182,100 | €220,100 | €255,800 | €218,100 |
| Beaune’s area | €115,700 | €135,600 | €185,900 | €193,500 | €160,300 |
| Montbard’s area | €71,000 | €99,100 | €121,600 | €148,300 | €101,500 |
Apartment Prices in Cote d Or: March 2008/ February 2009
| Studio Flats | 2 rooms | 3 rooms | 4 rooms | 5 rooms | Average | |
| Côte d’Or | €2,360 / sq m | €2,160 / sq m | €2,010 / sq m | €1,890 / sq m | €2,060 / sq m | €2,030 / sq m |
| Dijon’s area | €2,420 / sq m | €2,190 / sq m | €2,060 / sq m | €1,940 / sq m | €2,080 / sq m | €2,070 / sq m |
| Beaune’s area | €1,930 / sq m | €1,920 / sq m | €1,800 / sq m | €1,620 / sq m | / | €1,820 / sq m |
| Montbard’s area | / | / | / | / | / | €950 / sq m |
As you can notice in these tables, property prices in Dijon are much higher than in Beaune and Montbard. This can of course be explained by the numerous assets that the prefecture boasts.
To get updated info about property prices in Côte d’Or, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.
Click here to have an overview of Bourgogne Property Prices.
5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Cote d’Or
Landscapes: the department has a preserved nature and offers thus wonderful landscapes. We can quote for instance the 80km-long coast covered by vineyards between Dijon and Beaune - the cirque du Bout du Monde in Vauchignon (stunning limestone cliffs along the Cozanne River), the Morvan mountain with Savilly’s panorama and Châtillonais’ forests.
Tourism – sights: there is an important cultural heritage in Côte d’Or. Indeed, many monuments are worth seeing as they testify from the fascinating past of the area. It is the case, amongst others, for the abbey of Fontenay (listed in the World Heritage of Unesco), castles of la Rochepot, Châteauneuf and Montfort, Beaune’s hospices and so on. Towns such as Dijon or Semur-en-Auxois attract many tourists every year. The latter because of its medieval treasures and the first one due to its label ‘town of Art and History’.
Wine: vineyards spread on 9,300ha in the department which has three main wine-producing areas: the Châtillonais, the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune. Wine lovers appreciate this department and the Burgundy region in general because of all the AOC wines it offers… The Crémant de Bourgogne (sparkling wine) and Bourgogne (red, white wines and rosé) are produced in the north of Côte d’Or, in the Châtillonais. The region of Côte de Nuits - from Dijon to Corgoloin – has very renowned AOC wines such as Fixin, Marsannay, Gevrey-Chambertin or Vougeot. Spreading from the north (Ladoix-Serrigny) to the south (Les Maranges), the Côte de Beaune covers the largest part of the wine-growing area of the department with 5,980ha. Why not visit a cellar and taste local wine that the area has to offer?
Activities: all kind of activities can be practised in this department. The most appreciated ones are hiking, riding a horse or a mountain bike. Paths in the vineyards are very famous amongst holiday makers, especially wine lovers. There are many sport and leisure facilities within the area so that everybody can be satisfied. The Côte d’Or department is perfect for those who want to practise sport during their holidays and stay in a quiet area with wonderful landscapes at the same time.
Location – transport infrastructure: Côte d’Or is well-linked to the rest of France and the neighbouring European countries. There are three TGV high speed train stations within the department: Dijon, Montbard and Beaune. It is also easy to reach the area by road as several major French motorways cross the area such as the A5, A6, A31 and A36. They link Côte d’Or to the main French cities : Lille, Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Besançon, Nancy, Mulhouse, Strasbourg, but also to Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Luxembourg. Dijon’s international airport is also an option to access the department.
Local Property Market: 4 Popular Towns
- Beaune property: this medieval town is famous for its ‘hospices’, but has much more to offer: outstanding monuments, fine wines, interesting museums and so on. Property hold a good value in Beaune.
- Chatillon-sur-Seine property: located at the entrance door of the Champagne Ardenne region, Chatillon sur Seine has a great setting in a natural area. It became famous because the treasures of Vix were found in its surroundings. The town has indeed an important archaeological heritage. Housing price is really cheap in the area with an average price of €1,068/sq m in May 2009.
- Dijon property: the administrative centre of the department and the Burgundy region boasts a fine gastronomy, many places of interest and facilities in many domains (sport, business, leisure, etc). When it comes to real estate, the average price for a property to buy in Dijon is €2,385 / square metre.
- Semur en Auxois property: everybody can’t help loving this medieval town situated in the west of the department. From its fortifications to half-timbered houses and Renaissance facades, Semur en Auxois has much to offer. The town offers good rental opportunities.
Property Styles and Architecture in Cote d’Or
Winegrower’s houses: located in the middle of the vineyards, these properties are full of character and authenticity. They are large wood and stone properties. Inside these houses, beams are exposed and many parts of the properties are made of wood (furniture for instance). Winegrower’s houses have a large stone chimney in the living room and of course cellars where people can store the wine. These properties are a great investment for Bed&Breakfast accommodation or gites.
Farmhouses / barns: there are plenty of large farmhouses or barns in the department which need some works but definitely have a great potential. They are located in the countryside and offer thus great views over the area, especially the vineyards. Constructed of stone or bricks, farmhouses have many rooms and offer possibility of extension (attic for instance). As regards barns, they often come with farmhouses, but it is also possible to buy them separately, as some of them are not situated next to the property but in a neighbouring field or domain... Such properties are perfect for people who like doing some works and want to live in a peaceful area in rural France.
Maisons de Maitre: these properties were built during the 18th century and represented the wealth and power of the French bourgeoisie. These houses have similarities with villas: they have huge dimensions, come with a large piece of land which may include a pond or a wood and are very luxury. Maisons de Maitre have many bedrooms and often several bathrooms as well as large rooms in general (kitchen, living-room...). Why not invest in a luxury property in the Côte d’Or department in the middle of the vineyards?
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| Take a closer look at the Cote d'Or property market: | |
| Beaune Property Information | Chatillon sur Seine Property Information |
| Dijon Property Information | Semux en Auxois Property Information |