Guingamp Property Guide & Information

Guingamp (Gwengamp in Breton) is a northwestern town of France, situated in the Cotes d’Armor department - Brittany region - housing about 8,000 inhabitants. This is an town located in a rich and natural environment. Being the sous-prefecture of the Cotes d’Armor department, Guingamp provides services in different sectors: administration, trade, education, economy, social issues, politics and justice. Due to its central position and its closeness with the RN12 road, Guingamp is traditionally called the Carrefour de l’Armor et de l’Argoat, Armor meaning the ‘sea country’ and Argoat meaning the ‘land country’.

Overview

Renowned worldwide thanks to its football team (En Avant de Guingamp), one of the most prestigious teams of Brittany, Guingamp also preserved a significant architectural heritage, part of its rich history. Indeed, in Guingamp, historical heritage and productive nature are in perfect harmony. But Guingamp is also a dynamic and active town with its pretty boutiques and activities. This ideal location is to be discovered by horse, by cycle, by mountain bike, by foot… You won’t be disappointed!

Guingamp town centre is composed of several wonderful monuments such as the Pierre II Castle and the ramparts, the Notre Dame de Bon-Secours Basilica, the Centre Square or the famous Plomée fountain… so many monuments which reflect the architectural and historical heritage of Guingamp!

Guingamp Immobilier & Property Market Trends

Property prices in the town centre of Guingamp may be almost high compared to the prices in the Cotes d’Armor department (€2,362/square metres against €2,203/square metre) due to its location. Indeed Guingamp holds a privileged position, being an inevitable step in the French region. Furthermore, its proximity with shops, the North Coasts of Brittany and two airports can be a factor explaining partly such high prices. However, Brittany remains one of the cheapest regions of France and settling in a small town like Guingamp may allow you to avoid the Brits’ presence and thus take advantage of the French lifestyle!

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

3 Reasons to Buy a Property in Guingamp

• Hidden wonders: Guingamp is an interesting stage for discovering each facet of a diversified urban and rural heritage. Far from the beaten paths, its remote countryside offers a multitude of landscapes, small valleys, woods, religious monuments, manors and castles.
• Location: a sort of hub, Guingamp allows you to go back to the United Kingdom easily. Indeed, Guingamp is an inevitable step due to its geographical position. By train - the Atlantic high-speed line - Guingamp is less than 3.5 hours from Paris. By plane, you may pitch on two airports: Lannion (37km) and St Brieuc (35km). In the Roscoff harbour (75km), ferry boats lead to Plymouth and Cork.
• Football: En Avant de Guingamp is an atypical club. Guingamp is the 1,000th town in France in terms of population but is amongst the 20th best football clubs in league 1 at a national level. Except a small accident during one season, the club has a total of 25 consecutive seasons amongst the elite (league 1 – league 2).

Property Styles and Architecture in Guingamp

• Longères: a longère is a rectangular house made of local materials (granite) and whose back faces the dominant winds. Of all sizes - large or small - you will certainly find your dream longère at an affordable price in Guingamp.
• Stone houses: stone houses are widespread throughout Guingamp and in its surroundings areas. Slate roofs that stand the test of elements, fronts made of granite, painted shutters, doors and gates (usually in blue), these are some of the features of a typical Guingamp (and Breton) property. Stone houses may be a longère or a cottage for example.
• Half-timbered houses: you can find about a dozen of half-timbered houses in Guingamp. However, such houses have two particularities. The first one is that their timber frames are quite high; for instance, the Pasquier house - which is half-timbering - was built on four floors. The second one is that they hold small unique windows of a rib shape. The system is composed of beam-poles between which slab is inserted. Slab is different according to the regions. In Brittany, cob is usually used. Half-timbered houses are more and more replaced by granite houses.

Click here for more info about the Architecture of Brittany.