Olivet Property Insight

Olivet is a French town located in the Loiret department, which belongs to the Centre region. With 21,030 inhabitants, called the Olivétains, the town stretches over 2,339 hectares. The identity of Olivet is deeply marked by the Loiret River, which is actually a re-emergence of the Loire River. The area was very sought after during the 17th century, when wealthy families used to have their second-home over there.

Overview

Situated only 3km far from Orléans Olivet shared the Centre region’s capital history, from its times of glory to its times of suffering. Owing to its beautiful surroundings, along the Loiret River, Olivet was a privileged destination for Orleanais’s second-home, and today you can still see the beautiful mansions and houses, some of them have been restored, others are in ruins. Olivet also suffered from the 100 years war when Orleans was assaulted. Nowadays, the town managed to preserve its historical and natural heritage, which makes Olivet a charming lively town.

Olivet Immobilier & Property Market Trends

In France, in 2009 a property is sold €3,197 /sq m on average. In Olivet, for the same period they are sold €2,407 /sq m, which makes the town a very affordable area. However, it is more expensive than the average for the department; indeed, in Loiret you need only €2,021 /sq m. This difference can be explained by the fact that the department is a pretty rural one, hence prices are always cheaper in the countryside than in towns.

The difference between an apartment and a house is not very deep; hence, an apartment will cost you €2,378 /sq m, while a house €2,409 /sq m. For the former, the average size is around 77 sq m, as a result the final price is around €182,258. For the house, since the average size is around 142 sq m, the final price is €326,057.

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

4 Reasons to Buy a Property in Olivet

• Culture, art and historical heritage: thanks to its past and natural environment, Olivet has many monuments and beautiful sites on offer. The Saint-Martin Church, built between the 12th and 19th centuries, was listed as ancient monument in 2008. The combination of many architectural styles made it a unique monument. Along the Loiret River you will also find many castles; between others there are the Poutyl castle, built at the end of the 16th century, the La Fontaine castle, etc. You will also find many private mills, which unfortunately can not be visited, however you can enjoy the beautiful sight they offer reflecting into the River.

• Good food: the entire Centre region boasts fertile lands, whence many excellent fruits and vegetables are grown in the area. You can find all these produces in Olivet street markets, on Friday. Do not miss to taste Olivet cheeses (the Olivet bleu and the Olivet cendré ), as well as the Olivet pear (an alcohol made with pears). Streets markets are also a good opportunity to meet local people and get to know French habits.

• Tranquillity and scenery: since 2000 the Val de Loire is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage, as a cultural landscape; which makes it the vastest French site to have been listed by the UNESCO. Olivet is at the heart of this beautiful natural environment, and from the town you can do many walks along the river or in the forest.

• Architectural style: owing to its popularity next to Orleans wealthy families, Olivet displays many beautiful castles and mansions with different architectural styles according to the period. However, most of them are Renaissance style, or late medieval castle. Olivet originality lies above all in the mills along the Loiret River, which have been transformed into habitable dwellings during Olivet golden age. You will also be delighted by all the romantic boats’ garages next to the amazing villas.

Property Styles and Architecture in Olivet

• Mills: even though this kind of dwellings is not the most common, you might have the opportunity to buy one. They are usually 17th century water mill, restored and transformed into luxury and comfortable housing. The water under the mill will cradle you and relax you the whole day. They are quite big house, 2 storey high. On the gournd floor you will find the kitchen, bathroom, living room, probably with a glass floor, so that you can see the water. On the first floor you will mainly find the bedrooms, usually 2 or 3. They come with a big piece of land, can be a piece of forest or land.

• Apartments: 40% of dwellings in Olivet are apartments, which makes you likely to buy one of them. They are good investment if you want to be at the heart of the town, near all amenities. The size can vary, so the price. However, they are worth purchasing as you can either use them as a second-home, either rent them, as 40% of residents are tenants.

Click here for more info about the Architecture in Centre.