Rodez Property Insight

Rodez is the main town of the Aveyron department with around 24,000 inhabitants. Many people also live in the urban districts surrounding Rodez, which is quite strong in term of economy. Indeed, it is the most important employment area of the department and has a low unemployment rate of 5.2% (one of the lowest rate of the Midi-Pyrenees towns).

Overview

Beside its economical asset, it is also a nice place due to its geographical situation. The town lies between two contrasted regions: the dry plateaux of the Causses and the humid hills of Segala. Rodez is perched on a mount, which dominate the Aveyron River. This advantageous location offers hours of ballads across the diverse nature to discover, but also a great choice of outdoor sports and activities.

Founded by the Celts, Rodez exists since the 5th century BC. During the Roman occupation, the town became an oppidum and thus was fortified. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Rodez was successively occupied by the Visigoths, the Franks, the Dukes of Aquitaine, the Counts of Toulouse and then the English troops during the Hundred Years Wars.

The main sight of the town is a beautiful gothic cathedral, destroyed and then rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century.

Rodez Immobilier & Property Market Trends

Good bargains can be made in the Aveyron department, as it is not an expensive department, even if located in the usually expensive south of France! Thus, the prices in Rodez are much lower than the national average, ever if they spectacularly increased at the beginning of 2007 after a drop. They almost doubled! Since then, the prices are around €1,700 – €1,800/ s qm and remains quite stable with only a few slight fluctuations.

In Rodez, the big majority of the properties are apartments with a proportion of 77% against only 20% of houses. 5% of the properties are used as second homes. Fortunately, around 10% of the properties are vacant! If you want to invest in Rodez, this gives you the choice and also maybe the opportunity to discuss the price. Perhaps will you do a good affair, who knows?

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

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Rodez

If you would like to invest in Rodez, or even only to go there on holiday, you will see that the area has several assets which make it a pleasant town!

• Countryside: certainly one of the biggest asset of Rodez is to lie in the middle of the countryside. Its situation near beautiful landscapes makes beautiful promenades easy to organize. After a hard week of work in the town, you will definitely enjoy this breath of fresh air.

• Golf: in the Grand Rodez, a golf course is at your disposal. The 18 cups of this modern and convivial round of golf offer you an amazing view on the town of Rodez and the marvellous surrounding countryside.

• Horse riding: only a few minutes from the centre, a big equestrian centre with 100 horses and ponies can be found, surrounded by a park of 120 ha. The large tracts of land also enable a row of horse riding possibilities.

• Grand Rodez: Rodez is surrounded by 7 communes, which altogether constitute the Grand Rodez (large Rodez). There is a will to extend but at the same time to keep the advantage of the countryside. The aim of this project is to take advantage of the economical strength of the area but also to keep its quality of life. The Grand Rodez accounts for a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants.

• Airport: the Rodez-Marcillac Airport is only located 10 minutes from the centre of Rodez, and offers flights to Paris, Lyon, London Stansted and Dublin. The presence of the Ryanair company gives the possibility to book cheap flights.

Property Styles and Architecture in Rodez

• Apartments: the town proposes above all apartments. It goes from studios to bigger apartments of 4 rooms or more. If you are looking for a traditional rural house, it is better to look in the surroundings of Rodez than in the town itself. Perhaps you will find beautiful Causes houses, which are traditional local farmhouses made of stones.
• Stone houses: of course, one kind of house you can still find in the town of Rodez is stone town houses. These houses are not recent but were renovated, and kept all their authenticity.

Click here for more info about the Architecture of Midi-Pyrenees.