Tarn et Garonne Property Insight

Tarn-et-Garonne is one of the 8 departments that compose the Midi-Pyrénées region. It has borders with the departments of Lot and Aveyron (north), Tarn (west), Haute-Garonne and Gers (south) and Lot-et-Garonne and Dordogne (east). A particularity of this department is that it was created in 1808 by Napoleon 1 during the First French Empire - ie 18 years after the other ones - from parts of the neighbouring departments. Located at the heart of the south-eastern part of France. Tarn et Garonne has many assets - to quote but a few: a pleasant climate, an unspoilt nature, a great cultural heritage, an interesting history and welcoming locals.

Overview

Set in the heart of Gascony, the Tarn et Garonne department has traditionally been a hat-manufacting area. Boaters are still made here, particularly in a village called Septfonds. The department’s prefecture is Montauban - the subprefecture being Castelsarrasin. Tarn et Garonne is composed of 30 cantons and 195 towns and villages. In 2006, its population was of almost 223,000 inhabitants. Tarn et Garonne’s hills lead up to the Pyrenees mountains, the snow-covered peaks can be seen in the distance when the weather is good. Another charming feature of the department is the plenty of historical monuments dating back to the Middle Ages: bastides, churches, ramparts, castles, abbeys, etc.

Tarn-et-Garonne Immobilier & Property Market Trends

With an average price of €1,723 / square metre for a property to buy in 2009, Tarn et Garonne is amidst the cheapest French departments in terms of house prices. As far as rent is concerned, a square metre there cost €8.36 / month.

House prices are relatively stable and affordable in the Tarn et Garonne department. They were very similar to the national average but they recently began to soar: they were in February 2008 €15,000 higher than the national property prices.

It costs now about €165,300 for a house to buy in this area of France, which is pretty cheap if we compare it with house prices of other French departments. Apartments’ prices were pretty close to the national average - with some fluctuations of course - until 2007.

Since this year, property prices for apartments have been decreasing, leading to an average price of €1,420 / square metre in October 2008. It is about €300 / square metre below the national average.

In 2008, more than 80% of Tarn et Garonne properties were detached. Regarding holiday homes, we can notice that about 87% of people in the department own their main home - second homes being only 6% of the total of properties.

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

6 Reasons to Buy a Property in Tarn et Garonne

Being part of one of the most sought-after French departments amongst holidaymakers, Tarn et Garonne has many assets on offer. A great climate, a significant historical and cultural heritage, a delicious gastronomy, quiet areas - investing in a property there is a bargain!

• Castles: there are plenty of châteaux in Tarn-et-Garonne, some of the most renowned being the Château de Gramont, Château de Brassac and Château de Goudourville. Most castles are nowadays used as hostels, apartments or even hotels. Their architecture is outstanding and the area around the property huge.

• Good transport links: the department is easily accessible, which is undoubtedly a real asset for buy-to-let investments. Situated about 635km away from Paris, you have a wide choice of means of transport to reach Tarn et Garonne. By road: motorway A20 (direction Toulouse, Montauban) and free motorway E09 to Montauban. By train: TGV high-speed train or normal train from Paris to Montauban-Ville-Bourbon. By plane: numerous flights Paris-Toulouse per day, then take a connection train or rent a car to reach the neighbouring department.

• Open air activities: Tarn et Garonne has numerous outdoor leisure on offer. You will be able - amongst others - to pratise canoe, mountain bike, golf, climbing, hiking, horse-riding, sailing, fishing, etc. Nature has an essential role in this department. The river Aveyron has sculpted deep, steep-sided gorges that are well worth visiting.

• Tranquillity: the Lomagne area straddles both Tarn et Garonne and Gers departments and has one of the oldest cultures of the region. Take time to stroll in fields, meadows and groves that will easily make you forgetting the stressed atmosphere of some cities. You will find there many small valleys, stone edifices and numerous paths full of surprises. A deserted chateau, a welcoming cottage or a traditional gite are some witnesses of a millennium art of living.

• Historical heritage: do visit the Grotte du Bosc in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val. Discovered in 1936, this cave located in the heart of the Aveyron gorges is one of the sources of the river Bosc. Water and time reign supreme in this extraordinary underground world. The guided tours will allow you gazing at the 200m long gallery full of colourful concretions (limestone formation resulting from the continuous action of water). It is just fascinating! Situated at the entrance of the cave, the museum of mineralogy and prehistory is not to be missed either.

• Goumet food: the local gastronomy is enriched with a variety of specialities reflecting the art de vivre of the area: shad fish, confits, foie gras, truffles and croustades (pie-crusts usually made of flaky or puff pastry), etc. The Tarn et Garonne department also has great fruits, cheese and wines on offer. Go for a stroll on the numerous markets of the department and taste the local food, you will definitely be delighted!

Local Property Market: 5 Popular Towns

• Montauban property: the prefecture of Tarn et Garonne is a former bastide town. Apart from having a great architectural heritage, it also has a great religious one. Montauban is well located as not too far from the bustling Toulouse.
• Moissac property: located on the ancient pilgrimage Route of Santiago de Compostela, Moissac has an outstanding setting with many hiking pathways. Water is also a dominant element of this lovely town, the Tarn river and Garonne’s canalgoing through it.
• Caussade property: the town is renowned for its hat making industry. This village has been producing straw hats since the 19th century. Caussade’s cultural life is very active.
• Beaumont de Lomagne property: this charming town is also an ancient Bastide and it belongs to the Lomagne area, a real heaven for nature lovers. Do visit Beaumont if you are keen on French dishes containing garlic as this part of France is famous its garlic production.
• Montaigu de Quercy property: the quiet town of Montaigu de Quercy has a great leisure centre with a beautiful lake that attracts many tourists especially in summer. This town is perfect is you are looking for tranquillity and gorgeous scenery.

Property Styles and Architecture in Tarn et Garonne

Tarn et Garonne has always been a land rich with colours and contrasts. Created 18 years after the other French departments from lands that were not culturally connected with one another. Landscapes are really varied in this region, as well as soils. Properties were built using local resources and taking advantages of the department’s assets.

• Terrefort houses: terrefort is the name given to soils clay and chalky soils in Gascony which are heavy but fertile. These properties - even if located in the same area - can have different features. Most terrefort houses are made up of several parts : a main building, one storey of large dimensions, a smaller one and an outbuilding dedicated to the agricultural exploitation. The main building is used as the home and has a toit à une croupe (one-side hipped roof). The ground floor is probably used as a storeroom or as a barn. The outbuilding is located perpendicular to the main building, it is high and narrow and composed of a pigeon house. Terrefort houses often have a staircase on the gabled side and few windows. These properties are made of stone as local rivers are abundant of this building material.

• Bas-Quercy houses: the home is located upstairs, the entrance door being surrounded with two windows. A front terrace covered by the roof allows to have a rest and gaze at the surroundings of the house. Under this balcony, the ground floor is made up of several stone cellars in form of archways. The attic is low - under an hipped roof jutting out in canopy supported by five stone columns. Some Bas-Quercy houses have a front courtyard with a two-pillars entrance porch, the outbuilding dedicated to agricultural exploitation being behind the property and the pigeon house in front of the part of the property dedicated to housing itself. Even if these properties are mainly composed of stone, some parts are made of wood too like the windows’ frames for example.

• Rustic stone houses: built in stone, these properties are full of charm. Wood beams can be found inside as well as walls with visible stone. These rustic stone houses have large dimensions and are also very luminous thanks to numerous windows and doors. Rooms can sometimes be separated by archways that give an authentic character to the property. These typical Tarn et Garonne houses have a great restoration potential and are good investments.

Click here for more info about Midi Pyrenees Architecture.