The Nouvelle Aquitaine region has long been a favourite for overseas property buyers in France. However, you may not have heard of the Creuse department. This quiet and lesser-known area has a lot to offer and could be a brilliant choice for your property purchase. We explain why.
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Pretty towns and villages
This department has an abundance of lovely towns and villages to choose from for your property, including Aubusson, which is perhaps the most well-known town and is famous for its carpets and tapestries. It is full of winding streets, medieval buildings, first-class restaurants and best of all, reasonably priced properties. A budget of just €30,000 will buy you a small house with a garden a short distance from the town. For a completely renovated property with a lot of land, expect to pay around €150,000.
The spa town of Evaux-les-Bains and picturesque Boussac, known as a ‘city in the countryside’ are also great options, offering pretty surroundings, amenities and reasonably priced properties.
Plenty of history
The Creuse is one of the original 83 departments that was created in 1790 during the French revolution. It is full of ancient buildings, abbeys, castles and no less than 282 historic monuments. You only have to visit a few of the towns to realise that this department has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Despite the abundance of historic buildings and museums, however, it is not a touristy area and is generally quiet.
Beautiful countryside
This department is named after the River Creuse and has been coined by the tourism office as ‘Little Canada’ due to the abundance of hiking trails, bike paths and fishing spots. Sparsely populated and mostly very rural, it is a nature lovers paradise! The cows outnumber the people here and it is home to the famous Limousin cattle. You can enjoy the green hills of the Massif Central Mountain range and the rivers, including the Creuse, Taurlon, Gartempe and Petite-Creuse.
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A seasonal climate
The climate in this department is seasonal, so if you’re a fan of colder winters and hot summers, then this is the place for you. If you plan to move here from the UK, then you should be able to acclimatise quite easily. As it’s inland, the breeze is usually light, however, expect some rain, especially in the spring. Thankfully, this rain brings the beautifully lush and green countryside that this department is revered for.
Good transport links
Limoges airport is around an hour away from the Creuse and it is around a 4-hour drive to Paris. There is also a train station serving Limoges, which has direct trains to both Paris and Bordeaux.
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