Located in central southern France, inland from Toulouse and Montpellier, the département of Aveyron can rightly call itself an undiscovered gem, as few foreigners have heard its name. This is a picturesque region of gorges, valleys, mountains and lakes, peppered with historic, riverside towns and quaint, sleepy villages. And if you love beautiful countryside, sunshine and property that doesn’t break the bank, check out our guide to buying property in Aveyron.

Sunny and not overcrowded

Aveyron’s stunning landscapes and quality of life have all the elements of the French dream, although it often gets overshadowed by its more well-known neighbours on the Mediterranean coast (Agde and Sète are just a couple of hours south by car from Rodez, the capital of Aveyron). The upside is that it’s not saturated with tourism: only 17.2% (INSEE stats) of properties here are second homes, and most people live here all year round. And there’s plenty of space with around 32 people per km² compared to France’s national average of 107.

“I come from the Aveyron, it’s often overlooked by buyers, although it’s one of the sunniest places in France,” says Jean-Stéphane Villain, founder of the real-estate group Agence Hamilton. “Aveyron is not very well-known and is largely unspoilt, with a strong rural culture that feels like Dordogne 30 years ago. There’s a fantastic diversity of scenery here, including mountains, lakes, gorges and the Aubrac plateau, so it’s fantastic for activities like hiking, watersports and cycling, and we also have the sunny weather that means you can spend much of the year outdoors.

“I’ve travelled all over France and nowhere is more amazing for architecture, yet Aveyron properties are certainly affordable. To give you an idea, the average property price in Aveyron is €160k, compared with the French Riviera at €550k and Paris at €700k. In real terms, that means that you get so much more for your buying budget here than in other areas, yet you’ll still get the advantages of a southern-France lifestyle and climate.”

Guide to buying property in Aveyron

If you’re house-hunting in southern France with a budget of around €600,000, you could buy a modest 2-bedroom home in Cannes, or a breath-taking 11-bedroom manor house in Aveyron, offering 500 m² of living space, over 12 acres of ground and endless business potential so it becomes an income-generator as well as a wonderful home. For the same budget, you could move into a gorgeous, Californian-style property perched on a hillside, including two homes, a jacuzzi, a swimming pool and nearly three acres of land all with amazing views across the valley.

If you’re drawn to luxurious or historical properties, Aveyron has a wealth of architecture for you to explore. You could choose a château complete with turrets, vast fireplaces and numerous outbuildings, a grand and elegant manor house with steps leading down to ornamental gardens or a ready-made business running a guest house in a sun-soaked, stone-built property that dates back to the 1400s.

You’ll also be spoilt for choice if you’re simply looking for a family home. A stone-built 4-bedroom property in Castanet with a 200m² barn and gardens of 1,300m² could be yours for €149,000 or take on a detached, 3-storey property in Onet-le-Château in need of an overhaul and you’ll have a family home and separate ground-floor apartment for just €153,000.

“This is a region with an incredible range of properties, so it’s a house-hunter’s dream,” says Jean-Stéphane. “You can buy a renovation project for as little as €30,000 and take your time transforming it, or choose a modest village home for €75,000 that you can use straight away, come here for holidays and enjoy the laid-back lifestyle. You can find a detached family home with a beautiful garden and views across the valley or you can invest in an extensive, historic residence that will give you huge potential for developing a tourism business.

“Aveyron’s capital, Rodez is less than two hours from Toulouse and a little more from Montpellier, and it’s even under four hours from Bordeaux on the Atlantic coast. In practical terms, Aveyron is very accessible yet the area remains unspoilt, and it has this sense of being tucked away from the crowds.”

True French lifestyle

Aveyron is synonymous with large-scale, dramatic scenery such as gorges with rushing rivers, tree-lined valleys and mountain backdrops. Nature reigns supreme here, and the central-southern climate means that you’ll have plenty of sunny days in which to enjoy it. If you’re not a fan of cycling, hiking or watersports, you’ll still relish the luxury of sitting out in the garden sipping a cool apéritif as you gaze at the bright blue skies and rustling trees. It’s also where France’s oldest appellation cheese is made – Roquefort, the blue-veined celebrity fromage has been around for 1000 years.

The biggest town here is Rodez, home to 24,475 residents, three museums, a wonderful market and clusters of buildings including several pavement cafés that are typically French. All of this is surveyed by an iconic gothic cathedral built from pink sandstone, while the river Aveyron flows through the town, offering ideal picnic spots. Twelve minutes from the centre, you could buy an impressive property that comprises a family home, three rental gîtes and a pool for €795,000.

The second-biggest town is Millau (21,979), a town of art and history famous for its viaduct and groups of terracotta-topped houses framed by mountains. Its medieval history is evident in its quirky stone buildings and its unmissable belfry, rising 42 metres above the winding streets. If you fall for the town, you could be the new owner of a Maison de Maître that has been renovated to an exceptional standard, combining the elegance of a period property with contemporary interior design. With seven bedrooms, a pre-existing B&B business and over an acre of land for €849,000, your budget certainly goes a long way here.

Throughout Aveyron, you’ll find market towns and quaint villages, offering every type of property you could wish for, from timbered buildings for €60,000 to vast farmhouses with acres of land for horses, and from modern, architect-designed homes to centuries-old noble residences filled with original features.

Ask someone in the know

Who wouldn’t be tempted by the beauty of Aveyron? Whether you want to satisfy your curiosity or start a serious house-hunting search, contact Agence Hamilton to find out more. This real-estate agency has several professionals working in the area who know all the best spots, and they offer everything from a quick search based on your criteria to full support including currency exchange and mortgages, to make the move efficiently and enjoyably. They also have properties at Selection Habitat.

This time next year, you could be sipping an aperitif in the sunshine of Aveyron…