Property of the Week

In Languedoc, my own village of Montblanc, do look at http://www.coast-country-france.com/french-property/2958.html

On the estate agents details in our region, Languedoc, properties are often described as “Maisons de Maitre” or “Maisons Vignerons” – typically both are from the period from the 1840′s to around 1900.

These were properties built from the huge wealth generated by the advent of the railways combined with the industrial development in the North of France. Suddenly it seemed there was an unlimited demand for cheap wine, billions of liters of plonk were transported by rail to the happy workers in the factories – each person in the army and most factory workers had an allowance of 3 liters of wine a day. later at the Citroen factory the delivery drivers received an allowance of five liters a day.

This massive consumption, coupled with a 300 days of sunshine in Languedoc each year, made some previously very poor landowners suddenly very, very rich, much like Boris Yeltsin and the “democratising” of communist Russia.

The 19th century wine “Oligarchs” went on a building spree – the landowners build their Master Houses (Maisons de Maitre) – the wine makers or those with a little land and independent farmers built their Wine Makers Houses (Maisons de Vingnerone).

Thousands of these solid, stone built homes were constructed, using techniques which had been fossilised for centuries. Thick stone walls, roman tiled roofs and vaulting. The modern crafts from the “North” percolated through, cast iron and reinforced concrete – from Morocco Spain and Italy, tiling techniques were adopted – many of the massive oak beams from the ships made and demolished at Agde and Sete plus those remaining from the medieval (even Roman) homes demolished to make way for this building boom were used.

The result is a unique period when magnificent homes were made and many of these are here today. OK , a lot of rubbish was made as well, no planning and bad builders can create horrors, but luckily these have all fallen down.

What is left is a select heritage of wonderful, well proportioned and classic homes which are unique.

However, a word of caution – the cost of renovating one of these masterpieces is much more than building a new luxury villa – from five to fifteen times more expensive in my experience. Only ever consider something which you have good sound advice about (unless you too ar ean oligarch).

Occasionally a home comes onto the market which is not only in perfect condition and has been carefully maintained, but is also a fantastic buy.

Here is a Maison Vingeron which came onto the market this week – At the price of 265000 euro is is a very good buy and in excellent condition, it even has air-con in the barn.http://www.coast-country-france.com/french-property/2958.html

As an added bonus, it is in the same village as me – so you can use my pool before you build your own in the grounds.