Dreaming of a new life in sunny southern France? The Languedoc Roussillon region (now part of the super region known as Occitanie) is a great place to live. Home to stunning landscapes, mountains and coastal resorts, charming medieval towns, and a rich cultural heritage. Known as France’s largest vineyard, Languedoc is a haven for those seeking a beautiful, diverse region with plenty to explore.
Why Languedoc is a great place to live
Languedoc, the sunniest region in France, is framed by two mountain ranges – the Massif Central to the north and the Pyrénées to the south. Between them, you’ll find forests, meadows, and a stunning stretch of coastline. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, busy city living, or a slower pace of life, this area offers it all, with a perfect blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture.
Towns like Toulouse, Béziers, Montpellier, Carcassonne, Albi, and Narbonne are filled with history and unique attractions. From cobblestone streets and medieval fortresses to buzzing markets and delicious restaurants, there’s something to delight everyone. The region is dotted with towns perched high on cliffs, offering breathtaking vistas and a truly dramatic landscape.
The region is popular with expats from around the world including Brits, Americans, Belgians and Dutch. With excellent transportation links, including 5 international airports: Perpignan, Carcassonne, Béziers, Montpellier, and Nîmes, with others just across the border at Nice, Toulouse, Toulon and Marseille, high speed trains to Paris and excellent autoroutes.
Many properties are large, character-filled stone houses with high ceilings, original oak beams, tiled floors, and open fireplaces. These charming homes, built with traditional materials like canal roof tiles, offer the perfect canvas for creating your dream French home.
Anna Sirinides, Carcassonne-based agent with Agence Hamilton says “In this region it’s all about the lifestyle – living well, great gastronomy, wine, sunshine, and plenty to do. And there’s just so much choice when it comes to finding your dream home.”
Selection Habitat Béziers agent Claudia Götting adds: “I feel privileged to introduce buyers from around the world to the beauty of this region. Helping them find their ideal home and immerse themselves in a new life here is the best part of my job.”
The best areas for value for money in Languedoc
Montpellier: Montpellier, the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the region is a vibrant university city with a young population, Montpellier has a good mix of historic charm, culture and modern amenities. Prices are high in inner Montpellier, but there are still value options available, especially in outlying neighbourhoods such as Les Cévennes,
Nîmes: Known for its Roman history and architecture, Nîmes offers more affordable housing compared to nearby cities such as Aix-en-Provence.
Carcassonne: This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its stunning medieval fortress. There are plenty of cultural events, cafés, restaurants and sporting activities year-round, plus a superb market in the picturesque lower town which is skirted by the Canal du Midi. While touristy – which pushes prices up – there are still affordable properties in the surrounding areas. The average 3 or 4-bed house with a pool, or a character apartment will set you back between 285,000€ to 325,000€. A Maison de Maître and large character properties start at about 495,000€.
Béziers: With its rich history and beautiful scenery, the city has a lovely canal, is just 15km from the beaches of the Mediterranean, and is surrounded by breath-taking countryside and vineyards. Béziers is becoming more and more popular and that’s caused prices to climb. A realistic average price for a 3-bed house in good condition with a garage or outdoor space is between 250,000€ and 300,000. Larger 4-bed houses start at around 420,000€.
Agde: Known for its beaches and historical sites, Agde can offer great deals, especially if you look at properties slightly away from the coast in the neighbourhoods of La Pinède, L’avant-porte and L’Île de Pêcheurs.
Sète: A picturesque port town with a unique atmosphere, property prices in Sète have increased but the town still offers good value for money compared to other coastal towns in the south of France for example a home here will cost around 25% less than properties in the Périer neighbourhood in Marseille.
Lodève: A smaller town with a rich history, Lodève is less known but offers beautiful properties at much lower prices than in the bigger cities. Here a 3-bed house with a pool can cost from as little as €350,000.
For those who love the beach, the seaside town of Leucate offers a rustic coastline and a packed summer programme when dozens of trendy beach bars pop up along the shore. Great for second home owners and with good rental potential, property prices vary with homes nearer the beach costing more, but move a little inland and you’ll find homes cost far less.
Other popular places include Uzès, known for its Provençal charm, history, and stunning countryside; Narbonne, for a quieter lifestyle and affordability; Saint-Chinian, for a peaceful rural life; Collioure, a picture-perfect village by the Mediterranean; and Lamalou-les-Bains, a small spa town in the Hérault.
With such a huge choice of locations in this region – there really is a dream home to suit everyone.
Agence Hamilton has been helping clients find their dream homes in Languedoc since 1992, specialising in chateaux and character houses of character. With 40 offices across France, their approach is personal and not just helping you to find your dream home, they help you settle into your new life in France, offering a full relocation service – with advice on visas/healthcare/admin, and offering services from mortgage brokerage, currency transfers, and even renovation.
See all properties at: agence-hamilton.com; selectionhabitat.com; International information site: livinginfrance.agence-hamilton.com
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