Buying Hotspots – Marciac, Gers, Midi-Pyrénées

Ready to make the move? The FrenchEntrée Property Services team reveals its top search areas – on and off the beaten track

MARCIAC

Gers, Midi-Pyrénées

Marciac is located in the south of the Gers département, an area encompassed by the historical region of Gascony, with Gers very much at its heart. The name of the town may already be familiar to you because of its renowned annual jazz festival, held during the summer and attracting top-class musicians from around the globe.

It’s an excellent example of a fortified bastide town, many of which dot the undulating bucolic landscape in this region. Marciac is laid out in a  chequerboard design around a central arcaded square, la grande place centrale (where market day is a bustling hive of activity). This hub is surrounded by shops and cafés, with the bell tower of the nearby church presiding over day-to-day life.

With the annual holidaymakers drawn to the summer festivals and the benefits of being within walking distance of the shops and other facilities, properties in the town are ideal for those looking at buy-to-let options. They range from as little as €120,000-€150,000, depending on the level of  renovation. Also available are commercial units – such as retail premises, for example. These have the benefit of a long-term monthly revenue stream.

Gersois properties have their own distinct architectural style. Notable examples are the half-timbered farmhouses or maisons landaises, similar to the oustau houses of the Middle Ages, built using local materials and techniques such as wattle and daub. Prices usually start at €200,000 depending on size and condition and they are highly sought after. Those looking to develop gîte businesses will find great conversion potential in the outbuildings often included with these properties.

Those buyers not so charmed by these more rustic styles should seek out the Gascon maisons de maître or manor houses, which are more elegant with grander proportions. Dating from the mid-18th century, they were built as status symbols for the bourgeoisie. They are ideal as large family residences or can be transformed into chambres d’hôte. Pricing typically begins at €350,000 subject to the location and amount of land included.

Other notable towns in the Gers include Auch, Condom and Lectoure to the north but there are price disparities, even within the département, and the southern part of the Gers, including around Marciac, offers great value for money. There’s convenient access to the region by air, with regular routes from the UK to Toulouse and to the south, Pau airport.

With thanks to our partner agencies in Marciac

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If you would like some assistance discovering this or other areas of France and find out more about what the property market has to offer please don’t hesitate to give us a call at +44 (0) 1225 463752 or email us at [email protected].

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or don’t have time to search yourself, FrenchEntrée has a dedicated Property Team to assist you in finding your dream property. Let us know what you are looking for and we will do our best to select properties matching your requirements.