by Robbie Doyle on 18-09-2019 in Aritcles1
Types of properties in France
There are many types of French properties for, sale, rent or holiday homes – which is which though?
You may not have been to France before, you may not speak the language but interested in renting a self-catering French property or you are considering taking a step onto the French property market, you may need to know certain technical terms and unfamiliar names. Although your legal people will know, at first hand, before you have decided to buy or rent, you might want to familiarise yourself with the names of types of French real estate.
Hopefully, this guide will help you. We will define the most main types of French property, for sale, rent or to buy as a second income, renting out as self-catering holiday accommodation.
France is a great attraction to millions of tourist each year and so a second income via self-catering holidays is very viable.
Rent-in-France has many self-catering holiday villas, chalets, flats, apartments and more. There is bound to be something for you amongst the large portfolio of French properties we have.
Types of French properties
- Villa d’Architecte: This is a modern house that has been designed by an architect. A contemporary style property that has been specified by the client. Property ID Ref: 4001 Luxury apartment in Paris
Bastide: Bastide-style properties are usually old but you can find new Bastides. These houses are usually detached properties, mainly square-shaped buildings made of stone with tiled, mostly flat roofs. Provence, in particular, has bastide style houses and are mainly country houses.
Charentaise: A Charentaise is a traditional, stone-built property found in the Charente department and throughout the Poitou-Charentes region. Property ID 3442 Seine-et-Marne
Domaine: A house with a lot of land. Maybe a small farm or vineyard. Commonly referred to as an ‘estate’.
Chateau: A Chateau A type of palace or castle. Not necessarily large or having lots of land and vineyards. Chateaus come in all shapes and sizes. Many people buy these chateaus but they can be money-pits. There is an excellent programme on the TV ‘Escape to the chateau’ that has given people the idea of buying a chateau to renovate. This series follows lieutenant colonel Dick Strawbridge and his partner Angel Adoree as they trade in their two-bed apartment in Essex for a dilapidated 19th-century French chateau. Upon finding their fairytale castle, the pair begin work to restore it back to its former glory. Property 3017 Chateau near Duras.
Fermette or Longère: A French ferme is a farm, a rural farmhouse, often with one or more outbuildings. A fermette is a diminutive term for small ferme or farmhouse in the countryside. Often they come with land but it varies wildly from a bit of land to a bit more or a whole lot more. In Scotland, they would call this a ‘Croft’. Property ref ID:6578
Maison à Colombages: For this type of French property, think ‘Tudor’ style. A wooden structure with visible beams and plastered walls.Property ID Ref: 6344 Grand Maison de Provence
Maison de Maitre: A grand house. High ceilings, big windows. These are also referred to as Maison de Bourgeois or ‘The house of the master’ or ‘masters house’.
Pavillion: This might normally be called a bungalow or a detached house.
Pied a Terre: This type of French real estate is a flat or an apartment type of residence.
Mas: A simple name for a rural type of property. You will find these ‘Mas’ in abundance in Provence.
Hotel Particular: A strange one this; Not a hotel as the name suggests but in times gone by this type of grand house would have been home to the upper classes or ‘aristocrats’ (until they faced Madame la Guillotine, I presume).
Longère: As you would imagine, this type of real estate suits its name. This is a long or rectangle-shaped piece of land with perhaps a lean-to barn or other type of building on it.
Gites de France: A ‘Gite’ is a French self-catering holiday home. They can come in all styles, shapes and sizes. Rent-in-France has a great list of French ‘Gites’ and in all areas of the country. From Ski chalets to Bungalows, apartments to Chateaus. Take your pick.
There you have it and we hope it helps you choose your French property. If you have any questions concerning French property to buy, sell or rent. You can always contact us at Rent-in-France.
