French Property Location Guide: Mayenne

Mayenne isn’t one of France’s best-known areas, but it has all the selling points: affordable properties, beautiful landscapes, lots of châteaux – and it’s easy to get to, as Annaliza Davis explains…

While few british holidaymakers could point to the Mayenne department on a map, it’s in a convenient part of France, two hours from both Caen and Paris, located between Brittany, Normandy and the Loire Valley. An inland region east of Rennes, Mayenne is part of the Pays de la Loire region and is named after the River Mayenne which threads its way through the glorious landscape.

Tourists come here for the relaxed, authentic way of life and lush, green countryside, which are a world away from the glitz and glamour of the south of France. It’s also why Parisians love to dash here to unwind and drink up the atmosphere. That said, Mayenne is a place where people move to live all year round: 94% of occupied properties are main residences and fewer than 6% are occasional or holiday properties. Famous for châteaux, riverside walks, farmland and pretty villages, Mayenne also offers a wide which still represents great value for money.

According to estate agent SeLoger, the average property price across France currently stands at €3,065/m² (€3,828 for apartments and €2,474 for houses), while properties in Mayenne cost an average of €1,663/m² (€1,964 for apartments and €1,604 for houses). This is already great value for your property budget, yet some areas in Mayenne show property sales over the past 12 months at just €880/ m², meaning that it’s possible to buy a 70m² home here for an incredible €61,600. Relatively speaking, the highest property prices will be found in the area’s main city of Laval and its surrounding districts, where you’ll have to fork out around €2,300/m², while the cheaper areas are to the north and east of the region, heading towards the Manche or Orne departments. If you’re looking in one of the rural parts of Mayenne and you’re happy to take on a renovation project, you could even pay less than €250/m² and find yourself with a stone-built property and plenty of land €70000, or if you’re after a smaller project, you could bag something with a modest garden for around €30,000.

Laval is the largest city in the department, with 49,657 residents, although it’s small enough to be able to walk to wherever you need to go, and easy to explore. Dominated by its medieval château and ramparts, the centre is full of medieval houses and the city has been awarded the ‘town of art and history’ label.

Despite being the most expensive part of Mayenne, Laval still offers great value: a €650,000 budget will get you an enormous 241m² detached property set in a stunning 1.4 hectares or a fabulous five- bedroom duplex in the heart of the city, complete with garden and garage.

With 16,000 residents, Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne is the second-biggest centre in Mayenne and also has its fair share of medieval buildings and cobbled streets. The high-speed TGV trains mean it’s just 1hr30 from Paris and 45 minutes from Angers, yet it’s an attractive, riverside setting, famous for its convent. A €300,000 budget will get you a four-bedroom family home with a large garden or a seven- bedroom townhouse both in the centre, or a contemporary detached home with pool on the outskirts of town.

Next is Mayenne. While ‘La Mayenne’ is the name of the whole department of 5,175km² and 306,000 residents, there is also the town of Mayenne with just under 15,000 residents. This town features a 10th-century château and riverside walks, as well as a wide range of properties. A budget of €90,000 could buy a well-presented detached two-bedroom bungalow, a four-bedroom home in need cosmetic work, a two-bedroom apartment, or a detached stone house to renovate with 4,000m² of land. Speaking of renovation, the department has a great portfolio of properties to choose from if you’re prepared to take on some building work. Take your pick of smaller townhouses starting at less than €30,000, or look for built longères and farmhouses complete with outbuildings and several hectares from €60,000. You can certainly renovation projects at all prices throughout the region.

Finally, if you want to build your own property, a building plot is another option. If you have a €50,000 budget, you’ll be able to choose from a good selection of 600m² plots or terrains with services nearby, and in some areas, this same amount could get you a more generous 1,500m² plot. Do be wary when you see a property advertised as viager because these come with a sitting tenant. It could be an option for you, but do your research first as you may prefer to buy a property ready to use as you wish.

While 21% of the population is aged 65 or over, it’s still a relatively young region, with 25% of residents aged under 20. People living in Mayenne have a median disposable income of €22,230, which is right in the middle of the range in France. Around 30% of the working population are in manual trades, 5% in agriculture, 10% in higher managerial and professional roles, 24% in middle management and 25% are employees. Unemployment stands at 6.1%, well below the national average of 7.3%.

In 2015, Mayenne’s council made a commitment that all school canteens in the area would serve dishes that are made from 100% French produce, with 50% from Mayenne itself. In addition, 100% of the meat served in school canteens is sourced in Mayenne. This is an area that is rightly proud of its agriculture and local produce. According to BPI France, Mayenne is also noticing a rise in new businesses and start-ups, particularly in administrative sectors, and the latest figures showed a healthy 8% year-on-year increase in sole traders.

Thanks to its location in the north of France, Mayenne has excellent ferry connections. If you’re in Mayenne town, you’re an hour and 40 minutes drive from Caen and two hours from St-Malo port; if you’re in Laval it’s the opposite: an hour and 40 minutes from Caen and two hours from St-Malo. Paris is easily accessible by car, too- just three and a quarter hours from Mayenne and two and a half from Laval. Travelling by train is also simple, fast and cost-effective.

Paris to Mayenne or Laval takes just an hour and 20 minutes on a direct train and tickets can be as low as €39. This partly explains the popularity of Mayenne with Parisian day- trippers and holidaymakers, as it’s within such easy reach of the nation’s capital. For those who prefer to fly, Nantes and Rennes airports are the closest, or of course you have a vast choice of airlines if you come via Paris.