Issue No. 25

The French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur, is world
famous for good reason. But there’s another
Riviera in France that is far easier to reach
for both British buyers and Parisians, and
one that has much to offer in its own right
says Liz Rowlinson…
The nearest part of France to the UK, the
Northern Riviera - or Côte d’ Opale - offers
layers of history, from prehistory to the two
world wars, including the Great War, Added
to this is over 120km of beautiful fine sandy
beaches, chic seaside towns and, at times,
even better weather than it’s glitzier southern
counterpart.
“This is a fabulous area, popular with French,
British and Belgian home buyers, because of
its proximity to both the UK and northern
European cities,” says Tim Sage, Leggett’s
coordinator for the area. “It’s easy to reach
by ferry or Le Shuttle for the British - and
numbers commute back to the UK weekly -
and it’s much more affordable than other
French coastal areas, including the Charente-
Maritime and the Côte d’Azur.”
With buoyant tourism due to the historic
locations - the battle sites of Agincourt and
later World War One, the Commonwealth
War Cemeteries, and rocket launch sites - it
can also be good for holiday rentals with the
offering of a full range of outdoor activities.
So where are the popular spots for buyers?
Starting at the Belgian border - the Riviera
spans from there to Berck-sur- Mer in the
Pas-de-Calais department - the stretch
between Dunkirk and Calais is popular with
French buyers, yet less so with the British.