Issue No. 12

LAON – A Great Place to Live
Laon, known as "La Montagne Couronnée"
with it's old, medieval city high on a rock
crowned by a cathedral and over-looking
the newer low town. Located in the Aisne
department in Picardie it is close to the
border of Champagne (Reims is less than
an hour away). Almost unknown outside of
France, this beautiful town has a
population of circa 30,000.
The lower town is a mix of residential and
commercial property and has a thriving city
centre with wide boulevards of shops, bars,
restaurants and hotels. The fortified city
retains small streets of private housing.
This is one of the wealthier parts of France
but house prices are comparatively low
even in a small market. A 6 bedroom
house to modernise in the old city can be
bought for less than €90,000 and a 3
bedroom house for around €120,000,
while a 1 bedroom apartment in the lower
town is less than €40,000.
With a history going back over 3000 years,
its location between the great wine areas
(Champagne & Burgundy) and the beaches
of the Opal Coast in the north, plus a good
climate combined with being a beautiful
city, Laon is a great place to live!
Local property expert Tim Sage shares 3
top picks in the area:
Price €529,000
Beautiful, fully restored 19th century
manoir located in the village of Marle,
in the Aisne.
Click here for more details
Price €392,200
Price €414,000
Exquisite 18th century Maison de Maître,
fully restored and tastefully decorated
Click here for more details
Marne - Must be seen! Beautifully renovated
stone house giving a 2/3 bedroom family
home lying between Reims and Epernay.
Click here for more details