Orange Property Insight

Orange is a lovely town of Provence located in the north west of the Vaucluse department. The 29,859 locals - named the Orangeois - boast an exceptional historical heritage. Orange is a ‘town of Art and History’ (French official label for towns which promote their natural, historical and architectural heritage). This place was a Roman colony called ‘Arausio’ which was founded in 40 BC by the Romans. Nicknamed the ‘City of Princes’, this place has a wonderful setting as it lies in the valley of Rhône. Considering the annual average temperature, Orange is the warmest town of France.

Overview

The commune was the capital town of the former ‘principality of Orange’, a sovereign principality which was annexed to France in 1713. Many relics from the past show the rich history of Orange. The Triumphal Arch (26-27 AC) and the famous antique theatre - both listed as historical monuments by UNESCO - are not to be missed.

Orange belongs to the French ’Villes et villages fleuris’ (a label that rewards towns and villages which have many flowers and gardens). The old town is full of charm. With its renovated facades and ancient squares, it looks like a big Provencal village. Strolling in the typical narrow streets that Orange has on offer is really pleasant.

Orange Immobilier & Property Market Trends

House prices in Vaucluse are still affordable given the strategic location in the south of France. The average price for a property to buy in Orange is of €2,025 /square metre. As regards rentals, prices are really cheap as the national average is of €12.22 /sq m /month, whereas renting a property in Orange costs only €8.23 /sq m /month. 88.2% of Orange’s properties are main homes and 10.4% are vacant. The great majority of dwellings in Orange are minimum 3-room houses.

Investing in an apartment in the area is also worth if we compare the prices with those of Alpes Maritimes for instance which are incredibly high. In 2008, buying a 3-room apartment cost in average between €1,350 /sq m and €1,850 /sq m. New built apartments are of course dearer with a range comprised between €2,900 /sq m and €3,220 /sq m. As far as houses are concerned, prices have been decreasing since July 2007. It costs in March 2009 about €2,290 /sq m to buy a house in Orange.

To get updated info about property prices in Vaucluse, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Orange

As said before, Orange is a town of art which has real jewels in terms of architecture. The vibrant life and wonderful monuments that the town has on offer explain for sure why tourism is so important in Orange. Let’s discover some reasons why it is worth investing in a property there!

• Historical heritage: the town of Orange has an abundance of prestigious edifices that are definitely worth seeing. The Roman civilisation is clearly present in the town. The Antique Theatre, the Triumphal Arch, and the aqueduct are vestiges that attest from the prestigious past of the town during the Antiquity. The Antique Theatre is one of the best preserved ones in whole Europe. It still attracts many tourists every year during the summery cultural events.

• Culture: for those who want to discover the whole history of this Provencal town, the museum of Orange is the place to go. It recounts the history of the area from the Prehistory to nowadays. Set up in a wonderful 17th century mansion, this museum houses many archaeological items such as sculpture coming from the theatre or from dig done in the town.

• Events: Orange’s town centre is very animated all year round. A Jazz festival in July, Medieval celebration in May, regional fair in October or a Christmas market in December, the choice is wide! But the most famous event is a festival called Les Chorégies d’Orange. This opera show is internationally renowned and has taken place every summer since 1971 in the sumptuous antique theatre of Orange.

• Wines: numerous vineyards belonging to the AOC appellation Côtes du Rhône produce fine wines for the greatest pleasure of the locals and holidaymakers! Amidst others: Beaumes-de-Venise, Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Lirac, Tavel and Vacqueyras. Wine-growing has an important place in the local economy.

• Location - transport links: Orange is situated 32km from the administrative centre of Vaucluse, Avignon. The town is well-linked to other French important towns. The national road N7 goes through Orange, as well as the secondary roads D975, D976 and D237. Two major French motorways pass close to the town : the A7, also called the ‘motorway of sun’, and the A9, the Languedocienne. A train station can be found in Orange’s town centre, with amidst others regular TGV high speed lines to Paris.

Property Styles and Architecture in Orange

• Provencal villas: these properties come with a large piece of land. Provencal houses have many rooms of large dimensions. The garden is often full of many trees from the region (olive trees, cherry trees, etc.). A private swimming-pool is also a part of the property. These detached houses have walls painted in ochre colours and a tiled roof.

• Mas: Mas is one of the typical kinds of architecture style of Provence. Sometimes called Magnanerie, referring to the Mas properties where silkworms were raised, these properties are authentic. They are indeed traditional farmhouses of a medium-to-large size. Made of stone, they have special features such as being built with their rear facing the north (e.g. Mistral direction), having small windows on this side of the house, etc.

Click here for more info about the Architecture of Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur.