Most British people equate the French Riviera with the sophisticated, beautiful but very expensive Côte d'Azur, but the region of Provence, known for its historic towns and villages, has maintained its wild beauty and rugged charm. It is also much more affordable for property seekers than its stylish neighbour. "When people think of the South of France, many of them will say 'way out of my league'," says Elayne Murphy of the Provence Granny Network, "but that is not always so. There are still some lovely, unspoilt and not-so-expensive areas of Provence offering affordable property."

La Provence is located in the south-east of France. The region encompasses a host of different landscapes and lifestyle options. The Mediterranean coast, 'off the beaten track' countryside with lavender fields and vineyards, towns filled with art and history and large areas of natural beauty, all go to make up the many faces of Provence. Provence is an area of outstanding cultural interest, with its sites of historic and religious interest, its museums, parks, gardens, its fortified towns and castles.
 
La Camargue, famous for its rice-rivers (riziere), pink birds (flamand), horses and gypsy festival at the end of May, offers a gentle pace, natural uncrowded beaches and beautiful sunsets.
 
Sainte-Marie de la Mer and Arles are the larger urban areas in the Camargue, well known for their long history and the Roman relics scattered throughout each city. Particularly in Arles, with its famous Roman amphitheatre, theatre and baths, the echoes of the once strong Roman presence can still be felt.

The largest city in Provence is Marseilles, France's second city. Marseilles was founded as a trading post in 600BC by the Ancient Greeks and passed into the hands of the Roman Empire who created La Provincia Romana. It is a port city and trade remains a central component of the local economy today. It also has a strong industrial base, which resulted in its reputation for being a dirty city. However, the industrial areas are located outside the city at Fos, i'Estaque, Vitrolles and Plan de Campagne. The centre has cleaned up its act, and is reserved for shops, cafés and restaurants. As a result, "The port of Marseille is now a tourist attraction," explains Patricia Brun of Business Vente Provence, So, Provence is famous for the beauty of its old towns and cities, but there are also less known but equally stunning sights .Only a few miles from Marseilles, you will be surprised by scenery which is very different to that of a great metropolis. The city abruptly gives way to the lush countryside and green hills of Aubagne, home to lively villages like Cuges-les-Pins and Carnoux.

Turquoise and deep blue waters, breathtakingly steep cliffs or sandy beaches, small picturesque ports or seaside resorts are all part of Provence. Saint-Tropez, dominated by its 16th-century fort, became one of the region's most fashionable resorts. Trendy (and expensive) restaurants and shops line the streets and luxury yachts fill the port. Needless to say, property prices in this part of Provence are hugely inflated. But you don't have to be in Saint-Tropez to enjoy the delights of coastal life. Villages like La Garde Freinet, Plan de la Tour and Carces are located slightly inland, but are all within easy reach of the coast. They have a more laid-back atmosphere than the fashionable resorts, and property prices are much lower. The villages of Lorgues and Cotignac in Provence offer much the same appeal, and many British people have picked up on the opportunity they offer, buying holiday property there.
 
Nice gained popularity with the British aristocracy in the 18th-century, and the well-to-do to have continued to be attracted to the opulent and grandiose city ever since. Again, if you want easy access to the area without the expense associated with buying property in the city, it is advisable to look to the towns and villages in the surrounding countryside in the Mercantour Valley. There are some beautiful villages in Provence, offering rustic charm and a more relaxed vibe, around St Martin Vesubie, Roquebilliere and Levons. Moving along to the Vaucluse, the villages and towns which attract most attention are less well known than the big resorts, but property here is still a sought-after commodity. Isle sur la Sorgue is a town famous for the river, its 400 antique and bric-a-brac dealers and provincial market.

Property prices are also high in the Roussillon area of Provence and all the well-known Luberon villages. But again, it is possible to buy property within easy reach of these places in less famous and prestigious, yet similarly charming, villages such as Maubec, Lagnes, Cabrieres d'Avignon and Malaucene. The Estérel, an enormous massif of eruptive rock, falls away into the Mediterranean in massive red blocks. Saint-Raphaël is a major seaside resort, situated along a coastline which is rightly known as the Corniche d'Or. If you are considering buying property in this area of Provence, a good place to begin your search is Fréjus. The architecture in this small historic town is divertingly various, having been shaped by the Roman, Medieval and episcopal periods.

Surrounding Fréjus is the region of Fayence. Lying in the foothills of the Alps, the area is made up of little villages clinging to the mountain sides and fortified towns. Elayne Murphy identifies Nyons as an up-and-coming property hot-spot. "A lovely old town with all the necessary amenities and easy access to the TGV, Nyons will soon become a sought-after area as people refuse to pay the prices of the Luberon but still want a beautiful southern setting." Another area gaining popularity, but not yet high prices, is the edge of the Alpes-des-Hautes-Provence around Simiane and Banon.
 
The climate in La Provence is very sunny, but temperatures are kept reasonable thanks to the sea winds. Summers in Provence are longer than further north, running from April to October, with temperatures averaging 20 to 25 degrees. Provence has good national and international transportation links that making property ownership appealing. Nice, Marseille, Toulon and Nimes all have airports. Marignane, Marseilles' International airport, and Nice International airport both offer daily connections to London and other UK airports. Direct flights to London take only an hour and a half and flights are operated by EasyJet, British Airways and Air France. Making use of the convenient connections, Murphy regularly travels between Britain and France. "As far as cheep airlines go I was really impressed with Jet2com," she says. "You can get a return flight for as little as £60 with EasyJet. I flew Nice to Leeds Bradford and return last month. They have numbered seating which is great and the staff are good but their check in service at both Leeds and Nice is bad, and you need to allow at least an extra hour for check in." Thanks to the TGV service, Paris is only three hours away by train from provence. Eurostar services operate between London and Avignon. But not only have transport links been strengthened: the property market in Provence has also strengthened in recent years, but, although prices have risen, Brun suggests that "they are still very affordable compared with Paris and much cheaper than property prices in England!"

The prices of property vary greatly, depending upon location. In sought-after fashionable areas you can expect to pay a great deal more than in less popular areas. It is wise to look to towns and villages near to the popular coastal resorts and cities to buy property as these will offer best value for money.

So, if you are smart about where you buy, Provence really isn't too expensive an area to spend a year, or more, in.

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Article first published in November 2005