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Why I love Lassay les Chateaux

Let us take a look at the beautiful and historical town of Lassay les Châteaux in the region of Pays de la Loire (dept. 53, Mayenne).

One of the main reasons I love this “Petite Cité de Caractère” is because I lived 15 minutes from it for 12 years between 2000 and 2012 and it was my local town to visit for banking, shopping and relaxing with a beer watching the world go by, a great location and not to mention the weekly markets, seasonal fairs and events as well as a annual comedy gala.

Nestled near the top of the Pays de la Loire region and close to the Normandy border is the town of Lassay les Chateaux. Surrounded by the beautiful and gentle rolling landscape of the Mayenne this medieval town offers more than just a magnificent chateau (in fact there are three!). Like elsewhere in the department of Mayenne the pace of life follows the seasons, the old rural ways and traditions don't try and keep pace with modern ways, instead the locals prefer the relaxed atmosphere.

The Chateau is set overlooking a lake which reflects the turrets and you would be hard pushed not to take a competition winning photo. The Chateau, lake and gardens of Lassay les Chateaux keep the visitors coming back time and again as well as attracting newcomers and holiday home owners.

As mentioned earlier, Lassay les Chateaux, as its name implies, is a town that has more than one chateau. Sadly, two of these are in ruins, but the main one is intact and is a fine example of 15th century architecture. Open to the public, the chateau is a must to visit and casts a marvellous atmosphere over the town.

Lassay is a market town, and on market day (Wednesday) the locals and visitors alike swarm around the market with a vigour that contrasts with its otherwise tranquil existence. During the summer and sometimes at other times of the year the town celebrates in typical French fashion with Brocante markets, festivals, events and other fete days. These various festivals held in and around the town vary from year to year but the most notable are a summer comedy and music gala and of course, Bastille Day.

Whether you are planning to visit for a holiday or a property viewing trip, be careful as you may end up staying forever, it has such charm! The centre of town boasts a selection of shops and amenities with a lovely small village community feel. Banks, Post Office, hairdresser, bars and restaurants are easy to find alongside gift shops and the usual Boulangerie and Boucherie.

There are larger towns nearby if need be but Lassay has a new (opened 2011) large supermarket on the outskirts of the town. The area is popular with walkers, cyclists and horse-riders, these slower ways to see the area are the best and most enjoyable. Sports facilities include tennis courts, a sports hall and an outdoor swimming pool, which is open during the summer.

To get to Lassay les Chateaux the nearest ports are Caen, St Malo and Le Havre. Dieppe 155 miles (to Newhaven), Caen 65 miles (to Portsmouth), Cherbourg 120 miles (to Poole and Portsmouth), St Malo 85 miles (to Portsmouth and Channel Islands), Le Havre 105 miles (to Newhaven and Portsmouth), Calais 250 miles (to Dover and Folkestone).

By Air you could try Caen 65 miles, Rennes 70 miles, Angers 70 miles, Dinard 85 miles, Tours 105 miles, Nantes 115 miles, Paris Orly 150 miles, Paris Charles de Gaulle 165 miles, Paris Beauvais 170 miles (to / from a variety of UK airports).

By Train Laval is only 35 minutes away and Laval to Paris approx. 1 hour 30 minutes on the TGV.

Drivers will find the town from the N12.

So what about property prices and availability in and around Lassay les Chateaux?

Property here tends to be mid-priced in comparison to the region, in comparison to the UK everything seems to be a bargain!

We always have some excellent bargains available in and around Lassay, from inexpensive town properties to magnificent countryside farmhouses as well as some exciting renovation projects on the market for a very low price.

Chateau and Lake.

The Main High street opposite where the market is held.

The Old linen washing facilities !

That famous photo opportunity again.

One of the other 2 Chateaux.

Chateau from the air.

Blog submitted by: David at Cle France.

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Why is it sometimes difficult to get exact property location details?

Client's Question: "Why is it that French estate agents refuse to give me the address of a property I am interested in, surely it saves everyone time if I can look up a property on Google Earth, and either include it or exclude it from my selection?"

I am often asked this question, and it is a constant source of frustration for British house hunters who are accustomed to seeing the address of a property as well as directions to it on estate agent details in the U.K. But the two markets are quite different, and when you buy a property in France, you aren’t in the U.K! There are, however, good reasons for their reluctance to divulge this information.

Firstly, the majority of property transactions that take place in France are between private individuals, with no agency involvement whatsoever. It is very common for a French purchaser to see a property advertised by an agent, to approach the agent for further details, and then to bypass the agent and go directly to the vendor, thus cutting the agent out of the deal. Agents therefore needed to protect themselves against this kind of activity, and that is why when you visit a property with an agent you will be asked to sign a ‘Bon de Visite’, which acknowledges the agent’s involvement in the deal.

However, it isn’t all about the agency commission. Given that the majority of houses pass through private hands, those French vendors who choose to sell through an agent, often do so because they do not want to deal directly with potential buyers, they prefer an intermediary to do that for them. The agent therefore has a duty of confidentiality to the vendor, who would understandably be furious if an agent breached that trust and gave their details out directly to casual enquirers.

There are two solutions to this:

Firstly be prepared to sign a ‘bon de visite’ with either the agent or their English partners, which acknowledges that you are a client of said agent, and that should a sale arise the agent will be able to claim their commission.
Secondly, (and this is where we as a professional English based intermediary can help), tell the agent exactly what your location requirements are (proximity to towns/schools etc), and what your concerns might be for the immediate environment of the property itself (proximity of neighbours, farms, power lines etc).

We at Clé France have a very close relationship with our French partner agents, and the last thing anybody wants to do is waste time taking clients to see properties that will not suit them! We will often know the properties personally, but in cases where we don’t, we can talk to the agents who will entrust us with the information you need to make an informed decision as to whether to view or not.

Blog submitted by: Sharon at Cle France.

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Why I love Dol de Bretagne

Let us take a look at the historic city of Dol in the region of Brittany (dept. 35, Ille et Vilaine).

The proud and historic city of Dol-de-Bretagne, with its fascinating cathedral, was built above the marshes extending to the Bay of Mont St-Michel. Out of this dramatically flat landscape emerges an extraordinary sight, Mont Dol, where Saint Michael supposedly fought off Satan. A relatively easy climb for the novice and well worth the views at the top on a clear day.

In 549, the Welsh Saint Teilo was documented as coming to Dol where he joined Samson of Dol and to this day the fruit groves which they planted remain and are known as the groves of Teilo and Samson. Legend has it that while there he was assigned by King Budic II to subdue a winged dragon, which he was said to have tamed and then tied to a rock in the sea off Brittany. He is reported to have stayed in Dol for seven years and seven months so must have left in 556 or 557.

Dol boasts some old medieval houses along its high street,which is stunning, but the outstanding building in the town is the 13th-century cathedral. The roots of the cathedral go back to the same dynamic 6th-century Welshman named Samson (Samson of Dol) legend has it, he rid the local lord’s wife of leprosy and his daughter of demons, for which kind services he was rewarded with land. When King John of England’s troops burned down the Romanesque cathedral, a mighty new Gothic one was built – one particularly ugly gargoyle on it is said to resemble the evil monarch. there is a very interesting museum to visit if you are interested in cathedrals and medieval times called "Médiavylis".

Mont Dol is an outcrop of rock resembling another island like that of Mont St-Michel, but this one stands alone on the flat coastal plain in front of Dol. Stunning views across northeast Brittany are enjoyed from the summit 65 metres above sea level and without too much risk or equipment you can reach the small plateau by practising your rock climbing. Once on the plateau here is a less strenuously climb in the shape of the Tour Notre-Dame, highlighted by a large statue of the Virgin Mary, for the most stunning views of the patchwork of fields below and the Bay of Mont St-Michel beyond. One of the two windmills on Mont Dol is usually open for visits.

So what about property prices and availability in and around Dol de Bretagne?

As a lot of property is situated either close to the town, the sea or the bay of Mont st Michel you can expect to pay a higher price than that inland. However the area around Dol de Bretagne is steeped in history and you would find it hard not to fall in love with the landscape and relaxed way of life here.

We always have some excellent bargains available in and around Dol de Bretagne, from town and village properties to magnificent countryside farmhouses and sea front villas, as well as some exciting renovation projects on the market for a very low price.

If you are not already on our mailing list then do subscribe and let us know if this is an area you are interested in, you will then be kept upto date with any new properties on the market as well and news and updates.

le-champ-dolent, Dol de Bretagne.