French property watch: why buy in jura and what prices to expect

THE DEPARTMENT’S SPECTACULAR VALLEYS, LAKES AND MOUNTAINS MAKE IT POPULAR WITH OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS AND SECOND-HOMERS DEPARTMENT 39 CAPITAL: LONS-LE-SAUNIER MAIN CITIES/TOWNS: DOLE,

SAINT-CLAUDE, CHAMPAGNOLE, HAUTS DE BIENNE Jura only became part of France in 1678 after years of war between French kings and various Burgundy and Habsburg rulers. It can still sometimes

feel a little detached from the rest of the country, being a department with a relatively small population and lots of big mountains and forests. Up in the high country, winters are bitterly

cold, while down in the valleys the temperature can be moderate to warm, even in mid-winter. The high country above 800 metres attracts winter sports enthusiasts, especially cross-country

skiers, and it is in these regions that most of the second homes, which make up 10% of the housing stock, are found. LOW HOUSE PRICES House prices start relatively low, with small town

houses needing renovation on the market for between €30,000 and €35,000. Most have pocket-handkerchief gardens. However, there are exceptions – for example, a three-roomed house of 61m² with

an attached 85m² barn and 600m² of land for €27,000. For larger budgets and people who are prepared for heavy renovations, country houses with around 1,000m² of land and interesting

features can be had for €50,000. TRANSPORT LINKS The department has two TGV stations, at Dole-Ville and Mouchard, which puts Paris in reach in around two hours. The A39 motorway runs along

the western boundary of the department, which otherwise has national and departmental roads as its main transport routes. Dole also has an airport, used mainly for light aviation, although

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