This French Village is Selling Houses for Less Than the Price of a Baguette!
If you've ever dreamed of quitting your day job and moving to the French countryside, this might be your moment. The village of Ambert in central France is offering houses for just €1 – that’s less than your average baguette.
Tucked away in the scenic Puy-de-Dôme region, Ambert is known for its medieval streets, lush green surroundings, and legendary blue cheese. But like many rural towns in France, it’s been hit hard by depopulation, with some areas facing vacancy rates as high as 60%.
To reverse the decline, local authorities have launched a five-year scheme aimed at attracting new residents. The deal? Snap up a home for €1, commit to living there for at least three years, and take on the renovations – including restoring the façade.
So...What's the Catch?
Well, the homes aren’t exactly move-in ready. Buyers are expected to renovate their property, with costs typically ranging between €20,000 and €50,000, depending on its condition. But there’s support available, including grants and low-interest loans to help cover restoration expenses.
You don’t need to be a French citizen to apply, but you do need to genuinely plan on living there. And brushing up on your French will go a long way when chatting with builders or navigating the paperwork.
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Why Ambert?
Set against the dramatic Auvergne mountains, Ambert is around two hours west of Lyon and offers a quieter, more affordable alternative to the tourist-packed Riviera or Parisian suburbs. It’s big enough to have schools, markets and amenities, but small enough to still feel like a hidden gem.
It’s also famous for Fourme d’Ambert, one of France’s oldest blue cheeses – so you’ll be living in one of the most delicious corners of the country.
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A Wider Movement
France’s “€1 house” scheme isn’t new – towns in Picardie, Brittany, and even some parts of Italy and Spain have tried similar tactics to lure in newcomers. Many of these places are part of what’s known as la diagonale du vide (the “empty diagonal”) – a stretch of underpopulated countryside that’s rich in charm but often overlooked.
This is about more than cheap property. It’s a chance to help revive a local community, enjoy a slower pace of life, and build something new from the ground up.
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