-
How to protect your home in France against forest fires
Keeping gardens clear of undergrowth is important, and in several areas is a legal requirement
-
New water restrictions in France: which areas are affected and what changes for residents
Warnings are being raised from north to south with the exception of the south-west (for now)
-
Does a pool still add value to French property despite water restrictions?
An increased selling price might look attractive but do not forget running costs, increased taxes and water bans
French property watch: Location makes Eure a prime spot for buyers
It is little more than 90 minutes from Paris and under an hour from Le Havre

Departmental capital: Evreux
Main cities/towns: Vernon, Louviers, Val-de-Reuil, Gisors, Bernay, Pont-Audemer
Situated away from the coast, the Eure does not have the silly prices of some parts of Normandy but it shares the ease of access.
For Parisians (and others), the temptation to buy must be strong. The average price of a flat in Evreux is €1,710 per m² and for €1,905 per m² you can purchase a house there.
No fewer than four autoroutes pass through the department (the A13, A28, A131 and A154), meaning it is little more than 90 minutes from Paris, and under an hour from Le Havre.
Away from the main roads, the Eure’s rolling plains, wooded hills and river-laced valleys allow you to quickly swap the hustle and bustle for rural calm.
Evreux, was shelled heavily by the Germans during the war, destroying 46% of the city’s buildings. Some of the reconstruction was done in concrete, but an effort was also made to rebuild using the orange and red bricks from the region, and even to restore some timber- framed buildings.
Most of the industry in the department is carried out by small and medium-sized businesses, and there are a lot of them. Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plane parts and electronic gadgets of all kinds come out of the factories, and the workers are well paid, adding to a general feeling of quiet prosperity.
Historically, too, the Eure has been a hive of industry, with hundreds of watermills built to run all sorts of machines. Many are now highly sought-after homes.
In summer, tourists flock to the gardens of Claude Monet at Giverny, where the water lilies and streams he painted are kept as when he was alive.
Related stories:
French property watch: Why convenient Charente is popular with Britons