Bas-Rhin is a small, densely populated department on the German border which looms large in the French popular imagination because its annexation as part of Alsace and Lorraine by the Germans after the 1870 war became a rallying cry for republican nationalism.
In the years following 1870 and until Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France after World War One, French school books focused on the injustice done by the confiscation of Alsace and Lorraine.
Politicians made reversing the humiliation of the annexation a priority.
Alsace was again invaded in World War Two and its refugee population dispersed all over France, with a particular concentration in the south-west 鈥� Dordogne still has strong links with Alsace forged by welcoming refugees during this period.
Geographically, the department is mainly on the east side of the Vosges mountain range, with a large, fertile valley floor leading to the Rhine River, which marks the border with Germany.
The departmental prefecture, Strasbourg, was an important border city for many years. After World War Two it expanded to the point that the city and its surrounding suburbs now have a population of over half a million 鈥� nearly half the population of the whole department.
It has a large university, with student accommodation taking up many of the surrounding flats. In the historic city centre, Airbnbs account for many more.
Ad
Strasbourg serves as a hub for the road network on the French side of the border and is the terminus for the A4 autoroute, which loops through north-east France from Paris.
Another autoroute, the A355, which becomes the A35, lets you bypass the city to the airport, which has flights via easyJet to the UK and Italy. Other lines serve French airports.
Just across the border, the airport of Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden is a base for Ryanair with weekly flights to London.
TGV trains take around two hours from Strasbourg to Paris, and there is also an extensive TER network, again with Strasbourg as its hub.
The complicated history of Alsace has left it with its own civil law, including parts of property law.
Property registers are kept in courts, and not in tax offices as elsewhere in the country.
Strasbourg, with its big city prices, dominates the department鈥檚 property market and around 2.5% of houses are second homes.
Outside the city it is still possible to buy properties under the 鈧�50,000 mark 鈥� but expect to be kept busy renovating them.
The following were available at the time of writing:
Under 鈧�50,000
The views around this property make it worth the renovation workSeLoger
This stone cottage in the village of Neuviller-la-Roche is on the market for 鈧�29,900 and suitable for 鈥渞enovation or demolition鈥�.
From the listing, it seems previous owners started cleaning it up for renovation before giving up, but it would seem a pity for this solid-looking house with a seemingly good roof to be knocked down.
The property has a small 118m虏 garden and 67m虏 living space. This is divided into three bedrooms and a large kitchen and living area.
There is a view of the rolling foothills of the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains, which should reward all the work put into the house.
This property comes with plenty of historical characterLS Homes
For people who like houses with historical character, this property built in 1821 using traditional colombage wood-framing techniques should fit the bill.
It is on the market at 鈧�118,800. Situated in the village of Keffenach in the north of the department, the house is arranged with two bedrooms and a large living space covering its 80m虏 living surface.
There are also 787m虏 of grounds, made up of a garden and a courtyard with a barn. There is also a studio flat off the courtyard, ready to be moved into.
Beneath the house is a large cellar in good condition and suitable for storing wine. Heating is by electric radiators and a wood stove.
Air conditioning is also fitted and the DPE energy certificate gives a D rating.
Over 鈧�2million
This modern property is located just outside of StrasbourgPalatin Immobillier
This large modern villa on the outskirts of Strasbourg has an asking price of 鈧�2,369,000.
It has been designed around the swimming pool, which dominates the 210m虏 garden.
It has 440m虏 of living space on two levels, including large balconies. There are three large suites and a smaller bedroom, with an open-plan lounge/kitchen area.
The garage has space for three cars, and a paved turning circle makes getting in and out easy. Part of the house has been designed to be used as an office, which has its own entrance. Despite all the glass, the building has a DPE rating of A.
