The French towns where your dream holiday home could cost thousands less as property prices tumble - and where they've soared by 12 per cent

Dreaming of a holiday home across the Channel? There could be bargains to be had in France, where house prices are falling in some of the country’s best-known locations – although others are seeing values soar by as much as 12 per cent.Overall, prices for existing homes fell by 1.3 per cent in the year to the end of June 2026, according to new figures, but the picture varies dramatically depending on where you buy.Data from France’s National Institute for Statistical and Economic Studies (INSEE) also reveals that 951,000 homes were sold in the 12 months to August 2026, although sales have slowed compared with 2025.So, where are British buyers most likely to find a property bargain – and which parts of France are becoming increasingly expensive?Brest, Châteauroux and Dijon are among the locations recording the sharpest price falls, according to French publication The Connexion.Brest, in the Brittany department of Finistère, has seen prices drop by 6.2 per cent. The historic port city, famed for its maritime heritage, could offer an opportunity for buyers looking for a French bolthole at a reduced price. Brest in Finistère has seen a notable drop in house pricesThe spot has a modest British expat community, and has a more laid-back lifestyle than busier destinations such as Paris.Major attractions include the Château de Brest and National Maritime Museum, as well as the Bay of Brest, a hub for watersports and boat lovers.Currently for sale on Rightmove in the region, you can buy a two-bedroom apartment for £329,835 on a new development, or a three-bedroom semi-detached home in need of repair.In Châteauroux, meanwhile, which has seen a 5.8 per cent drop, French-Property.com lists a five-bedroom stone house with 'no neighbours' for £306,294.The capital city of the Indre department in central France is ideal for nature lovers, with its river Indre, many green spots and Chenevières-Déols eco-park, a site dedicated to the protection of wetland wildlife.Home of mustard Dijon dropped by 5.5 per cent, Southern Corsica by 4.7 per cent, Bordeaux by 3.1 per cent and Nîmes 2.3 per cent. It's followed by Châteauroux, which has seen a 5.8 per cent dropA food hub in France, the city in Burgundy is also a major wine hotspot, ideal for Britons seeking to immerse themselves in top gastronomy and culture.Bordeaux, with a 3.1 per cent drop, is perhaps one of the best-known destinations to see such a decrease.From the architecture to the cafe culture, Bordeaux has fewer crowds than Paris, but with food and drink that is equally good (if not better).Of course, a visit to Bordeaux is incomplete without a trip to one of the region's outstanding vineyards - and if you're considering a move here, a countryside pile near a vineyard might be exactly what you're after.On the other hand, some regions have seen soaring prices.Northern Corsica increased by 12 per cent, Montauban by 10 per cent, Chartres by 9.3 per cent and Orléans 6.9 per cent.'After remaining stable in the first quarter, prices for existing homes began to decline again in the second quarter of 2026,' according to French Notaires. Picturesque Dijon has also seen a decrease in the price of houses'Year-on-year, the decrease reached 0.8 per cent in metropolitan France, with houses being more affected. 'However, projections based on preliminary sales agreements indicate that prices will stabilise in the autumn of 2026. 'In the rest of France, prices are expected to be close to equilibrium year-on-year. In the Île-de-France region, apartment prices are expected to remain generally constant (despite a slight decline anticipated in Paris), while house prices in the greater Paris area are expected to fall year-on-year. 'In this context, households remain cautious and prioritise saving. Even when real estate projects remain, their realisation may be postponed, reflecting a wait-and-see approach.'