Located in north-eastern France,
Lorraine shares borders with Belgium, Germany and Luxemburg, thus earning the alias “Pays de Trois Frontières” (meaning land of three frontiers). This region is comprised of four departments: Meuse, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle and Vosges which were created during the French revolution on the territories of Barrois, the three Bishoprics (
Metz, Verdun and Toul) and the historical duchy of
Lorraine. The capital of
Lorraine is
Metz and though more people speak French than in neighboring
Alsace which speaks a lot of German, food-wise there is a lot in common with Germany. The weather is very like that in the south of England with summers that are warm and winters that are cool. It is the weather with no extreme temperatures that are a great draw for tourists as well as potential property investors.
Though agriculture in
Lorraine accounts for only 2.8% of the annual gross earnings in France, the region enjoys a rich agricultural industry, specifically in the farming of oats, dairy and wheat due to the heavy clay and limestone soil of western
Lorraine. In addition, the many limestone ridges found in Meuse and Moselle have served as defensive barriers against numerous attacks on
Lorraine with other cities forming fortresses and route centers to defend the gaps between the ridges.
The soil in
Lorraine is conducive to growing oats and wheat and thanks to the rolling grasslands, dairy is also a very popular industry. The famous wines of the region originate from the Gamay type of vine, used especially in Beaujolais wine. The local Vin Gris des Côtes de Toul develops intense fruity and floral flavors which makes it a wine lover's delight. The region is also well known for its rich heritage in the production of wine and beer, though many of its breweries are no longer in operation. Its cuisine has gained world-wide recognition for its traditional dishes like Quiche
Lorraine (the smoked bacon used around the world is a traditional ingredient in
Lorraine cuisine).
The mining, textile and metallurgy industries have all suffered recent declines thus resulting in a rising unemployment rate. Nevertheless, the service industry has seen tremendous growth which helps to maintain some amount of economic stability within the region.
With a nearly 2.5 million population,
Lorraine boasts a rich culture not limited to its significant war history. There is a patchwork of dialects and ethnicities which often fail to be identified as distinctly French or German in origin and these dialects continue to survive despite the “single language” policy of the French government.
Despite the region’s rich culture and the beauty of the region’s two main cities
Metz and
Nancy, the windswept agricultural plains and industrial fields dominating the landscape haven’t really made
Lorraine too popular among second home owners thus far. As such, property prices and cost of living in this region are quite low. So people who are thinking of investing in property in countryside that is incredibly beautiful have the option of picking up property at very affordable rates. Moselle has some eco-friendly properties that are being developed which are ideal for the family and for foreign investors it really is just a few hours away – door to door. The new TGV between
Paris and
Strasbourg hopes to make this destination much more accessible.
