Amiens, Beauvais, Chartres ... the cathedral cities adopted by teleworkers.

With the centralization and then the emergence of Greater Paris, the “cathedral cities” around the capital went a little unnoticed.

But they have emerged from the shadows since the start of the health crisis.

Their strengths appear essential with the development of teleworking, the desire to have more space at home and the desire to improve the quality of life.

Amiens, Beauvais, Chartres, Orléans or Rouen have common characteristics.

First, of course, a magnificent Gothic cathedral.

Then a location less than 150 km from Paris, with direct train connections, frequent on a daily basis.

But also a dimension on a human scale and proximity to nature, which is more and more sought after by residents of Ile-de-France who are on the move.

It is possible for them to keep their jobs in Île-de-France and to commute several times a week between home and office.

The rest of the time, they can officiate remotely, because these municipalities offer a good Internet connection thanks to the deployment of optical fiber.

Housing and offices at low prices

But they have many other advantages: economic dynamism, higher education establishments guaranteeing pools of qualified jobs, which facilitates local recruitment for companies ... Finally, a key advantage compared to the Paris region, a cost of living low, in particular with reasonable prices for private homes or business premises and offices.

It is precisely this distance-price ratio that the commercial real estate specialist Arthur Loyd studied in his latest barometer of the attractiveness of French metropolises.

Because real estate is the main household expense and the second largest expense for businesses.

The purchasing power gain is considerable compared to Paris.

The median price of a 60 m² apartment in the city center fluctuates between a sum 4 times lower in Rouen (154,200 euros against

652,200 euros in the capital) and 6 times less in Beauvais (99,000 euros).

For houses of 100 m², the gap widens further: the median price (188,000 euros to 212,000 euros depending on the locality) is about 7 times lower in the cathedral cities than in the capital, where it reaches 1.38 million euros.

Regarding the rent for “premium” offices, new and very well located, the ratio is 4.5 for Chartres (200 euros / m² / year against 920 euros / m² / year in Paris), 5 for Amiens (with 165 euros / m² / year) or 6 for Orleans, Rouen and Beauvais (150 euros / m² / year).

Real estate is therefore a crucial criterion for potential neo-inhabitants as well as for companies wishing to move to limit costs.

Will the momentum towards cathedral cities accelerate?

If this is the case, in the medium term, perhaps they will bear another name, such as "super Grand Paris" or "very large crown" ...

Interview with the mayor of Bourges, Yann Galut, and the president of the agglomeration, Irène Félix

“Newcomers tell me:

Here, we breathe!

"

Does the health crisis have an effect on the attractiveness of Bourges?

Yann Galut.

I hear a shudder in the arrivals.

Our compass is real estate: the market is more fluid than before and prices are still low, following the deindustrialisation that the city underwent twenty years ago, leading to the departure of Defense activities.

After a drop from 90,000 to 65,000 inhabitants, the demography has now stabilized.

Newcomers are looking for a city on a human scale and tell me:

We are stepping up their support, with the

, launched this year: a one-stop shop to help with registration in crèche, schools or sporting and cultural leisure activities, but also for real estate research.

The atmosphere is welcoming, caring and I would even say peaceful.

What are Bourges' main assets?

Yann Galut.

First of all, its extraordinary heritage, including the well-preserved cathedral, and the renovated and pedestrianized historic center with superb half-timbered houses.

It is also one of the greenest French municipalities: marshes are right next to the hyper center and, not far, is Lake Auron with nautical base, beaches and sports courses.

It is moreover a city "of the quarter of an hour", with the proximity of all the services and a very rich cultural offer.

This should be further expanded with the programming linked to Printemps de Bourges, not only during the week of the festival but throughout the year.

Finally, we benefit from a central geographical location, connected by motorway, in one hour in Orléans or 1h30 in Tours and Clermont-Ferrand.

Are there points to improve?

Irene Felix.

Our

goal is to

reach Paris in 1h40 by train and not in a little more than 2 hours, as currently.

To do this, we must restore the capacity of this link, which has deteriorated over the past decade.

This is being done with the State and the region, which invests in new, faster trainsets.

Another objective in transport: develop cycle paths, make the bus network free from 2023 and launch lines with a high level of service from 2025. We are also committing to reclaiming wastelands, this new land available that can accommodate businesses in key sectors, such as the defense industry and the food industry.

Interview by SC