Belfort is the capital town of France's smallest department to which it gives its name. It is situated in the Franche Comte region in Northeast France and borders the Haut-Rhin in Alsace. The city is surrounded by stunning countryside, which takes in the wild and beautiful terrain of the Ballons des Vosges Natural Park. If you're looking for inexpensive French property in dramatic country surroundings, Belfort and the Ballons des Vosges Natural Park are the places to find it.
The River Savoureuse flows through Belfort, dividing the town into two distinct sectors. To the east of the river is the old town, in which resides the medieval castle of Belfort and its fortifications. To the west is the modern, more industrial side of Belfort. The castle is one of the main tourist attractions in Belfort. It was first documented in the 14th century and has been key to the defence of the city on three separate occasions. At the foot of the medieval castle stands an 11m high sculpture of a lion - a symbol of Belfort's heroic stand in the Prussian War. It is carved out of pink sandstone found in the Vosges Mountains, and has become a symbol that is synonymous with Belfort today.
Belfort property in the old town consists of restored 17th, 18th and 19th century properties. Many have been converted into apartments and offices in the town centre, with those that overlook the river being most in demand. For most French property hunters, it is the amazing scenery outside the town that attracts them to the area. Rural Belfort property can be found all over the department, including the southern parts of the Ballons des Vosges Park. A 4-bed villa in France near the hamlet of Evett-Salbert with 15 acres of land can be purchased for as little as 220,000 euros.
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