Ambert is a delightful French village that is selling houses for 1 euro

There is a medieval village nestled in the wooded hills of the Massif Central, where stone alleys lead to a unique circular square, dominated by an ancient round mairie (the only round town hall in all of France) that once housed the grain market. We are talking about Ambert , in the heart of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, a French commune of about 6,500 inhabitants known for its delicious blue cheese, fourme d'Ambert , but which is now in the spotlight for a very different reason: here , houses cost just 1 euro.

To be completely honest, this is a formula that sounds quite familiar to us Italians, as the idea was born in our country, where depopulating villages like Sambuca di Sicilia, Ollolai or Castropignano have launched similar initiatives in recent years to bring life back to (almost) abandoned historic centers. And now France , with Ambert at the forefront, is following the same path, but with an ambitious, rigorous urban regeneration plan aimed at those who really want to put down roots.

In recent years, in fact, some central areas of the country have recorded an empty home rate of up to 60%. To reverse this trend, the administration has launched a five-year program that aims to repopulate the village , encouraging new families and stable residents. For this reason, two historic houses have been put up for sale at the symbolic price of 1 euro , but clearly you need to pay close attention to all the useful information needed to seize this opportunity.

Conditions for buying houses for 1 euro in Amber

In the pretty French village of Amber, the offer to buy houses for 1 euro is well structured and very clear. Currently, two houses in Rue Michel Rolle , at numbers 3 and 5, are offered for sale at this symbolic price, but the buyer is required to respect specific renovation and usage rules:

• commit to living in the house for at least 3 years (in some cases up to 6);
• complete all necessary work (roof, facades, electrical and plumbing systems) within 16 months under the supervision of a technician responsible for the works;
• comply with local regulations , in particular those of OPAH-RU (Operation for the Improvement of the Inhabited Area), which protects the architectural heritage and the urban landscape;
• cover notary fees and a good part of the renovation costs , even if incentives and contributions from state and regional bodies are foreseen.

The reasons why it is necessary to respect these rules are very simple: the project is social and urban regeneration, designed to bring life and families back to the now emptied historic center.

This program is part of the broader “Petites villes de demain” plan, which aims to revitalize small urban centers by enhancing their public spaces and historic homes.

There are early signs of success: Ambert reopened a new school classroom in 2023, a sign that families are moving back in. In addition, the old Chamber of Commerce is being transformed into a public space for events, exhibitions and municipal offices, with the aim of being fully operational by 2026, also creating new jobs.

How to buy a house for 1 euro in Ambert

To buy a house for 1 euro in Ambert, in the French Massif Central , you must participate in a call for tenders that is valid until September 30, 2025. Initially, the deadline was set for February 28 of the same year. As mentioned, the municipality has put two historic homes up for sale in the Chazeaux district, with the obligation to commit to living in the house for at least three years and to present a detailed renovation project, which must be completed within a set time frame and supervised by a professional.

Second homes are not permitted and, in addition to the symbolic euro, the buyer must pay the costs of renovation and notary fees. Applications must be sent by email or by post to the address of the Mayor of Ambert; all details and contacts can be found on the official website of the municipality of Ambert ( ville-ambert.fr ).