The French national property federation - FNAIM - lists the average price of housing per square metre in Marseille at €2,978 (€276 per sq ft).

An apartment with a view overlooking the Vieux Port would cost about €5,000 per sq m (€464 per sq ft) but is difficult to find.

Apartments sold by Marseille République, which is renovating an entire street of Haussmann era 19th century apartments in central Marseille, range from €3,513 to €4,700 per sq m (€326 to €436 per sq ft), with the average price around €3,700 per sq m (€343 per sq ft).

This compares to more than €7,000 per sq m (€650 per sq ft) in the nicer parts of Paris.

All apartments are delivered with built-in kitchen appliances (except washer/dryers) and all buildings are equipped with central heating, air conditioning and security camera phones. Most have decorative period marble fireplaces which cannot be used. Monthly service charges run at €1.50 per sq m (€0.13 per sq ft).

No two apartments in the scheme are the same. The higher up, the higher the price. Many of the top floor apartments are two-floor duplexes with terraces.

There are three options for finishes. Most clients choose the simplest range, called "Elegance", which is also the least expensive, followed by "Design" and "Haussmann".

If you buy the apartment as an investment or with the intention of living there later, present rental rates are between €12 and €14 per sq m (€1.1 to €1.3 per sq ft) a month.

A few examples among the 188 apartments still available for purchase: first floor studio apartment, 35sq m (376sq ft), €144,000. Fifth floor studio apartment, 39sq m (419sq ft) with a 20sq m (215sq ft) terrace, €219,800. Second floor one-bedroom apartment, 79sq m (850sq ft), €291,726. First floor, three-bedroom apartment with 113sq m (1,216sq ft) and a 10sq m (107sq ft) balcony, €437,367. Fifth floor, three-bedroom 113sq m (1,216sq ft) apartment with a 50sq m (53sq ft) livingroom, €471,000.

The latter two apartments are in a wedge-shaped building that projects into the boulevard, so they have light flooding in from both sides.

A duplex on two top floors with two bedrooms and 90sq m (968sq ft) and 44sq m (473sq ft) terrace, €499,000.

Duplex on two top floors with three bedrooms and 132sq m (1,420sq ft), and 4sq m (484sq ft) terrace, €622,992.