“Idealistic nonsense!” comes the shout from the land of Gallic pride and passion! Why? Because the vast majority of French adults aspire to live in a newly-built “pavilion” - what many of us would scathingly call a characterless, uninspiring, low-maintenance bungalow. Usually they have pink rendered walls and red tiled roofs and sit in anonymous suburban rows.

But don’t be put off looking for a bungalow on our site – they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In fact we have one in the Languedoc region which is actually a floating hotel on the Canal de Midi!

The French determination to dwell in these little pink boxes is, however, good news for those overseas visitors who want to rent a traditional property in France. One just has to click on to countless estate agent websites or flick through the Rentals France website to see that the choice is almost without limit. From abandoned water mills and converted barns, to luxury apartments and ancient chateaux... and everything in between.

The rural gîte…

Most people’s introduction to renting French property - albeit on a temporary basis - is in the form of a gîte holiday. Although the word “gîte” has become the general term for any type of rural or semi-rural property that is rented out, the true meaning of the word is a converted farm building. Originally it could have been a barn, a pigsty, a worker’s cottage, a grain store, or anything else connected to toiling on the land. Once converted, they can vary considerably in degree of sophistication and home comforts. But, because of their humble beginnings, most come complete with bags of French character, several annoying draughts and the odd inquisitive rodent!

If you are lucky enough to rent the farmhouse itself, you are in for a rural treat. Most are stone built, have a surfeit of bedrooms and, originally being a working farm, have enough land to lose yourself in.

Of comparable rental or purchase price is the French village house which, as the name suggests, is invariably a purpose-built dwelling within easy strolling distance of the local bar and boulangerie. These are probably the nearest to the aforementioned cliché image - most are stone built, have slate roofs, louvered window shutters and scarlet geraniums in hanging baskets each side of the front door ...all the things that biscuit tin lids are made from. If the village house is referred to as a “cottage”, it will be just as pretty... but probably very small! If you are offered a “chaumière” then it will be an even prettier thatched version of a cottage.

The Gentleman’s residence…

On the outskirts of the village or small town - or at least in the locality’s most up-market and leafy surroundings - will be the local Maison de Maitre, or manor house. This was usually built in France’s bourgeois era, probably in the eighteenth or early nineteenth century, as an impressive “gentleman’s residence”. In some cases it would have been built for the second son of the aristocrat who lived in the local château and whose first son would traditionally inherit the family seat. Otherwise it would have been for the locally revered vineyard or landowner - the sort of person to whom cottage-dwellers would doff their caps out of respect or fear.

Because of the relative wealth of the people who had them built, Maisons de Maitre were normally constructed from the very finest materials and incorporated features which were blatantly out to impress. Huge entrance halls with wide stone staircases; well-proportioned entertaining rooms with massive granite fireplaces; upwards of six large bedrooms; and opulent garden terraces with statuary and water features. After all, the owner wanted to make sure that his status was recognised.

La belle époque…

The word villa conjures up pictures of a modern, sprawling, detached residence - usually with a swimming pool and a selection of verandas and terraces - basking under the sun, with the beach and the sea within a frisbee’s throw. But such properties, especially in France, owe their legacy to the belle époque period of the 1920’s and 1930’s when it was fashionable to “pop down” for a month or so to the Riviera on the Mediterranean or to chic Biarritz on the south west coast. Many such properties still exist in the warmer regions of the country, complete with their ever-fashionable art deco designs and furnishings. Recently-built villas, however, are perhaps more like the mental picture - generally low-rise luxurious homes within close proximity of sun, sea and sand, or even the snow in the Rhône-Alpes region!

French apartments - regardless of where they are in the country - come in all shapes, sizes and levels of luxury and sophistication. Rent a “budget” apartment in either a holiday resort or a city, and you could be climbing fifty stairs to the converted attic space over a shop! Lots of character, good views and perhaps decent accommodation, but oxygen mask essential! However, rent an apartment which is part of a complex or new development, and you are almost guaranteed that it was purpose built and - if it is more than a couple of storeys high - has the luxury of a lift! They come in many sizes, from a studio apartment for one or two people (i.e. one big space which doubles as bedroom and sitting room), to a super luxury three or four bedroomed “duplex” apartment on two floors, with balconies, private parking and probably a giant communal swimming pool in private grounds.

Fairy-tale castles…

There are literally thousands of châteaux scattered throughout France. Some look austere, cold and aloof whilst others - with their moats and high round towers - are like fairy-tale castles. Some are remote whilst others are in the centre of towns and cities. But, without exception, they are all architecturally and historically fascinating. Browse through the fine selection of chateaux on this website.

Because of the enormous cost of upkeep, many have been converted from the private ancestral homes of lords and minor royalty to become hotels, restaurants, conference centres, and the ultimate in bed and breakfast establishments. The more important ones - such as several near Paris and along the Loire Valley - have been preserved and are open to the public as living museums.

Find your rental property...

We hope this short guide helps you choose the ideal style of French property for you.