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This is the second part of our guide to the top ten places to rent property in France, detailing the type and style of property available in each as well as an indication of seasonal prices. An area spread out over four departments (counties), the Loire river valley is famed for its historic towns and breath-taking castles, set against a backdrop of never-ending vineyards. Its climate is also noticeably better than the north of France and it is easily accessible from several airports in the region, including the Val de Loire airport in Tours that has regular services to the UK.
While apartments and townhouses can be rented in Orleans, Saumur and Tours, the exceptional, riverine countryside of the Loire valley is what draws visitors from all over the world. The central part of the valley is a UNESCO world heritage site and a wide variety of local cottages, farmhouses, villas, Maisons des Maitres and even castles are available for rent in the area.
The French Riviera has long held a reputation as one of the most luxurious and sophisticated destinations in the world. Stretching from Toulon, to Menton on the Italian border, it experiences the best weather in France, with mild winters, average summer temperatures of 27ºC and 3,000 hours of sunshine each year. The majority of the Riviera is also protected by the Alps from the strong Mistral winds that afflict the rest of France’s Mediterranean coast. Every UK airport has regular services to one of the three International airports on the Riviera, Nice, Marseille or Toulon. The celebrity-filled, private beaches, nightclubs and casinos of St Tropez, Cannes, Antibes, Juan-les Pins and Monaco are considered the most glamorous resorts on the Côte d’Azur and rental prices around them tend to be slightly higher than elsewhere on the coast. Rental properties in the popular towns of Fréjus, St-Raphael, Cassis, Menton and St-Maxime are generally less expensive starting at around £150 a week off-peak for a single-bedroom apartment. The sandy beaches of Cavilaire are enjoyed by families unlike the beach restaurants of nearby St Tropez. Nice, is the largest city on the Riviera and is the second most popular tourist destination in France after Paris and its many different tourist quartiers offer a diverse choice of accommodation. The delightful tomette-floored apartments of the medieval old town sit on top of its nightspots and restaurants and the area is perfect for people wanting a lively place to stay; while the Art-Deco apartments of the Promenade des Anglais and the Carré-d’Or offer a romantic holiday location. The properties available for rent in the Côte d’Azur are almost exclusively apartments and villas. Prices are significantly higher during the peak summer season and some of the non-stop festivities along the Riviera during that time can really have an impact. Throughout the Nice carnival and at the peak of the holiday season, a 45m² two bed-room duplex in the Carré-d’Or could be rented out for over £500 a week. Off-season the same property would usually fetch around £230 per week in rental income. High-profile international events such as the Cannes film festival, Nice jazz festival and the Monaco Grand Prix have an even larger impact on rental prices. Owners of apartments and villas in and around Cannes can charge up to four times their normal fees during the film festival due to the massive demand for accommodation. Benefiting enormously from the advent of budget airlines, the region of Languedoc-Roussillon is serviced by the four airports of Nîmes, Perpignan, Montpellier and Carcassonne which provide regular connections to the United Kingdom and other destinations. Encompassing most of the former Occitan-speaking region of Languedoc and the old Catalan province of Roussillon, the region has a rich cultural heritage which including several magnificent castles constructed by the Catharist religious movement, the best example being in the fortified city of Carcassone. On the Mediterranean coast, the region shares the same climate as the Cote d’Azur, with plentiful sunshine during its dry summers and mild winters; but possesses several advantages over its prestigious neighbour. The coastal towns, fishing villages, beaches and ports have not suffered the same over-development as their Riviera counterparts, hence enjoy a more tranquil and authentically French atmosphere. Vineyards and olive-groves share the countryside with flamingos around quiet lagoons. Rental prices in Languedoc-Roussillon are considerably lower too with two bed-room properties available from as little as £150 per week off-peak. There is an enormous choice of property to rent in the region as well, from beach-side apartments, to town houses in some of its historic old towns such as Narbonne or the fishing town of Sète; while many holiday-makers opt for a rural vacation in the cottages and villas in and around its ancient winemaking villages. The pastel-hued town-houses of the fishing port of Collioure are some of the most sought after rental lodgings in the region, due to the town’s nightlife, as well as its bays and four beaches. Continue reading... | 