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This is the third 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. Painters such as Cezanne and Van Gogh were fascinated by sun, colour and rural life of Provence, painting masterpieces of its grape harvests, Cyprus trees and other features of its countryside. It also provided inspiration for authors such as Marcel Pagnol (whose classic novels Jean de Florette and Manon des Souces were set in the region) and Peter Mayle who engraved the Provencal countryside into the psyche of British Francophiles with his novel, A Year in Provence.
Provence’s proudly preserved traditions, breathtaking scenery, village markets, Roman ruins and excellent food have made it a prime destination for those wishing to experience a rustic French vacation. Its large towns of Arles and Aix-en-Provence host constant art exhibitions, festivals, feasts and other spectacles throughout the summer months, with the Aix carnival being of particular renown. While apartments are available for rent throughout Provence in its towns and villages, traditional stone cottages, gothic and medieval houses and villas are more commonly available. Rental prices vary greatly depending on such factors as the proximity of large towns, tourist sites, or the airports of Nice, Marseille and Grenoble; and access to swimming pools. Some destinations can be quite remote (especially those in the Alps) which is reflected in the prices that start at £100 per week for a single-bedroom apartment, off-peak. The unspoilt golden beaches and sand-dunes of the Atlantic coast do not suffer from over-crowding in the summer like those of the Riviera, despite the fact that the French themselves often favour this part of France for their beach holidays. From the Pyrenees Mountains of the South to the vine-covered river valleys of the north, Aquitaine’s alluring countryside enjoys plenty of sunshine, hot summers and mild winters. The coastal town of Biarritz in French Basque country hosts international surfing competitions and possesses a casino. Its Eugenie Palace was built by the wife of Napoleon III and frequently accommodated European royalty as well as hosting international peace conferences. Other towns and cities in Aquitaine famed for their beauty include Pau, Bayonne, Roquefort, Arcachon and Périgueux; although the jewel in Aquitaine’s crown is its capital of Bordeaux. Attracting over three million visitors each year, the university town dates back to the third century BC and in set in the biggest and arguably most beautiful wine growing region in the world. Particularly favoured by the English Aquitaine’s is department of Dordogne, often referred to as Dordogneshire. Referred to in French as the Perigord, its fabulous shelters over 1000 castles, many prehistoric caves, such as the caves of Lascaux, many important Roman ruins and some extraordinary churches. Its older properties are often made of local golden stone and can be rented from prices upwards of £150 per week for a two-bedroom property. While the region is mainly prized for its countryside, the beautiful towns of Perigueux and Bergerac are in the Dordogne. Aquitaine is easily accessible by aeroplane from the UK with five international airports in Bordeaux, Limoges, Biarritz, Bergerac and Pau; while the airport of Poitiers in Poitou-Charentes is convenient for travelers to Dordogne. There are many beautiful cities in the region of Rhône-Alpes including Lyon, France’s third biggest city and second largest Urban area. It is famed for its medieval old town with its traboules (passageways that pass through buildings and link the streets on either side) used by the resistance to escape the Nazis. Much of Lyon has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. Lyon is also famed throughout the world for the quality of its cuisine and hosts some of the world’s top restaurants. While cities like Grenoble and Annecy are very pretty with many distractions, the majority of tourism to the region centres on the ski slopes of the Alps. The most famous, thanks to its hosting of the winter Olympics, is Chamonix. At the foot of Mont Blanc, it is a truly stunning setting for a holiday. Being an actual town, it has many restaurants, bars and nightclubs. It remains a popular destination during the summer for walkers, cyclists and paragliders. The alpine resorts of the Rhône-Alpes ski resorts are often cheaper than their Swiss and Austrian competitors; although many can be purely resorts that offer little other entertainment and are ghost towns in the summer months. The style of accommodation varies from apartments in high-rise buildings, which start at around £100 per week for a single-bedroom apartment off-peak (£200 per week during the ski season) to romantic wooden ski chalets. The department is serviced by the airports of Grenobles and Lyon St Exupéry. Above Bordeaux on the Atlantic coast, much of Poitou-Charentes benefits from the warm air of the gulf-stream. Its main tourist town, La Rochelle is one of the most attractive seaside towns in France; while off its coast lie the islands Ile d’Oleron, Ré and the picturesque Île d'Aix, where Napoleon spent his final days of freedom after Waterloo. Ile d’Oleron is France’s second largest island and has many beautiful sandy beaches around its little towns. Inland the canals, marshlands (such as the idyllic area of Marais Poitevin) and river valleys of Poitou-Charentes with their medieval towns and hamlets attract plenty of holiday-makers searching for a little tranquility. It is slightly cheaper than neighbouring Dordogne with two-bedroom apartments available off-peak from just over £100 per week. Flights are available to the UK from the airport outside the regional capital of Poitiers. Continue reading... | 