THE BEST PLACES FOR A HOLIDAY HOME IN FRANCE
Deciding on where to buy your holiday home is definitely something that you need to consider carefully.
Where to choose really depends on the kind of lifestyle you and your potential guests hope for. Are you going for the château-in-the-countryside vibe with spectacular views of surrounding vineyards, or a stunning beach house in a charming seaside town with gorgeous restaurants and great café life?
With so many amazing options, you can be forgiven for not knowing exactly what to choose. So we’re here to help you decide on the best location for your dream holiday home in France.
Countryside
La Dordogne
La Dordogne is a region within Nouvelle-Aquitaine, in the South West of France, that’s especially popular amongst the English community. The countryside is arguably the most beautiful in all of France, full of natural wonders and history, making it the perfect location for your holiday home.
Senlis and Chantilly: Senlis and Chantilly are two gorgeous towns situated just north of Paris in the L’Oise region. L’Oise is home to everything from historic monuments and castles, to theme parks and picturesque villages. The train from Chantilly to Paris is just 30 minutes, making it the perfect place to enjoy the French countryside with convenient access to all the wonders of the French capital.
Seaside
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is home to so many famous places that there’s literally not enough time to list them all here. For a start you have St Tropez, Nice, Cannes, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille to name a few. However, if you’re looking for a less touristy seaside option, Sanary-sur-Mer is one of our personal favourites. This stunning harbourside town looks like something straight out of a Monet painting, with its waterfront homes and historical buildings.
Bretagne (Brittany): The water may be colder here than the Mediterranean, but St Malo, Dinand and Dinard are all so ridiculously charming that Brittany makes for a fabulous option for your seaside dream holiday home. There’s an abundance of stunning scenery, delicious cuisine, and unique historical architecture in Brittany. It’s also much closer to Paris than the Mediterranean, so it’s a great option if you love the seaside and need regular access to Paris. You can have your cake and eat it too.
Mountains
Chamonix
Chamonix is located in the heart of the Haute-Savoie region in South-Eastern France. It sits at the base of Mont Blanc and offers panoramic views that need to be seen to be believed. Destinations for ski chalets don’t come more stunning than this. And the great thing is that you can enjoy Chamonix all year round, with skiing in winter and hiking and biking in summer.
Les Gets: There’s so much to do in Les Gets, so this location is a great option for those who want to rent out their holiday homes to guests. Surrounded by exquisite mountains, this skiing hotspot is popular with tourists from all over the world
City Life
Paris
Obviously! Paris, the city of lights and love, has it all. History, culture, amazing food and some of the world’s most breathtaking architecture. If big city life is what you want from your holiday home destination, you really cannot look past Paris. For people needing a pied-à-terre in Europe for work, Paris is the perfect home base, as it’s at the very centre of Europe. It connects to most other capital cities by rail or short flight.
Bordeaux: With monuments, cathedrals and architectural delights throughout the entire city, Bordeaux’s centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you know it must be special. Away from the hustle and bustle of Paris, Bordeaux offers something a little different while still being a perfect smaller city location for you or your guests. It’s also home to arguably the most famous wine regions in France and is a great base for exploring other parts of the South West, such as La Dordogne (see above), Biarritz and the Pyrénées.
Château Life
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is all of your château dreams come to life. Most well known for its production of wines, abundant culture and the most stunning châteaux, you’ll never want to leave once you’ve found your little pocket of peace.
Tours: Still within the Loire Valley, Tours is a quaint little town between France’s Cher and Loire rivers. Known mostly for the incredible Cathédrale Saint-Gatien and jaw-dropping châteaux, it’s the perfect place to start looking for a holiday home.
