Chocolate-box charm

Exciting ways to get away from it all

Looking for a characterful village near the Dordogne where you can really enjoy life? Samm Khourry suggests Lauzun

The department of Aude is bordered by the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrénées and, as Annaliza Davis explains, there are many reasons to buy a property here

When it comes to entertaining friends, it is hard to top Château de Chambord as a spectacular party venue. Set in a vast forested estate larger than the City of London, this flamboyant royal residence

The timeless appeal of France’s bastides means they remain a popular choice with househunters – as Saskia Vlaskamp says, who doesn’t want a croissant with a view?

In the Charente-Maritime, Marans and the Marais Poitevin wetlands combine the best of history, nature and living, says Laurent Blanchard