Glorious gascony

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?

Alps specialist Andy Symington talks to Karen Tait about property in the Chamonix Valley

From food markets to monasteries, this area brims with special sights

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

Carolyn Reynier explores Vétheuil in the north and St-Rémyde-Provence in the south of France, both with artistic links

In the land of jamón , tapas, gazpacho and flamenco, Spanish cuisine–studded with its superlative seafood–fuels the furnace within, declares Tom Parker Bowles