Bordered by sea, forest and mountain ranges, France is a land that down the centuries has become home to a number of cultures, each having left an indelible mark on the country with their folklores and traditions – all so different from region to region. The remains and artifacts of many centuries can be found all over the country, representing an intrinsic part of the French holiday experience.
Investment Property Guide: France Property Guide
France has been a popular destination for British holidaymakers for a very long time. One obvious reason for this is that, while France is the UK’s closest continental neighbour – with just a few miles separating the two nations – there are cultural and climatic differences enough to ensure that France genuinely does feel like ‘abroad’! Another even more obvious factor is that it is just so simple to reach France by any mode of transport.
Investment Property Guide: Aquitaine Property
Covering over 41,000 square kilometres of the south-western corner of France, Aquitaine is one of the largest regions of the country, and is home to almost 3,000,000 people. The region is arranged across the five departments of Dordogne, Landes, Lot-et-Garonnes, Gironde and Pyrenees Atlantiquès - the latter (along with the regions of Midi Pyrenees and Languedoc-Roussillon) bordering Spain. escape2france is proud to offer property for sale in Aquitaine, a region of great diversity that offers the best of everything for anyone considering investment in French property.
Investment Property Guide: Alpes-Maritimes Property
There cannot be too many locations on the planet where, at certain times of the year, you can struggle to choose whether to hit the slopes for a ski, or to strip down to your swimming gear for a dip in warm, clear sea: Alpes-Maritimes, in the south-eastern corner of France, is one of them! Thinking about it, in fact, with the beaches and mountains just an hour apart, there may not be a decision to make – you could do both!
Investment Property Guide: Bouches-du-Rhone, France Property
Taking its name from the mouth of the River Rhone, Bouches-du-Rhone is a department of Provence that is cosily hemmed in by the neighbouring departments of Vaucluse to the north, Var to the east and Gard to the west. The southern limit of the region is all glittering Mediterranean coastline – known the world over as the Cote d’Azur, and even more popularly so as the ‘French Riviera’.
Investment Property Guide: Ile-de-France Property
Although there is of course much more to it than the great city, the region of France known as Ile-de-France is understandably dominated by Paris. Without question, 'The City of Light' is the world's number one tourist destination: the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau set the number that descended upon the city in 2004 (including from within France) at around 25 million, while various, possibly less reliable sources go as high as 60 million. Whatever the figure, it is a staggering number, and entirely comprehensible considering that Paris offers the tourist just about everything you could wish for, short of beaches!
Investment Property Guide: Languedoc-Rousillon Property
To many visitors to France, the twin departments of Languedoc and Rousillon represent the ultimate French holiday or living experience, claiming that there are few places in the country that can compete in offering as rounded and complete a package of French life and culture. It is a strong claim, and one that can certainly be understood and supported when you first get a taste of what this wonderful region of the South of France can offer.
Investment Property Guide: Lorraine Property
Bordering Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany to the north, Lorraine - usually associated with the neighbouring Alsace - is an area of great beauty and historical significance located in northeast France. This part of the country offers a laid-back lifestyle in gorgeous countryside for those considering investment in French property that may be seeking a quieter existence inland, away from cities and resorts.
Investment Property Guide: Normandy Property
Beyond the massive historical events that have so coloured the region of Normandy down the centuries, this wonderful region has so much more to offer the visitor, particularly in the realm of natural beauty both on the coast and within its peaceful interior. Normandy is blessed with around 600 kilometres of stunning coastline; 14,000 km of picturesque, snaking rivers; 7,500 km of hiking trails and ramblers paths, over 200 museums (including war-related exhibits) and over 80 lovely parks.
Investment Property Guide: Pays-de-la-Loire Property
The region of western France known as Pays-de-la-Loire (meaning literally "lands of the Loire") is a largely agricultural part of the country - horizontally bisected by the Loire River - with a tranquil interior of fertile land scattered with small farms. Bordering Brittany to the west, Normandy to the north, Centre to the east and Poitou-Charentes to the south, the area is famous for the raising of livestock, the growing of vegetables and the production of dairy produce. UNESCO described Pays-de-la-Loire as a "cultural landscape of exceptional beauty" in declaring the region a ' World Heritage for Humanity Site' and the area plays a vital role in the French economy.
Investment Property Guide: Picardy Property
Picardy (which is also acceptably spelled as Picardie) is one of the most visually stunning regions of France, and one of great historical importance. Located in Northern France, Picardy makes for a very rewarding holiday destination and also, at just 30 kilometres from Paris and less than an hour by road from Calais, one that is conveniently accessible.
Investment Property Guide: Poitou-Charentes Property
Blessed with a greatly pleasing, mild climate, the French region of Poitou-Charentes is a delightful, peaceful part of the country that has many attractions to offer the visitor. Situated between the Loire Valley and Bordeaux, Poitou-Charentes boasts an average of 2,250 hours of sunshine per year, ensuring its 450 kilometres of Atlantic coastline is busy with holidaymakers for most of the year.
Investment Property Guide: Rhone-Alpes, France Property
Bordering Switzerland and Italy in south-eastern France, the region of Rhone-Alpes is one of the most breathtaking natural environments on the planet. The obvious focus of the area is the extraordinary mountain range - the French Alps - that offers some of the best skiing and snowboarding available anywhere in the world at resorts such as Chamonix, Val D'Isere, Courcheval, and Isola 2000.
Investment Property Guide: Var, Provence, France Property
Another extraordinarily beautiful area of the South of France, the Provence department of Var is a region of dramatic geographical diversity that holds visitors in awe. From towering mountains to deep forests populated with wild boars; from ancient villages perched precariously on hilltops to picturesque agricultural valleys; from swanky coastal resorts such as St. Tropez and St. Raphael along 430 kilometres of fabulous Mediterranean coastline to fairytale chateaux and hundreds of sites of great historical significance, Var offers just about every imaginable attraction for the whole family.
Investment Property Guide: Vaucluse, Provence, France Property
The beautiful and mysterious Provence department of Vaucluse was founded at the end of 1793, and takes its name from the Latin ‘Vallis Clausa’, meaning ‘the closed valley’. The setting could not be more perfect: the foothills of the Alps (formed of Mont Ventoux – the ‘Giant of Provence’ – and the Dentelles de Montmirail range) are to the east; the Rhone Valley lies to the west, and the Durance River valley borders the south.
Investment Property Guide: Cannes, Cote d'Azur Property
There appear to be several versions of the true origins of Cannes – stretching back as far as 200 BC – but not one of them can be nailed down as fact! Involving Oxybians, Romans, Greeks, Barbarians and Saracens all running amok for several hundred years, burning down this and that, there is a fogginess as to actual events for a long period – but this serves only to add mystery to an already magnetic destination!
Investment Property Guide: Provence Property
Down the centuries, Provence has proven to be one of Europe’s enduringly popular destinations. Inspiring, dramatic, romantic, intoxicating and beautifully diverse, the region meets every tick on a checklist of desired holiday requirements, and is blessed with rich history and culture.
Investment Property Guide: France Property overview
Whether you are seeking a “good life” refuge from the hustle and bustle of life in a British city, retirees looking for your perfect retirement home, or a family in search of a holiday residence to spend your summers, you are very likely to find something perfectly suitable in the huge range of property for sale in France.
Investment Property Guide: South of France Property overview
How many times have you had conversations with friends or acquaintances who have returned from holidays in the South of France, when they try to express the magnificence of the region and the amazing experiences they have had there? The chances are good that it will have been more than once – and even greater that they will have related their tales with a permanent grin that verges on smugness!
Investment Property Guide: France Property General
As a holiday destination, France offers it all: romantic city breaks, camping holidays, skiing and climbing in the Alps; trips to ‘Euro Disney’ or hanging out with the Gucci crowd and celebrities on the French Riviera – whatever your idea of the perfect holiday is, France provides a wealth of options to suit all but the impossible to please! Here, we look at just a small sample of the wonders that France has to offer the visitor:
Investment Property Guide: St Tropez, Cote d'Azur property
Also known as the Cote D’Azur (the ‘Azure Coast’ – reflecting the deep blue colour of the Mediterranean), the French Riviera is a narrow stretch of coastline just 75 miles long – extending from St. Tropez in the department of Var at its western end, to the Italian border. The property for sale in St. Tropez is pefectly situated on a beautiful peninsula that is one of Europe’s most desirable property destinations.
Investment Property Guide: Nice Property General
Located on France’s glittering Mediterranean coast between Marseilles and Genoa (just 19 miles away) on the Italian border, Nice is one of France’s most famous city destinations, and a leading Cote d’Azur tourist resort. Founded by the Greeks in the 5th Century, this is a city with a long and often very turbulent history, taking its name (after a significant victory in battle) from the Greek Word ‘Nikaia’: ‘Nike’ is the Greek goddess of victory. And since that time, Nice has been an important and very busy port.
