Villas Apartments Ski Chalets Houses Cottages Farmhouses Gites Castles Chateaux Mansions to rent
Guestrooms, Self Catering, Catered Rental Accommodation
France is one of the largest countries in Europe and the most varied in terms of scenery and climate. Over 25% of the country is covered in forest and woodland. The northern half is mainly flat with rolling hills to its north and west. The southern half is more mountainous with a large raised area in its centre known as the Massif Central, formed from volcanic activity over 10,00 years ago. The area comprises mountain ranges, large plateaux and deep gorges offering spectacular scenery ideal for walking and hiking. To the east and west of the Massif Central are the country's two main mountain ranges, the Pyrenees in the South West and the Alps in the South East. Separating the Massif Central from the Alps is the Rhone valley, a major wine growing region and host to one of the France's most important river highways serving the industry and commerce of towns such as Lyon, Avignon and the Mediterranean port of Marseille. The Alps are the main destination for winter sports. For the sun and beaches most people head south where the country borders the Mediterranean, either to the more developed Cote d'Azur with its famous resorts such as Cannes, Nice and the municipality of Monaco or to the less developed region of Languedoc-Roussillon in the South West where the trappings of modern day life are less noticeable. Alternatively the Atlantic breakers of the west coast offer the chance to participate in more energetic water sports such as surfing. Further north are the Chateaux of the Loire valley and the historic battlefields of Normandy. Paris offers night life and sophistication for those wanting to live it up and for the children there is always the Disney theme park just outside Paris.
French property rentals are as varied as the French landscape itself, encompassing villas, apartments, farmhouses, chateaux or chateaus, mansions and boutique bed and breakfasts, but possibly the best known is the gite. A gite can be an apartment, a cottage, a bungalow, a house, a barn conversion or anything in between, but its key attributes are that it is self contained, self catering and is either part of the owner's property and is located within the owner's grounds. Gites may be a single unit or part of a gite complex, sharing facilities such as pools and gardens. Usually the owner lives on site and is therefore conveniently available for help and support. Most gite complexes are rural while single gites can be almost anywhere.
For more information see our
Visitors Guide
