A warm and convivial place steeped in French history with an interesting, kind host who really looks after you. Under an hour from Paris too

Built in 1518 to gaze across the Loire to Amboise and decorated with discreet elegance and respect for its history. Guests love it

You’ll eat well here, among locals who love the food. The village is quiet, the rooms serenely modern. A great base for a holiday en famille

A higgledy-piggledy 13th-century house with view-filled terrace in the heart of a medieval village with cobbled streets and painted shutters

Come for the serene views, the beautiful meals and the music festivals in summer. Madeline’s village hotel is a treat for all the senses...

Come for a rest and to be cosseted in this Virginia creeper-clad Languedoc house surrounded by ten acres of green permaculture and woodland

Stay in an apartment in a 1700s Queen Anne style country house or a self-contained loft circled by 25 acres of grounds, near Wicklow mountains

In glorious rural Umbria, a spacious old farmhouse with magnificent views of mountains and Lago Trasimeno, rustic décor and a lovely pool

Breathe, relax in peaceful Provençal countryside: olives, lavender and budding fruit trees. Aix's lively markets are 10 minutes away

Two homely gîtes sleeping 4 and 2 in rural farm country. Walk to the bakery; drive 15 minutes to Saint-Malo and riverside restaurants

Spacious Provençal-style house in a converted 18th-century forge with peaceful gardens, a stroll from a lovely hilltop village

Vistas of olive groves, village life and the sea; gaze and daydream from this beautiful spot. A Michelin recommended restaurant to boot

A glorious spot for this old coaching inn with its toes nearly in the water and lovely views over St Michael's Mount – excellent food too

Ease through a beautiful wrought iron gate to a courtyard and an elegant 1700s creamy stone holiday house, part of the château estate

Three separate units, always taken together, with swimming pool, wrap-around terrace and wonderful views in the heart of La Provence Verte

A comfortably stylish renovation of a 19th-century farmhouse, perfect for big groups & multi-generation families to reconnect in rural peace

Three airy gîtes set in 300 acres of vineyard and gardens. A welcoming base for exploring the marvellous Minervois – 15km from Carcassonne

You get the best of all worlds here. Delicious beds, Provençal soaps, vineyard views, fresh croissants a stroll away…