France

Find elegance, light and simplicity as this beautiful townhouse by the church. Enjoy Sarah's delicious dinners with garden and local produce

Luxurious rooms and superb table d'hôtes in rambling grounds by the Loire. A treat for couples who love good food, wine and conversation

Lodge and gardens – superbly designed, immaculate, fresh, eco friendly – rest in unspoilt Picardy. Anglo-French hosts take turns to cook

Charming maison bourgeoisie with a generous host and fine dinners, walk to the village château, hop on bikes to explore the Pays de Bray

Cottages with pretty courtyard for couples or friends. Canoeing on the Dordogne, cycling, truffle hunting and bastide towns to explore

Pretty, cosy, romantic and rambled by roses: Normandy stone cottage, near the coast for fresh fish, bike tracks, Lessay abbey. Blissful

Space and sunsets on the top floor of a quiet building near Père Lachaise cemetery. Lively, unpretentious quarter, good markets, real Paris

3 old houses with scrupulously smart interiors, original art, antique and modern furniture, terraces from which to admire the long views

You’re in the heart of untamed countryside here, beside the river Oise, welcomed by friendly hosts who cook and care for you

A gorgeous big family house and garden with a pretty pool, rolling country views, space for eight, lovely furniture and total peace

A taste of French finery in this handsome 15th-century château and serene bird-filled parkland. South Brittany's wetlands teem with wildlife

Relaxed self-catering spaces on a 700-acre estate & vineyard, with fresh, simple interiors and pretty gardens, one with a pool.

Wonderfully renovated farmhouse, thoughtfully restored with treats like original floor-tiles, spread with oriental rugs, and massive rafters

Independent living in central Paris - away from the road for peace. Unfussy interior, splendid location between Eiffel Tower & Orsay museum

Really special, this ancient Provençal house, its rich ethnic décor and the travels, art and cooking of its fascinating, talented owners

Chestnut floors, exposed stone, comfortable bedrooms. Picnic with the family in the large walled garden, splash in the saltwater pool

A hop to Montpellier, but deep in the countryside: a romantic pad, with Moroccan rugs, ochre-limed walls and bikes to ride into the country

The red-shuttered old Provençal farmhouse rises from rose beds: gracious Jacqueline keeps house, pool and gardens perfectly