Best for accessibility: the Dordogne

For the price of a family apartment in Paris, you can buy a château or mansion in the Dordogne, set in beautiful countryside, with nearby markets brimming with delicious, seasonal produce, enthuses Jane Berry of Leggett Immobilier.

The Dordogne, which is part of the Aquitaine, has been a particular favourite with the Americans and British; the region is home to the highest number of expatriates in France outside Paris. One of the reasons is its accessibility: there are four airports serving the area, including Brive, Limoges, Bergerac and Bordeaux-mérignac, so it’s not challenging to find a property less than an hour from the nearest flight back to the UK.

This maison de maître is just over six miles from Bergerac airport. The house has seven bedrooms, two of which are in a converted wine store. Outside is a heated swimming pool with a Jacuzzi and hammam. €466,400. Leggett Immobilier (0870 011 5151)