1) The Languedoc Roussillon
The Languedoc-Roussillon is bounded by the Auvergne, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the Mediterranean sea, Spain and the Midi-Pyrénées.
The Massif Central is the north western border. The Cévennes Mountains cover much of the old province, reaching their highest point in the northeast. The southern part is a low coastal plain along the Mediterranean Sea, where the region enjoys a Mediterranean climate.
Throughout the original Roussillon area, Catalan is widely spoken - French, the official language, is spoken with a heavy Catalan accent. Regional cuisine relies heavily on olive oil and garlic and the warm winters and hot, dry summers produce vast quantities of inexpensive wine. Béziers is the centre for the wine trade in the Hérault department.
2) Brittany (Bretagne)
Situated in the extreme northwest of France, the Region of Brittany is known for its scenic villages, towns and picturesque landscapes.
Its rugged indented coastline is littered with small and pretty fishing villages. To the north the region has a rocky landscape and to the south sandy, sun swept beaches.
Fishing, farming and tourism are the important sectors of Brittany's economy and of the three, fishing is the mainstay. Rennes is the capital of Brittany.
3) The Aquitaine - Dordogne
From the flat, sandy plains and pine forests of the Landes to the beautiful lagoon of the Bassin d'Arcachon... Aquitaine is immensely diverse.
Bordeaux is one of the best and most established wine growing regions in France, with brandy lovers visiting the town of Cognac.
Towards the Pyrenees a Spanish feel takes hold in the popular resorts of Bayonne and Biarritz and the valley of the Dordogne provides a sharp contrast. With its old stone houses, gentle rolling hills and high quality of life, the Dordogne region - and the town of Eymet in particular - is a magnet for Britons looking to start a new life abroad.
4) Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region is located in the south-east of France. The western border of the region consists of the plains of Comtat, Crau, and Camargue.
The regions boundaries are the Rhone River to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and Italy to the east, which is dominated by the Alpes. The region is rich in flower fields, vineyards, orchards and olive and mulberry groves. The capital of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is Marseille and other principal cities are Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Cannes, Nice and Toulon.
5) Poitou Charentes
Poitou-Charentes, located in the west of central France, is bounded by Pays-de-la-Loire, Centre, Limousin, Aquitaine and the Bay of Biscay.
The areas of Poitou and Charente are joined by the Charente River valley, which hosts the vines of the Cognac on the right bank. Poitiers is the capital of Poitou-Charentes.
The Massif Central and Massif Armoricain, cover the regions southeast and northwest respectively and the area in between is a lowland plateau that hosts the Vienne and Clain rivers.
6) The Limousin
If you are looking for rural France head to the Limousin with its woodland, green hills, pasture land, rivers & lakes.
Located in central France, Limousin sits on a series of rolling plateaus in the northwestern Massif Central. It is bounded by the regions of Centre, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées, Dordogne and Poitou-Charente.
The Blond Mountains are located in the southwest, between the Vienne and Gartempe rivers, and rise to more than 1600 feet. The Ambazac Mountains (Monts d'Ambazac), to the east, rise to more than 2300 feet.
7) The Pays de la Loire
By road, the region of the Pays-De-La-Loire is easily reached in a few hours from any of the Channel crossings, though the ports of St. Malo and Caen (sailings from Portsmouth) offer the shortest drive. Nantes also has an airport.
The Pays de la Loire includes the part of the Loire valley downstream from Saumur. The ancient houses of Anjou and Plantagenet held sway here, and history lurks on every corner.
*Based on Lets Rent Property In France.com page views in the short term lets section between September 21st 2008 and September 21st 2009 - using Google Analytics
