Let us take you on a househunting tour of some amazing locations in France. First, we explore the beautiful southern department of Aude, home to the fairytale citadel of Carcassonne, Narbonne on the Canal du Midi, and Cathar Country. Then we take a wander through some of southwest France's most beautiful 'bastide' towns and villages, and find out what makes them so special. While in the southwest, we visit the riverside town of Marans in the heart of the Marais Poitevin wetlands in Charente-Maritime. We also check out two villages in the north and south of France with an artistic link. Finally, we head east for the high-altitude and high-adrenalin resorts of the Chamonix valley in the Alps. If you're looking for inspiration, you'll love our real life features, set in the Dordogne, Pyrenees, Auvergne and Loire, as well as three case studies of expats who have embraced their new life in France by becoming involved in the local community. Of course, we have plenty of expert advice to share, from working in France as a freelancer to planning permission for building and renovation projects, and French mortgages to what to do if you inherit a French property - and much more. Not forgetting all the usual regulars, from our property picks showcasing the best on the market to entertaining expat columns.