Normandy, €949,000 Deauville airport: 15 minutes 9 bedrooms, pool, tennis court, outbuildings With direct flights from London City to Deauville, you can easily decamp to this nine-bedroom property in the Calvados region for the weekends. There’s a three-bedroom main house, a four-bedroom guest house and a staff house. Outside, in the extensive gardens, are a tennis court, pool and stables. Leggett Immobilier (0870 011 5151)
Méribel, €1.029 million
Geneva airport: 2 hours 3 bedrooms, south-west-facing terrace, parking This ski-in, ski-out duplex apartment is in the heart of Méribel Villages, with access to the extensive ski domain of the Three Valleys. There is a central, open-plan kitchen/living room with a fireplace, three double bedrooms and two bathrooms. Savills (00 33 4 79 06 22 65)
Provence, €995,000
Marseilles airport: 50 minutes This former coaching inn is within a short distance of the pretty Alpilles village of Eygalières. It has been completely renovated, enjoys an idyllic rural position and has plenty of space for outdoor entertaining. Knight Frank (020–7629 8171)
Dordogne, €901,000
Bergerac airport: 30 minutes This five-bedroom manoir sits at the end of a small country lane in a quiet, but not isolated, position. The guest house has its own access and garden and comes with two bedrooms. The nearest village is Sainte-Alvère. Leggett Immobilier (0870 011 5151)
Grimaud, €1.15 million Nice airport: 80 minutes Standing five minutes outside the village of Grimaud and within an easy distance of Saint-Tropez is this four-bedroom villa. It boasts under- floor heating, air conditioning and has a heated pool in the garden. Hutchinson Bell (00 33 6 03 23 28 48)
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Dawn Chorus: A Blue Plaque for Marc Bolan, holidaying in the Caribbean with Francis Ford Coppola and a history of the National Gallery in 25 picturesPlus the best of the property pages, and how the railways will save the countryside.
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Game, set, match: 12 of the world’s most beautiful tennis courtsFrom Italy to Indonesia, when it comes to hotel amenities, a picturesque tennis court will always trump a 24-hour gym. So, before you book your next holiday, take a look at our pick of the 12 best.
