Waiting to sell (LtoR): Sophie and Rupert Scott with children Charlie, Ediir and Lulu outside their Cote d'Azur home.

If you have seen this summer’s blockbuster Inception then the haunting refrain of French cabaret singer Edith Piaf’s 1960 hit Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien will be familiar – it features several times in the film and was a ‘prime source’ of inspiration for the film’s composer, Hans Zimmer.

But an English family living on France’s Cote d’Azur are hoping this higher profile for Piaf – who died in 1960 – will help them sell their luxurious home. The property, which has four-bedrooms, three guest suites, a two-bedroom cottage, swimming pool and tennis courts, is the former and final home of the gifted but tragic singer.

Although this traditional, stone-built ‘bastide’ may have once echoed to the distinctive timbre of Piaf’s voice and despite owners Rupert and Sophie Scott reducing its price by €250,000 – Les Parretts has yet to find a buyer.

Piaf – real name Edith Gassion – owned the property for several decades until her death in 1963 from liver cancer. But for the Scotts it has been a shorter Vie en Rose in the hills overlooking Nice.

The couple, who’ve lived in the South of France for six years and have three children, are hoping to move back to Britain before the oldest starts at Millfield School in September.

During their tenure the family have been busy. As well as upgrading and redesigning the garden Rupert and Sophie have revamped the roof, eradicated damp throughout and re-arranged the oldest, central part of the property to include a farmhouse-style kitchen, sitting room and study.

But despite all this, their stunningly beautiful home remains unsold and the Scotts recently reduced their asking price to €8.5 million to reflect a local market that, local agents say, is quiet at the moment.

If you are interested in buying the property then contact agent  Savills or telephone 020 7016 3740.

What is it about France?

For me, it was the lure of the snow-covered Alps. What was it for you? The language? The gastronomy? The lifestyle? Once I was lured here, I discovered all these things and more, and now I find myself unable to leave. Holidays previously spent abroad are now spent discovering different regions of France. And what better way to see areas of France than from a convertible?

My first road trip centred on Normandy. First up was the Bayeaux. Strangely, the French don’t seem all that aware of the tapestry, and perhaps this is why Bayeaux remains a rather small town in the North. After having to learn about it at school in Australia, I was determined to see this thing for myself. Unfortunately, even photos without a flash are not allowed, so after waling around the entire glassed-off tapestry, I headed along the coastal road towards le Mont Saint Michel. War museums and bunkers are abundant along this slower road, and they provide good opportunities to stop and smell the salty air. Le Mont Saint Michel boasts the biggest tides in Europe. Accommodation is available both on and off the island, and both have advantages. I spent a night overlooking a part of the island that floods at the highest of tides, then a night off the island, walking up to the causeway that joins it to the mainland to see how lovely the island looks at night. This place is well worth a visit, with no cars beyond the causeway and narrow streets winding up to a monastery at the top.

Another road trip took me from my home in La Clusaz to Nice. The mountainous roads around Briançon provide a great top-down experience, especially for passengers who don’t have to concentrate. The route took me through a town called ‘Bonnuit’ (’good night’) and though Barcelonnette, which leads to the Cime de la Bonette. The narrow but freshly resurfaced and empty roads were breathtaking and the French are rumoured to have added an extra loop of road at the top to make the route an extra 50 metres higher in order to claim the title for the highest road in Europe at 2802 metres high. I really recommend this road — part of the Route Napoleon — for the natural views. Beware of clouds that act as thick fog. Just beyond the peak was an old army barracks, now turning to rubble, complete with cartoon murals inside. On the way back, I stopped in Digne-les-Bains and passed an amazingly blue lake, with lots of people dotted around swimming. If I had to move away from La Clusaz, this place would be on my list of alternatives.

On a summer road trip to the West coast, I stopped along the Dordogne — a popular tourist spot for Brits and the Dutch as well as the French. It’s easy to see why so many are attracted to this region. The weather is stable (unlike my mountains) and there is so much to see. Sarlat-la-Canéda stands out as a town full of activity throughout the day and into the night, with street performers, an open-air theatre, all sorts of restaurants and really narrow, pretty alleyways in the largely pedestrianised town. The town had a great relaxed feeling about it, and it’s also on the list of places to live if I ever leave La Clusaz. It’s also close to lots of great sites, such as the ancient cave paintings of Lascaux, the once-inhabited limestone cliff-faces such as La Roque Saint Christophe, a variety of castles and the beautifully sculpted Marqueyssac gardens. Slightly further away is the Gouffre de Padirac, an amazing underground cave complete with a Venetian-style boat ride and impressive scenery. Remember to ‘ooh’ at the first-ever plant life seen in the cave — from a seed that our guide said washed down and somehow germinated under one of the security lights. Along the coast, the still-French La Palmyre has big camping grounds and long beaches for surfing, without the crowds of more popular places like Biarritz. For me, the town felt a lot like a surf stop along the Victorian coast of Australia, with calm roads, unspoilt beaches and beachwear being the norm. Further down the coast, the Dune du Pilat, Europe’s largest dune, is a paragliding haven. Climbing the dune purely to get to the beach seemed to me like more effort than it was worth when the coastal town of Pyla-sur-Mer offers a beach on its doorstep. Obviously, it’s a bit busier, but on a hot day, who has the energy to conquer a huge sand dune? The drive home was a fast one, with the roof down at 130km/h on the toll roads, and still no relief from the heat. Lunch was a picnic under the gigantic Millau Bridge which is so high that I’m not sure I could drive over it.

My most recent road trip was not in a convertible. After driving my little Golf GTI cabriolet, the ex-La Poste van just didn’t have the same appeal. There were certainly less security hassles, but the roads just weren’t as much fun. Thankfully, visits to some bunkers in the North (La Coupole and Blockhaus d’ Eperlerques) made up for the boredom of driving a yellow thing with a big bubble dome and no power. After a night of rest in Reims, a city with a name that no non-French person can ever really pronounce and a lovely cathedral with a smiling angel, the road to the Jura ranges was hot and long. The reward was a stunning view of Geneva and Lac Léman on the descent towards La Clusaz, along with a much-needed cool breeze from the lake.

This summer, I’ll be back in the Golf for more top-down adventures.

April Hollands

Ever wondered what a finca was? You may well have come across the term when searching for property in Spain.

The nearest translated word is ‘farm’, but the term is used quite loosely to describe various rural properties with land and outbuildings. In fact, a finca can be anything from a tiny rural farm to a massive country estate.

What lies at the heart of the word finca, though, is the rural element, as the majority of fincas are located in the countryside.

If a property in the Spanish countryside is up your street, and you fancy owning some land too, then a finca may be the ideal type of property to go for.

There was a time when it was extremely easy to find an abundance of old or ruined fincas at dirt cheap prices. Not surprisingly, most of these bargains have been long since snapped up, although it’s still occasionally possible to find a property in need of renovation for a reasonable price.

Some  ruined fincas look beyond repair, but for inspiration check out the blog of this couple who set about the demanding task of restoring one in Andalucia.

If buying a ruin isn’t your thing, there are plenty of fincas for sale across Spain that are in a good state and suitable to move straight into. What’s more, some of the fincas have already been renovated and refurbished, saving you the time and effort.

Where properties are described as being ‘finca-style’, they’re unlikely to be a true, old finca. Instead, these are usually brand new properties that have been built to mimic the look and feel of an old finca.

Mountain views

If you’re looking for a large finca, then this five-bedroom renovated and extended finca could be ideal.

It’s located between Petra and Sineu, with views over the Tramuntana Mountains and the east coast, and has a separate guest house in the extension – great for having people to stay or to use for bed and breakfast accommodation.

It’s priced at £715,785.

Coastal village

This five-bedroom, old country finca is located close to the village of Campos and near the fishing town of Colonia Sant Jordi.

It’s accessed via a country road and has heaps of traditional features, such as old wooden doors, exposed beams and original tiled floors.

It’s priced at £589,470.

Andalucian acres

In Andalucia is a massive seven-bedroom, six bathroom finca set in rolling farmland and surrounded by mountains.

It comes with lots of barns and outbuildings, which could be converted to form further accommodation, a small wood, a pool and 12 acres of land.

It’s priced at £385,453.

Albatera

This finca in Albatera is a classic example of how deceptive your first view can be.

It looks small on the outside, but actually has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large lounge (with Chiminea) and a fantastic private pool area.

There’s also a large BBQ and outdoor kitchen area, utility rooms and even a lit up cacti garden!

It’s priced at £265,262.

If I was living abroad (and indeed, if I had won the lottery), a vineyard would be a dream come true. I don’t know all that much about wine, but I do rather enjoy a glass. And there’s something rather romantic about rolling hills and serene countryside. That would be quite a nice view if you coupled it with a glass of white. Don’t you think? So here are my picks of the best vineyard finds.

France

This stunning French vineyard property is just 18 miles north of Bordeaux. It comes with 45 hectares of vineyards (the property has a whopping 75 hectares of land you see). There is potential to develop it into a hotel, and at £14 million you might want to see if you could get some of that cash back, but I can’t quite get past how pretty it is. I’d much rather keep it all to myself. Although exactly what I’d do with 20 bedrooms I’m not sure. Still, if you’ve got a few million quid in the bank, a (very) large family and a penchant for a good bottle of plonk, this place could be for you. Or, you can check out these other French vineyard properties.

 
Italy

We couldn’t write about vineyards without mentioning Italy, could we? We this lovely pile of stone is right in the heart of Chianti (yes, get your Hannibal Lecter impressions out of the way now, go on). And well, it’s not only a stunning building, it produces a staggering 250,000 bottles of first class wine each year. Yet it does that and still manages to look like a charming little Italian farmhouse. Isn’t that clever. I want this one. If you’ve got a spare £13 million then it’s all yours. I might have to save my pennies for a little while first. In the meantime I’ll drool over these too.

Portugal

OK, so I’ve gone a little teensy bit crazy with the pricey houses. And I don’t really need 20 bedrooms. So this Portuguese vineyard property might just be within reach. If you’ve got a million lying about in your pocket. But still, you’re saving heaps if you go for this one instead. It’s got 6 bedrooms, and a circular lounge with an all-important library. Whether or not the books are in Portuguese I don’t know. But there’s a vineyard in the grounds too, which is what we’re after. Great news. You can enjoy a tipple while you’re in the Jacuzzi. Wow.

For those buying a holiday home abroad who intend to make full use of it during the warm summer months, the ultimate must-have is a swimming pool.

There’s nothing quite like having your own, private swimming pool on hand, so you can take a dip and cool off, or get your daily dose of exercise without leaving the confines of your room. Plus, relaxing by the poolside in the sun, enjoying drinks by the pool before dinner or dining outside in the cooler evening air are the ultimate ingredients for perfect holiday living.

If you fancy snapping up your own luxury home with a swimming pool, then here is a great selection of prime homes, all sporting swimming pools of various sizes, located in the popular locations of Spain, France and Portugal. Take your pick!

Spain

Located in Atalaya Park, between Estepona and Marbella, this one-level house with five bedrooms and four bathrooms also boasts a private swimming pool, outdoor sauna and Jacuzzi. It’s on the market for £798,235.

Also available in Spain, is this five-bedroom house situated about five minutes from Palma. It benefits from air conditioning, has a large garden, extensive terraces and that all important swimming pool. It’s priced at £746,585.

France

A sunny six bedroom villa, located in the hills of Golfe-Juan and 10 minutes from Cannes is on the market for £895,994. Outside, it has a private heated swimming pool, plenty of space for relaxing on sun loungers and a stunning Mediterranean garden. Nice International Airport is only 15 minutes away.

An L-shaped, solar heated tiled swimming pool is the star of the show at a five-bedroom house in Montpelier for £861,730. Located in a residential area of a village, the outdoor living elements include a large covered terrace with exposed beams, landscaped gardens and the pool. The house comes with planning permission for an independent guest house.

 
Portugal

A five-bedroom country villa, located in Sta Barbara de Nexe, at Quinta do Lago in Portugal is on the market for £749,402. The house is partly furnished, has air conditioning and outside there’s a beautiful mature garden and lovely swimming pool. Faro International Airport, golf courses and beaches are 15 minutes away.

Elsewhere in Portugal, there’s a luxury villa for sale in landscaped gardens and citrus groves in the hills about Loule. Inside, the villa has underfloor heating, three double bedrooms solar panelling and air conditioning in the kitchen. Outside, it’s surrounded by gorgeous gardens and has an inviting swimming pool. There’s also a covered eating area with its own kitchen, which makes it perfect for outside eating and parties. It’s on the market for £727,803.

An often-cited reason people buy abroad is the dream of buying a house and land to run as a business – most typically, it’s a vineyard property.

The quintessential dream usually involves finding your dream home abroad, moving to live in it and start a new life, happily tending vineyards to earn a living or fund your retirement. Of course, sadly it’s not always as easy or straightforward as that and heading abroad to embark on running a vineyard can be very hard work, especially if it’s a complete change of life and new career. Long hours are likely to become the norm, if only as you get the business established, and if you’re starting from scratch, it can take a while to learn everything and yield any returns for all your hard work.

But despite the potential problems, many people do take up the challenge and try and make their dream a reality – and some are very successful. If you don’t have previous experience in the wine world, it helps to buy an already established business which may come complete with customers, so you don’t have to learn the ropes and do extensive marketing. Plus, some vineyard properties are sold with all the necessary equipment included, which can save time and money in the long run.

Alternatively, if you want to be able to get away from your work some of the time and don’t want to live on site, there are options to buy a vineyard and a house nearby.

If owning a vineyard and making wine is part of your dream, then there are plenty of prime properties around the world that could fit the bill. Here’s some insight into what your money could buy you in various countries.

France
Located near Sauveterre de Guyenne, in the Dordogne area of France, is a wine property with 15 hectares of Bordeaux vineyards. The stunning 17th century house, plus gite for wine guests, is surrounded by vines dating back 20 years, including 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. It also comes with longstanding customers and is on the market for £968,415.

Italy
A wine estate in the Massa Marittima area of Italy, with 19 hectares of land, is on the market for £1,642,095. It currently produces 50,000 bottles of rose and red wines a year, one of which is prize-winning, plus oil, honey and Grappa. The large wine cellar that comes with the property is being sold with all the wine-producing and packaging equipment.

New Zealand
At Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand a vineyard nursery set on 11.3 hectares is for sale. The successful nursery comes with buildings, plants and machinery and the existing nursery manager (18 years of experience) is keen to keep her job. It’s on the market for £795,000 – £900,000.

For fans of skiing, there’s nothing quite like owning your own ski property in your favourite resort, saving you the hassle of having to find and pay for accommodation each time you want to head for the slopes. Whilst some people don’t enjoy having to fly to their ski property homes, especially when lugging equipment with them, there is an alternative – the snow train.

Snow or ski trains help take the hassle out of reaching ski properties (as well as helping people concerned about cutting down their carbon footprints) and are ideal for Brits heading to French and European ski slopes. Accommodation is available on board, so you can travel through the night and not waste valuable skiing time, and there are no extra charges for transporting your skis or boards.

The Eurostar Direct Ski Train, for example, operates from late December to early April. Serving three of the main stations in the French Alps – Moûtiers, Aime la Plagne and Bourg St Maurice – it provides easy access to many of the key resorts in the area. The high-speed service operates in the day, taking 7½ hours, but the night service is ideal for weekend breaks or anyone wanting to make the most of their time, as you leave on the Friday night and arrive first thing on Saturday morning.

Rail Europe’s Snow Train operates from London St Pancras and Ebbsfleet International and travels to four main ski destinations in the French Alps – Les Trois Vallées, Paradiski, Mont Blanc and Espace Killy. If you don’t want to worry about sleeping, it even has its own – fully sound proofed! – disco carriage, so you can party your way to the slopes.

If you’re considering in investing in ski property, then the easy access and relatively low cost of the ski trains are definitely an option to think about.