Everyone knows where Middle Earth is, don’t they? Tolkien’s magical, mystery world, with hobbits, wizards and a lost ring – somewhere in New Zealand, apparently. 

But, there’s another Middle Earth. And you don’t have to fight an army of orcs to live there either. 

So where is it? Barbados.

Forget Lord of the Rings, this is the sort of house that other fantasies are made of. Built in 1975, it’s surrounded by tropical forest and overlooks Chalky Mountain (which sounds rather more pleasant than Mount Doom). With pickled wood floors and curved, sculpted walls, three acres and a pool, tropical Middle Earth wins hands down.

I know it’s something I should have grown out of at around six year old, but I still harbour dreams of living in a fairytale castle.

And I just so happen to have come across this castle in Italy, which looks perfect for any would-be princess.

The castle dates back to 1350, but its fort dates even further back, to 950 AD. It’s been restored twice since (most recently in 1998).

Situated in the heart of Lazio and 50km from Rome, you get countryside living (and a heck of a view) but the benefit of the city only an hour away.

There are seven bathrooms and nine bedrooms, comfortably sleeping 19, so you can round up your friends to come and stay.

And it’s possibly even better than any castle inhabited by Sleeping Beauty or Rapunzel – after all, they didn’t have a swimming pool or their very own tavern in their castle.

If you’re a book lover, and you don’t have £5 million to spare, I suggest you look away now. Because you’re about to fall in love with this New York apartment.

The Hotel Des Artistes is located just off Central Park and is one of Manhattan’s most sought after co-operatives.  

However, this isn’t your typical co-op building: it was designed by George Mort Pollard in 1916 and the apartment for sale has 12 rooms, including a three-room master suite and three further bedrooms. 

But really, there’s only one room we’re talking about here. And that’s the library, home to 2500 books. And next to the library is a wine ‘cave’ – what more would one need to wile away an evening than a good book and a glass of red? 

There’s an office too, although why you’re not working in the library is beyond me. It looks like a room where great novels are written. Or, at the very least, you might get round to finishing the cryptic crossword in Sunday’s paper. 

We have selected our most unique and interesting properties of the week. Let us know which one you like best…

1. Tropical setting

2. Manor constructed by Louis Renault, founder of Renault cars

3. Villa in Ibiza with club room

4. Maple flooring

5. Four and a half bathrooms

6. Apparently the sixth most expensive property in South Africa

7. Near the Champs Elysees

8. Six fireplaces

9. Architectural masterpiece

10. Art collection

We have selected our most unique and interesting properties of the week. Let us know which one you like best.

1. Balcony with grass

2. Gorgeous villa

3. Mountain views

4. Impressive setting

5. Views of the Statue of Liberty from every room

6. Aquarium Bar

7. Castle to refurbish

8. Fairytale Castle

9. Historic Monument

10. Garden with trampoline

From a seven-time award winning masterpiece to a superb teak terrace, here is our selection of the best international properties on the market this week.

1. Converted barn 

2. Award-winning house designed by Philip Matthews

3. Raquel Welch’s former house

4. Masterpiece awarded with five Aurora design awards

5. Jacuzzi with views of the garden

6. Three separate houses for the price of one

7. Incredible views of the French Riviera

8. This house is definitely a must-see

9. Superb teak terrace

10. Great outdoor living room

This home in Texas  is designed to show off. But somehow, it gets away with it.

Architect Frank Welch has managed to keep Turtle Creek looking impressive, without being too ostentatious. Every inch has been designed with that little bit extra. There might be something of the batchelor pad about it, but I can forgive that.

So apart from a dramatic pile of bricks, what else do you get for your £11,167,200? Well, there’s a craft room, a media room, and a wine cellar. There’s a children’s wing too, which does make me wonder just how many children you’d have to have in your family to make that worthwhile…

It’s different. It’s glamourous. It’s got an infinity pool. It might be showy, but I like it.

From a fantastic indoor pool to a spacious masterpiece in Cyprus, here is our weekly selection of the best international properties on the market.

1. Unusual, modern 15-bedroom castle

2. Two-in-one swimming pool

3. Incredible indoor pool

4. Huge main room

5. A masterpiece – and spacious too

6. A different kind of ‘green house’

7. Quite a palace

8.Luxurious marbled bathroom

9. Impressive Medieval chateau

10. Villa with internal lift

From a fabulous Mallorcan villa to fantastic mountain views, here is our selection of the very best international properties this week.

1. Parisian winter garden

2. Incredible mountain views

3. Outstanding architecture

4. You might recognise this house from the Da Vinci Code movie

5. Impressive villa in Mallorca

6. Possibly the thinnest pool ever

7. Peace and Quiet

8. Landscaped gardens leading down to the sea

9. Cubic house

10. Amazing terrace

Don’t we all feel the same about the first week of January – you come back from your lovely Christmas holidays and already you’ve had enough of work and are counting down the days to the weekend.

If you want to make the most of this weekend, here is our suggestion: if you love French culture, food and wine or if you’d like to find out  more about life across the channel, then the France Show 2010 might be just the thing for you.

It’s the UK’s biggest French property exhibition, and it sounds like there will be plenty to please everyone – including property, travel and language seminars, a food theatre with demonstrations by Jean-Christophe Novelli, wine tasting, and even a chance to win a Renault Scenic car.

And if you are still not convinced, take a look at 2009 pictures.

The exhibition takes place at Earls Court from Friday to Sunday (8-10 January). Find out more information at http://www.thefranceshow.com/.