When travelling around France, one of the most magnificent sights is the spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of Mont St Michel in Brittany; towering over the rocky island it stands on, surrounded by winding streets and a wonderful medieval town.

News is that the monastery and its surroundings are enjoying an upgrade and these should all be in place by 2014. So far they include a new dam on the Couesnon River and wooden benches offering spectacular views of the abbey. The next project promises nearby parking with a pedestrian footbridge, which means the island will be surrounded by water once again.

This is just one of the tourist draw cards to the region. Brittany is a most attractive region geographically, with a coastline on three sides. The region offers warm winds washing up the Gulf of Morbihan which creates mild winters and a somewhat Mediterranean climate. It is famous for a rich cultural and architectural heritage that includes castles, feudal fortresses and abbeys.

Brittany is one of the most accessible areas in France for us Brits, and a popular location for holiday villas or second homes. It is estimated that at least twenty per cent of properties there are second homes – and yet there still bargains to be found. It is ideal for those seeking some of the glamour and pizzazz of the Cote d’Azur without the enormous accompanying price tag.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in France, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘France Property Buying Guide’