The Nouvelle Aquitaine is the largest region in France and continues to be a firm favourite with overseas buyers. But with 12 departments to choose from, which one will suit you best?

Corrèze

A relatively undiscovered department, Corrèze is one of the most affordable departments in the Nouvelle Aquitaine. While properties may be cheaper, Corrèze certainly doesn’t lack beauty, character and charm. In fact, some of the most beautiful villages and countryside in the country can be found here.

Two rivers run through the department, the Dordogne River and the Vézère River, which provides ample opportunity for riverside walks, cycles and boating.

Overseas buyers frequently head to Curemonte, Saint-Robert, Turenne and Collonges-la-Rouge, where stunning ancient houses with plenty of outside space can be found for as little as €90,000. For a bigger town feel, look to Tulle and Brive.

Charente

Taking its name from the River Charente, this gorgeous department sits in the southeast of the Poitou Charentes region and north of the Dordogne.

Often referred to as the Dordogne’s affordable neighbour, Charente offers great value property and lovely unspoiled countryside. It’s a lot quieter and less touristic than the Dordogne, enabling a peaceful and authentic French lifestyle.

Charente is home to the lovely towns of Angouleme and Cognac. Other notable towns and villages here are Ruffec, Jarnac, Saint-Simon and Bassac. Charente is easily accessible via the airports in Limoges and Bordeaux, which are both about an hour and a half’s drive away.

Lot et Garonne

Perfect for nature lovers and outdoorsy folk, Lot et Garonne is a pretty department in the southwest of France. It is characterised by gentle rolling hills, sunflower fields, traditional market towns and charming ‘bastide’ villages.

Some 200km of navigable waterways are interwoven throughout the department, and there are around 3,500km of walking trails to explore.

The hilltop village of Monflanquin has spectacular views and has even been named as one of ‘the most beautiful villages in France’, while the historic village of Villereal has retained many of its 13^th century buildings and original weekly market.

Ancient castles, churches, windmills and manor houses make Lot et Garonne a wonderfully interesting place to live. What’s more, you could easily reach the delights of the southern Dordogne, including Eymet, Monpazier and Issigeac.

Haute Vienne

Fondly known as the region’s best kept secret and named after the Vienne River, the Haute Vienne is another lesser-known part of the Nouvelle Aquitaine. Nevertheless, this beautiful rural department has plenty to offer.

The wooded landscape, decorated with streams, rivers and lakes, forms part of two regional natural parks (Perigord-Limousin and Millevaches), and there is no shortage of interesting towns and villages either.

The main town in the department is Limoges, a stunning medieval town renowned for its porcelain. Another interesting site to visit is the village of Oradour-sur-Glane which was destroyed during World War II by the Germans. The bombed buildings and burned-out cars remain in the same place and condition to this day, providing powerful homage to that time.

Property in the department is incredibly affordable.

Pyrénées Atlantiques

Finally, we head to the coast, in the far southwest corner of France. Located in the Basque country, close to the border with Spain, this department gets its name from the Pyrenees and the Atlantic Ocean.

Here you’ll find glitzy coastal resorts like Biarritz and St Jean de Luz as well as picture-postcard villages and the Pyrenees National Park.

Biarritz has long been popular with Parisians due to its incredible architecture, long sandy beaches and spectacular views, while St Jean de Luz is loved for its vibrant atmosphere and luxury villas.

Another hotpsot in the department is the port town of Ciboure which was put on the map because of its pretty harbour and some rather famous residents – painters Matisse and Ravel. Check out Pau too, a sophisticated town with some lovely upmarket restaurants and shops.

While property prices are higher than some other parts of the Nouvelle Aquitaine, they are still reasonable. Townhouses can be found for around €250,000.