With its fame for Christmas markets, winter is a great time to take a property inspection trip to Picardie - and, just a two-hour drive from Calais and accessible via motorway, the region is well situated for British buyers looking to buy a French property.

"The transport links from the UK or Paris make it possible for UK buyers thinking of a second home to easily get there for a weekend," says Jane Dinsdale from www.jdspropertyliason.com. "Whether using the new St Pancras Eurostar into Paris or a standard ferry Dover to Calais with a car, coastal and inland properties are all within an easy drive."

Picardie also contains a plethora of tourist attractions, meaning that property purchases in the region have buy-to-let potential. Rich in social history, Picardie's museums and monuments stand as testimonies to the battle of the Somme, one of the most important battles of the First World War in 1916.

The region also has its fair share of architectural interest, being home to six gothic cathedrals, many abbeys and fortified churches and the Compiegne and Pierrefonds chateaux. The cathedral in Amiens, Picardie's capital is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece.

With 72 parks and gardens, Picardie also has plenty to offer lovers of the great outdoors, who can also enjoy the horse-riding, sand-yachting, cycling, hiking, sailing and golfing opportunities available in the region.

And with annual events such as the Christmas markets in Ameins (24th November to 29th December), the biggest in Northern France, and the traditional Christmas market held in Saint Quentin's town hall (8th December to 6th January), there is plenty to encourage those with an eye on Christmas shopping.

If you're bargain-hunting for bricks and mortar instead, Picardie also has plenty to offer. Earlier this year Dinsdale told World of Property that "Aquitaine was the most popular region [for Brits buying property] last year," Picardie was "hitting the top for the beginning of 2007, perhaps because that's where most of the property bargains are."

She confirms that "bargains can still be bought in the region comparing to prices of similar sized properties in the UK."

For those interested in buying a Picardie property with rental or guest-house potential, Francophiles Ltd is currently marketing a presbytery dating back to the 14th century in a village five kilometres from the town of Gournay-en-Bray. With three existing bedrooms, the property is set within approximately 2,500 square metres of landscaped gardens with a garage, outbuildings and a large loft space with the potential for conversion. The property (pictured) is on the market for 450,000 euros (approx. £313,380).

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For more information visit:
www.picardietourisme.com

Article first published 09 November 2007