Whether it’s art, culture, cuisine, fashion or wine – France is a country with a keen eye for the finer things in life.

Nowhere is that more pronounced than the capital city of Paris. Often seen as the ‘love capital of the world’, Paris is one of the world’s most recognisable cities – with the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Arc de Triomphe and Louvre among the long list of attractions that prove a magnet for tourists from all over the globe.

You can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway in Saint Germain-des-Prés in the 6th arrondissement or opt for the high society lifestyle in the 16th arrondissement.

Paris might mix all of the best of France in one city but it cannot top the culinary reputation of Lyon in the east of the country. France’s gastronomical capital is awash with ‘bouchons’ restaurants, serving traditional regional dishes that offer unparalleled treats for the taste buds. The wonderful wide avenues of the 6th arrondissement feature the best properties to soak in the delights of this historic city.

The south offers up sun-kissed Marseille, France’s second biggest city, which might not match the splendour of Paris but is bursting with character and culture while being ideally poised to embrace the glamour of the Mediterranean coast and picture postcard villages which surround it. Its famous bouillabaisse fish soup is a true culinary wonder and symbolic of Marseille’s own proud culinary tradition. The city received a new lease of life after its year as European Capital of Culture in 2013 – increasing interest in popular property hotspots in the 6th, 7th and 8th arrondissements.