Best Luxury Property for Sale in France in 2011 - Perfect for Bankers' Bonuses

Rhône-Alpes
Stunning ski chalet in the Alps
Price on application  

There is nothing that screams wealth quite so much as a luxury ski chalet in a swanky Alpine resort. This apartment, which covers the entire fifth floor of a very stylish apartment block in "Les Gets", is as luxurious as "it gets". Beautifully clad entirely in high spec blonde wood, this spacious apartment is the ultimate bachelor pad. With open plan, split level living, a master bedroom with en suite bathroom, three further guest bedrooms plus a kitchen and extra bathroom, our lucky bachelor banker can entertain in style while enjoying fantastic skiing this winter.

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Burgundy
Romantic watermill
475,000 Euros 

A mere snip at a price of under 500,000 Euros, this romantic watermill in Burgundy cannot fail to charm. It's the ultimate in "de-stressing tranquillity", with its abundance of gently flowing water being the perfect balm to the troubled, over worked soul from the high powered world of finance. The house is built of mellow stone, fully renovated to a high specification and the fishing ponds, streams, forest and peaceful surroundings seem like something from another world. Gorgeous.

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Ile de France
Easy access to Paris
760,000 Euros 

Anyone who is anyone needs to have a pad with easy access to that most glittering of European cities, Paris. After a quick hop across the channel, blissful weekends can be spent enjoying the comforts of this secluded, contemporary home in Yvelines which is only a mere 30-minute drive from the capital. So you can pay a visit to the Louvre, take a trip down the Seine, finish with a spot of ultra fine dining at the double Michelin starred Le Cinq restaurant and still be home in time to relax with a brandy before bed.

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Brittany
Modern magnificence in Brittany
790,000 Euros 

The man who has everything simply has to have this perfect bachelor pad in Brittany. Overlooking the twin delights of the ocean and a golf course, this stylish and sleek modern property has state of the art fixtures and fittings and is within easy reach of the town of Pléneuf Val André, where the shops, restaurants and casino can tempt you to part with a little more of that bonus!

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Aquitaine
Delightful haven in the Dordogne
1,749,000 Euros 

There is nothing worse than inviting guests to your country residence only to find they are bored in spite of the luxury of their surroundings. If you buy this home in the delightful Dordogne, however, bored guests will never be a problem, as the house comes with a tennis court, swimming pool, mini golf course and loads of land for walking, riding or just viewing. This beautiful Tuscan style manor house comes with lots of extras and is bound to impress.

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Languedoc-Roussillon
Wine on tap
2,150,000 Euros 

There is something lacking in your life if you don't own your own vineyard. Every wine lover should be able to wake up and look out over his own vineyards, or wander down to the cellar to select a bottle of his best vintage when those unexpected guests call by. The owner of this fabulous house and wine domain will be able to do exactly that, as the property is sold with 17 hectares of vineyards in addition to its 20 hectares of pasture/arable land and 100 hectares of woods. The cellars, or caves, are the perfect place to store the fruits of your labours, or more probably, the labours of the staff you will employ to keep the estate running smoothly while you are busy justifying your bonus back in the UK.

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Rhône-Alpes
On the shores of Lake Geneva
2,500,000 Euros 

As locations go, it doesn't get better than this. What could be more stylish than a luxury villa set on the shores of Lake Geneva, the ultimate chic location in the French Alps. What's more, this place comes complete with its very own private beach and harbour! Set in the spa town of Evian les Bains, itself a watchword for smart chic and elegance, the beautifully appointed, six bedroom house is as perfect as its location. Tempted? How could you not be!

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Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Film star style in Cannes
4,500,000 Euros 

Cannes, in the south of France on the legendary Riviera strip, is best known for its prestigious film festival, which attracts the crème de la crème of international film stars every year. If your bonus is burning a hole in your banker's pocket, why not zip off to Cannes and take possession of this fabulously elegant film star style apartment. The pool, with its exotic palm trees, the light, airy feel of the living accommodation, the views over the Med and the mountains, and the tranquillity of the surroundings will all charm and captivate. When the festival comes to town, this apartment will be quite at home in its role as the place for top celebs to party!

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Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
A castle in Provence
6,200,000 Euros 

If the lady in your life isn't impressed just by your bulging bank balance, try whisking her off to your Provençal pad for the ultimate romantic break. No lady of taste could fail to fall in love with this beautiful Renaissance chateau in the Vaucluse department of sunny Provence. There are even extra houses for extra guests, so party weekends could be on the agenda. The castle is surrounded by its own land (all 100+ hectares of it) so privacy is ensured.

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Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Mediterranean views in Monaco
15,750,000 Euros 

I admit, any banker considering buying this Monaco apartment will have had a very generous bonus, even by bankers' standards. At a cool 15,750,000 Euros, this two bedroom apartment will remain just a dream for most of us. However, the lucky banker whose bonus covers the asking price can look forward to unrivalled views over the Mediterranean Sea and a location bang in the heart of the golden principality of Monaco. The tax haven status should help too!

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