Set among a verdant twelve-acre estate, this seventeenth-century chateau will help you fulfil all of your period drama fantasies. There's a real air of grandiosity in the ground floor salon, thanks to the high ceilings, handsome furnishings and an ornate decorative fireplace. Just next door, you'll find an equally lavish snooker room and a dining room appointed with panelling, an antique sideboard and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. You probably won't be surprised to learn that some additions have been made in the four centuries since the construction and our favourite of these has to be the long swimming pool out in the garden. Once you're done taking a dip, you can relax out on the terrace or fire up the barbecue ahead of dinner time. The surrounding region of Charente Maritime enjoys a mild climate throughout the summer months, which means that a trip to Plage de la Grande-Conche in Royan — just under fifty minutes' drive away — should prove tempting. Closer to the home, the town of Pons only takes ten minutes by car and there are plenty of walking routes through woodland and along the River Seugne.

• Your host can help arrange a variety of extra services during your stay, including massages and beauty treatments, wine tours, laundry and dry cleaning, fridge fills, restaurant reservations, private chefs, airport transfers, and car hire

• If you’re travelling with children, your host can organise English-speaking babysitting services – alternatively, a live-in nanny can be arranged at a cost of £475-£670 per week

• This home can accommodate a further four children on additional beds with prior approval from your host – you’ll need to pay an additional fee of €100 per guest per week