NH, Dublin

Since you profess to be a culture vulture there are fantastic opportunities in France and Spain. Spain is still cheap if you are prepared to steer clear of the commercial marinas, bars, shopping malls and golf courses. Anywhere close to Seville or Cordoba offers excellent culture in original Spanish surroundings. I would advise looking at property outside the towns rather than in their centres. Another must would be Granada and the beautiful city of Jerez, home of sherry.

In France I can recommend the Languedoc area in the Corbieres region with its beautiful chateaux, wine estates and unspoilt French towns with market squares offering all types of food. Market day is still a thing to enjoy — the smells of fresh bread, cheeses and wines. The area is unspoilt, with many villages still looking like they did 100 years ago. The Canal du Midi, which is a United Nations world heritage site, meanders through the region.

Why don’t you research the area by visiting on holiday? At the risk of blowing our own trumpet, we could have just the thing for you: we’re selling a small development of 15 modern villas in the village of Durban — if you fancy your mod cons as well as your culture — which are being built using traditional materials. Prices start at €260,000. There is also skiing nearby in winter if you feel so inclined. The cultural heritage of the Corbieres is second to none. There are historic Cathar castles at Queribus and Peyrepertuse, and the abbeys of Fontfroide and Lagrasse are stunning.

Tony Forte is international property adviser for Douglas Newman Good

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