28 French property types explained

Learn these essential French property types to help with your househunting in France

Appartement – flat/apartment

Chambres d’hôtes – guesthouse, B&B

Gîte – holiday cottage

Maison de maître – mansion or manor, usually in a town or village (literally ‘master’s house’)

Maison de ville – town house

Manoir – manor, usually in the country

Maison de campagne – country house

Ferme, corps de ferme – farmhouse/farmstead

Fermette – small farmhouse

Bastide – large, detached stone house common in southern France

Longère – long, rectangular house common in Brittany and Normandy

Charentaise – stone house found throughout Poitou-Charentes

Maison à colombages – half-timbered house

Mas – large country house typically found in Provence

Château – French stately home, sometimes part of a wine-producing estate

Château fort – castle (fortified)

Domaine – estate

Vignoble – vineyard

Chaumière – thatched cottage

Pavillon – bungalow

Moulin – mill

Prieuré – priory

Pigeonnier – dovecote

Écurie – stable

Grange – barn

Atelier – workshop

Dépendance – outbuilding

Monument historique – listed building

Like this? You might enjoy:

21 French words to help with your DIY or renovation project18 French words to help you buy a house in FranceFrench vocabulary to start a business in France31 French phrases to use on public transport

Search for properties on France Property Shop