If the art galleries of Paris, the vineyards of Aquitaine and the chateaux of Western Loire can't tempt you to invest in French property then the weather just might.

This year, Britain's nearest neighbour experienced the hottest April since 1950 which saw tourists and French natives flocking to the stunning beaches of the south.

Tourists tempted by top temperatures

According to France's national weather office, the average temperature was four degrees Celsius higher than usual for this time of year.

Property investors would do well to take advantage of France's Mediterranean climate which attracts millions of visitors each year to top up their tans and relax on the beaches.

Even in the northern half of France the mercury was rising, with temperatures hitting 12 degrees higher than the April norm.

Patrick Galois, a forecaster at Meteo France, said: "The sustained period of above-average temperatures across a number of countries is undoubtedly linked to global warming."

France's hot weather looks set to last Weather Forecasts by Metro France predict that May, June and July will also be warmer than average.

The rain has also managed to hold off, enticing even more holidaymakers to the country and particularly Lille and Reims in north east France.

Here, rain has not fallen during the whole of April while Lille has also broken records for daily temperatures when it reached 28 degrees on April 15th. In the south of the country, air conditioning is becoming essential even though the village houses were built close together to keep out the sun's rays.

If you want to enjoy the great weather - why not buy a village holiday home in France?