The twice weekly flights will operate from 21^st May to 24^th September 2011 from Jet2’s Manchester base with tickets starting from €39.99 (one way including taxes). The new Brive Dordogne Valley airport has only just opened this summer but already demand is high due to its prime location in the heart of the popular Dordogne.

Steven Worboys, MD of the French leaseback property experts at Experience International, comments,

“Dordogne is one of the most beautiful departments of France, with enchanting rolling hills dotted with charming châteaux, a rich heritage and wealth of gastronomic delights. Over 2.9 million people visit the Dordogne each year making it the most popular place within the Aquitaine region and with the new 2011 summer flights Britons will have no excuse not to discover this hidden gem.“

And now is the perfect time to visit the Dordogne valley, home to some of the finest Merlot, Cabernet Franc and sweet Monbazallic wines in the world, as the autumn grape harvests have begun. Medieval villages such as St Emilion, a UNESCO World Heritage Site just over 90 minutes from Brive airport, are renowned for their harvest festivities complete with parties, shows and of course wine tasting sessions in the local cellars and estates.

The heady combination of natural beauty and fine gastronomy has made the Dordogne not only a highly popular tourism destination but also a more permanent base for many British second property owners. Over 20,000 Brits own homes within the department with the Dordogne accounting for 15% of all enquiries according to Athena Mortgages, a figure which has remained stable over the past 3 years.

As Steve Worboys goes on to comment,

“Property within the Dordogne is very reasonably priced with new developments, especially leasebacks, selling quickly. Well located properties can be purchased off-plan, with up to 100% finance and still guarantee index-linked returns of up to 4.3% for 18 years.”

One such development newly released to the market is Domaine de Rochevigne, 1 and 2 bedroom 4* apartments located only a stone’s throw from Gurson Lake and minutes from St Emilion. Easily accessible in under 90 minutes from Brive airport and 15 minutes from Bergerac airport, the residences are delivered fully furnished with built-in kitchens, flat screen TVs, terraces and garden areas.

This eco-friendly development also affords superb wellness facilities on-site including a heated swimming pool, spa, Turkish bath, sauna and solarium as well as a wide range of leisure activities from horse riding to tennis and fishing in the surrounding countryside.