France is a Big Country - with a lot of places to live!
Having lived in France for a number of years, we have seen a few people fall in love with a place whilst on holiday, and talk turns to "wouldn't it be nice to buy and move out to…….?" I would urge everybody to stifle this urge! Don't buy straightaway - look around and preferably rent for a period first.
There are a number of good reasons; it is easy to buy - property prices are largely well below similar properties in the UK and bargains abound. But, French property tends to move slowly, and if you want to sell you may be in for a long wait; or have to drop considerably in price to sell quickly. This has an upside, too: the "dream" property you have just seen is equally unlikely to move quickly. Also, the idyllic village where you have passed a few summer weeks over previous years may be quite different if you live there all year.
Take our village - we enjoy hot sunny summers, with temperatures in the 30's, but when autumn fades, and November fog arrives, the complexion is quite different. Then winter strikes! The snow may lie 2 feet deep, temperatures plunge to -10° or lower (frequently lower). But all is forgiven when spring arrives, with primroses and cowslips flowering everywhere.
In winter, the days are short and people tend to stay indoors more; the place can seem quite deserted. And it is still 10km to the nearest shop, and 20 to a supermarket!
I would not wish to put anybody off, far from it, but would advise you rent for at least a year, in the area, and preferably the town or village where you want to settle. You will benefit from knowing how daily life works and what the place is like out of season.
Then you can take the plunge and enter the property market!