France

From the cool sophistication of ancient cities to the beauties of her rural hinterlands, France effortlessly sweeps from grand buildings to the alluring blended flavours of inspired cuisine.

Our selected properties range across refined hotels in central Paris, intimate, family-run châteaux in the heart of the countryside and exclusive hideaways in fashionable resorts.

Home to famous velvety red Burgundies and the finest white vintages, Burgundy and Beaujolais are both renowned for their atmospheric vineyards and rich heritage.

In the southwest corner of France stands one of the grandest of Europe’s medieval city-fortresses, Carcassonne.

And as a final twist to this gourmet experience, we bring you rural France in all its untouched tranquillity, exploring the inland waterways at the slow peaceful pace of a traditional barge.

DORDOGNE & THE SOUTH WEST

One of France’s most beautiful regions, through the Middle Ages the Dordogne was on the frontline between French and English rule, a rivalry that saw every rocky outcrop crowned with castles and fortresses, transforming the landscape into one that would sit happily on the pages of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Threading through the region are a series of rivers, ideal for canoeing, that link small villages, farms and vineyards ripening under an endless summer sun.

The capital of the départment is Périgueux, a city of foie gras and truffles, rich with Gallo-Roman ruins and medieval churches. Bergerac boasts a lively market and a good balance of architectural wonders scattered amongst a gently rural and varied landscape. Sarlat and the east of the region is a hotspot of some of the Dordogne’s most impressive châteaux, closely attended by fine restaurants.

Follow the river west towards Bordeaux and one finds St-Émilion amongst world renowned vineyards. Visit the underground monuments sheltered from time or indulge in extensive wine tasting. On the Atlantic coast Biarritz has been a fashionable resort since the days of Princess Eugenie, with a selection of bars, restaurants and boutiques rich with the local Basque influence. This is a great area to explore the outdoors, with surf schools riding the ocean rollers that parade into the stately bay and a mountainous hinterland, patched with golf courses and latticed with hiking routes.

CÔTE D’AZUR & VAR

This richly varied region stretches broadly from Monaco in the east through to Marseille in the west, encompassing a beautiful landscape of medieval 'villages perchés' dropping down to the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. With its mild and forgiving climate it has become famous over the decades as a playground for the rich and famous, with its small cobbled lanes filled with galleries, boutiques, cafés and restaurants. This is the environment that attracted Matisse, Picasso, Chagall and Renoir with endless sun filled summer days and warm, uncrowded winters.

The Provençal style is seen at its best in the charming hill villages of Grasse and Valbonne, where narrow alleyways dating back to the Middle Ages are brightened with the tablecloths of small and specialist restaurants. Our selection of elegant and contemporary properties in this region includes some within walking distance of small and friendly villages, and others well placed to explore the sophisticated boutiques and restaurants of the chic coastal towns. Further west we come to the region known as The Var, a region of beautiful countryside, vineyards and forests where our portfolio extends into the Massif des Maures and its coastline around St Maxime and the glamorous St Tropez before ending at le Lavandou with great views over the Bay of Hyères.

PROVENCE

This is the land of Van Gogh, Marcel Pagnol and Daudet. The headline attractions are the university town and Provence’s former capital, Aix-en-Provence, and the beautifully preserved Roman cities of Arles and Nîmes, ancient stones mellowed by the ages and lined with avenues of shady plane trees. Its most enduring charms lie in the smaller towns and villages, St. Rémy de Provence and Maussane-les-Alpilles, with their weekly markets in central squares, clearing after lunch to free the space for old men to while away their afternoons in games of pétanque.

The countryside itself is beautiful, classic Provençal scenes of vineyards and lavender fields, rising to the north in the Lubéron and Les Alpilles mountains, the natural barrier that is largely responsible for Provence’s sunny, Mediterranean climate. Since the Middle Ages these slopes have been terraced and planted with almonds, apricots and olives, a source of inspiration for artists and walkers but just as easily appreciated from a comfortable outdoor seat at a local restaurant, framed by the delicate hue of a glass of locally-produced cassis.

FLIGHTS & FACTS

Fly to: Bordeaux, Geneva, Lyon, Marseilles, Nice and Toulouse (British Airways). Flying time: 1 hour 35 minutes +
Train to: Paris (Eurostar).
Time difference: GMT +1.
Villa arrival days: Saturday
Best time to travel: March - November

WEATHER

Areas around the Mediterranean generally have a milder winter than further north. It is often pleasantly warm, but cold spells can occur for instance when the Mistral, a cold blustery wind, blows down the Rhône Valley to the French Riviera. A steady warming-up process takes place during the spring months, although the Mistral can still sometimes make its presence felt. The Mediterranean coastline has plenty of sunshine during the summer months, and refreshing sea breezes make sunbathing very pleasant indeed. Autumn sees the end of the longer days and the gradual return to longer nights. The south of France retains warm conditions through September and October.