Travel Cluster

Luxury villas in the south of France are as varied as the scenery, from sunny hideaways in Mediterranean styles along the French Riviera to Tudor country estates tucked among the vineyards in the Bordeaux region. Discerning travellers quickly discover that south of France villas are tailor made for certain situations. Some have a formal elegance desired for official retreats while others exude a down-home atmosphere perfect for the whole family.

The East Coast

Along the east coast, the French Riviera beckons travellers from all over the world with its miles of golden sand beaches and temperate climate. Consequently the seaside towns and public beaches can get quite crowded in the summertime. That’s why many of the luxury east coast holiday villas in France are built in exclusive coves with beautifully landscaped private grounds and secluded beaches. Villas that are further inland have luxurious pools surrounded by manicured gardens and stunning views of the spectacular Côte d’Azur shoreline. From ultramodern designer apartments in Cannes packed with the latest gadgets to charming pastoral stone hideaways in Cassis, the French Riviera offers a huge assortment of high-end luxury accommodations.

An example of a luxury villa, this one is near Cannes

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The West Coast

The Atlantic coasts of southern France are less tame with wild beaches scattered in between the vibrant resort areas like Biarritz and quaint coastal villages in the Pay Basque region. Escape from the everyday in seaside properties with sunny courtyards furnished for outdoor dining with enchanting views of the sea. For an active vacation, luxury villas near golf courses in the region often offer organized activities they include sailing, surfing, hiking and excursions into the countryside.

Historic Towns

The countryside of Southern France is dotted with medieval towns that have a surprising variety of luxury villas. Perfect for romantic hideaways in villages with narrow cobblestone streets like Eze near Nice. For a more formal atmosphere, renovated castles in the walled city of Avignon host guests in royal style. Stay in mountain towns like St. Remy-de-Provence where Vincent Van Gogh painted “Starry Night” in Mediterranean style luxury villas with heated pools and solariums for sunny days and excellent stargazing. In the Languedoc region, luxury villas with old world charm, yet plenty of modern amenities, are clustered in the countryside around Carcassonne, the only fortified city remaining in Europe. Explore the mysteries of Rennes le Chateau and the Knights Templar on walking tours that highlight features made popular in books like “The Da Vinci Code.”

Vineyards

Southern France is perhaps best known for the exquisite wines produced in regions like Loire Valley and Roussillon where a perfect blend of climate and ecology produce some of the finest vintages in the world. Stately luxury villas in the wine country have a distinctly Tudor influence with spacious rooms and formal gardens. Vineyard accommodations often include meals with fresh organic ingredients prepared by the resident chef complete with appropriate wine and port.

A luxury villa in the Gard region of Languedoc-Roussillon

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Rural

Besides the glamorous cities and quaint villages, there are still huge tracks of wilderness scattered around Southern France where country life proceeds at a much slower pace. Villas in the regions are bastions of tranquillity with just enough modern conveniences to make you comfortable while maintaining the romantic touches from bygone eras. Families enjoy the experience of vacationing in the pastoral communities on working farms where sheep dot the green hillsides and the back country promises wonderful adventures in nature.

Skiing

In the winter, the French Alps attract skiers to Southern France to world famous resorts like Isola 2000, reportedly the sunniest ski slopes in the world. Mountain chateaus with heated pools, saunas and huge fireplaces provide a welcome refuge after a long day on the slopes.

The beautiful, quaint little Spanish town Nerja is rightly world famous as a tourist resort. It is the perfect place for couples and families alike to journey to for a lovely week or two in the warm Spanish sunshine. The town has fabulous luxury villas and super stylish modern apartments to satisfy even the most discerning holiday maker as well as countless fantastic restaurants.

In addition to these beautiful features, the town boast many other spectacular attractions and sights to see. Among these attractions are the beautiful ruins of the Napoleonic period fortress and the fantastic and ornate Church of El Salvador. In Nerja, of course one of the foremost attractive features of the area is the spectacular natural beauty of the surrounding natural environment. This includes the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea and the fabulous white sandy beaches on its shore. However, a more understated but no less impressive feature of Nerja’s natural environment is the resorts extensive system of caves.

The caves were discovered by accident in August 1959 when a group of 5 young people were enjoying a cooling swim in one of Nerja’s natural lakes and discovered one of the caves 2 natural entrances through a narrow sink hole. Since that time they have been transformed into a wonderful tourist attraction. The cave is now known locally as ‘La Mina’. A purpose built entrance to the cave was constructed, and on this site today is a fascinating museum detailing the caves formation and history.

The cave is estimated to be over 5 million years old, having been formed by the movement of underground glaciers and rivers during the Upper Miocene period. The cave is over 5 km in length and comprises of 4 large sections. Fossilised and skeletal remains in the cave indicate that the cave was inhabited by humans from around 25 thousand BC until 10 thousand BC. Scientists believe that during this time the inhabitants of the cave kept animals as remains of rabbits, fish, chickens and small cows have been discovered. Another interesting discovery in the caves has been that the human occupants only lived within the cave seasonally ( most likely during the Winter) and that during their periods of absence the cave was occupied by cave hyenas.

Today the one section of the cave which has formed naturally into the shape of a theatre is used for theatrical productions and music concerts. The magnificent natural setting means that the venue is extremely popular and everything from Shakespeare to Wagner has been performed there.

There is an added, but necessary, cost hiding in every trip, or vacation that one takes and that is travel insurance, or the insurance taken out when traveling. It is hidden because it is one of those costs that needs a separate question after you have already arranged all the other details for the rental car, or the airlines you are traveling on. The question of whether or not insurance should be procured almost seems to be an after thought, but it is definitely an important part of any trip, and probably adds a good 10% onto the cost of the trip.

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