Our homes in France are a rarefied mix of lovingly restored farmhouses, contemporary villas, and elegant pads that are just a stone’s throw from the chicest waterfronts. A place of sumptuous style and effortless glamour, the crisp white linen and straw hats of St. Tropez and the Côte d’Azur are just a thread in the glorious tapestry of France. Pedal through swathes of lavender in the verdant countryside of Provence, savouring each aroma and taking baskets of pastries from local markets back to your sun-kissed, hilltop hideaway. Taste fresh oysters in the achingly cool seaside towns of Aquitaine, with salty hair and sandy toes, or choose an exquisite home in the mountainous Midi-Pyrenees, where a world of exploration awaits on your doorstep and your own riverside dining terrace promises quiet moments of contemplation.
The weather in France varies across its wonderfully diverse regions. The Côte d’Azur is famous for postcard-perfect summers, with blazing sunshine in July and August and a refreshing wind from the coast. During these high-season months, the waterfront bars of St. Tropez will really come into their own; it’s ice-cold rosé, white sand, and the coolest sea-facing hangout spots. In the mountainous region of the Midi-Pyrenees and along the breezier coastline of Aquitaine, you can expect milder summers, and the chilled Atlantic water of the seaside towns here will prove wonderfully inviting during the heat of the day.
Apart from summer, which is the best season to visit France? For a quieter springtime holiday, away from the crowds and beating sun, there is a world of possibility in either the Midi-Pyrenees, Aquitaine, or Provence. You will find there are plenty of things to do here, from scenic mountain biking to river canoeing, hiking trails, or wine tasting at a sun-soaked vineyard. The verdant winelands are lovely in the autumn months when sunsets blaze in gorgeous amber, and the climate is slightly cooler.
The best time to visit France is generally from spring to autumn, with temperatures dropping in the winter months and wetter weather to be expected. To make the most of the sunny weather in France, we can help you decide on an action-packed itinerary of cultural delights and natural wonders. Or, we can leave you to bask in the golden glow of your waterfront or hilltop villa.
Villa holidays in France are a gateway to dreamy beaches, fields of lavender, dramatic mountains, verdant vineyards, and centuries-old hilltop towns. Should you wish to leave the sanctuary of your shady poolside terrace, you may find yourself on a glamorous waterfront with super yachts all around you or on a hidden sandy surfer’s bay with just the bobbing boards in the distance to admire from your peaceful spot. The Côte d’Azur and Aquitaine are two coastal regions with dramatically different vibes, each offering some of the loveliest beaches and things to do in France, from watersports to relaxing at the waterside. So, how do you get to these coastal regions in France? The good news is that both places are well served by their own international airports. The Côte d’Azur is closest to Nice airport, and to reach Aquitaine, you can either fly directly into Bordeaux or take the train from Paris.
The delights do not stop at the coastal regions. The cuisine in France is world-renowned, and the country is also known for its abundance of fine wine. Perhaps lazy afternoons at a gorgeous vineyard, trying regional wines against a backdrop of rolling green are more your style. If so, you will not be left wanting in the winelands of Provence, or in Aquitaine’s verdant inland around Bordeaux. We can bring you to the best sommeliers in the region, or serve a curated wine list straight to your villa’s al fresco terrace for a sunset tasting session at home. Provence is also loved for its rich history, with interesting cobbled villages dashed throughout its emerald hills, traditions as old as time, and ethereal old churches and monasteries. Easily accessible from afar, Provence is served by three international airports of its own.
And finally, with its rugged terrain and mountainous hinterlands, France cannot be overlooked as a must-visit destination for those who appreciate the wonder of nature. Families will delight in the varied terrain of the Midi-Pyrenees, with its undulating rivers that weave through lush hills, incredibly scenic hiking paths, and charming countryside markets. If you prefer to take it easy by the pool, you can rest assured that our portfolio of homes has been carefully chosen to offer the finest views in the most secluded of settings. An amalgamation of scattered provinces, Midi-Pyrenees is served by an international airport in the centrally located capital of Toulouse.
Chic beach holidays are what France is famous for. On the French Riviera, iced plates of seafood by the lapping turquoise water are but a daily ritual for the sun-kissed crème de la crème who reside here. This is the place to come for the bon vivant lifestyle: fun, carefree days spent dipping in and out of the pool, padding out for a game of boules, taking a gentle kayak to a secret sandy cove, or having the region’s finest sommeliers come to your sun-soaked villa gardens for a private wine tasting with friends. The seas are warm, the rosé is chilled, and everything feels blissfully easy.
The Côte d’Azur has some of the most gorgeous weather in France during its summer months. Peak season in July and August will undoubtedly be busy, but from the comfort of your sumptuous villa, there’s no need to mix with the crowds if you don’t want to. Our in-house chefs will bring the flavours of France straight to your dining table, or you can learn to make the dishes yourself with a private home cooking class. Our local know-how promises memorable experiences that elevate your villa holiday in France from impeccable to unforgettable.
The lavender picnics and colourful markets of Provence remain utterly charming in their simplicity. Admiring these verdant swathes of purple or taking a stroll to vivid fields of sunflowers will all but guarantee to put a smile on your face—there is no place quite like it for pure, childlike wonder at the gifts of mother nature.
Our Provençal homes honour the rustic character of this enigmatic region, from restored farmhouses on rural land to sunny hilltop villas overlooking stoney mediaeval villages. It won’t take much gentle ambling to chance upon a cobbled street lined with boulangeries, or one of the region’s 430 sprawling vineyards that yield a delicious wine to pair with your evening meal.
Some of the most gorgeous private villas in France, our homes here cannot help but be surrounded by bountiful nature almost every way you turn. Not to be missed is an excursion to one of the region’s incredible natural gorges, most notably the Gorge du Verdon, which is encased by dramatic cliffs and has crystal aquamarine waters for kayaking or paddle boarding.
The whitewashed villages and sandy beaches of Aquitaine are reminiscent of the Ionian Islands. Indeed, there is a chic Greek clientele among the roster of international travellers who flock to this exceptional stretch of coast. Most of our luxury villas are centred around the bay at Arcachon, where the ocean is calm and some of the most sought-after restaurants in France serve debatably the world’s finest oysters. Taste them yourself, and you may well find that you agree. Beyond this protected bay, you’ll find choppier Atlantic waters that are a paradise for surfers, and enticingly cool beach towns such as Biarritz.
Coastal paths provide miles of scenic terrain for hikers or cyclists, encircled by ancient pine forests and sheltered by the enormous Dune de Pilat, which allows for warm weather almost all year round. Choose waterfront lodging with direct access to the sea, and you can have your fill of kayaking and sandy sunsets without ever having to venture too far. For days exploring further afield, set off early by car to discover the delights of the wider region. The elegant wineland of Bordeaux is around a two-hour drive away and well worth a visit for its wealth of gorgeous tipples and incredible fields of vines that are nestled among a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This lesser-known region in southern France is the place to escape city life and immerse yourself in nature. Feel yourself relax deeply as you embrace the slow pace of life in French farmland, starting your mornings with a light stroll through the countryside, a freshly baked pastry from the local boulangerie, and a spot of tennis on your private court. The green hills are awash with historical towns and villages. These may feel remote, but they are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to gourmet eateries and fabulous markets.
Days spent exploring here are diverse, and flavoured with a rich local culture that holds strong throughout the region. Perhaps you’ll spend all day on foot, exploring the labyrinth of woody hiking trails, or maybe you’ll take up permanent residence in a riverside hammock, nestled among the sprawling gardens of your countryside home.
