Domaine de la Chartreuse, Lot-et-Garonne
A jaw dropping blend of elegance, style and country charm make this one of the best villas in the south of France. On the outside you have tall shutters in a grand façade with a raised terrace overlooking the pool and the garden that leads down to rows of vines. Inside there are original beams and exposed stone surrounding a massive, open living room and quirky touches like a bathtub sunk into a striped bathroom floor. There’s a games room, on site massage therapist and even resident chef, so you can have your every whim catered for.
Mas Saint Martin, Var
This gorgeous villa in the south of France has the laid back, well-loved feel of a family home. The pool is fringed with lavender, there are incredible hillside views from the window-lined living room and all the upstairs bedrooms and the beach is only a few kilometres away so you can sun yourself on the sand and come back to the shade of the terrace’s trees. Below are the vineyards of Terrebrune where you can wander down for some serious wine tasting before you find one of the many perfect lounging spots scattered throughout the house and garden and stretch out to sleep it all off.
Mas de l’Aire, Gard
This is the “little place in Provence” you always dreamed of. There are colourful, multi-levelled gardens, spacious sitting rooms lined with books, a dining table out on the terrace and the peaceful surroundings of the wild Cevennes hills scattered with wineries and tumbling villages. You can hire bikes from the nearby town and explore the winding roads (although the hills are a test), finding all the superb staples of the region – vineyards, castles and a parade of beautiful scenery.
Mas des Reves, Bouches-du-Rhône
The sort of superb place you end up with when a cookery book editor and a modern art curator are in charge. The gardens are stunning, the kitchen is perfect for the chefs among you to make use of the wealth of fabulous local produce and the décor is a beautiful blend of soft colours and bright accents. Of course it has the ultimate accessory for a villa in the south of France, a pool, but the area around you is full of natural wonder to tempt you out. The Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles stretches for miles and is a stunning landscape of rugged rocks and rippling streams.
Maison Manechal, Hautes-Pyrénées
A former wine domaine where period features have been retained during loving conversion into a stunning villa in the south of France, with a pool in the garden, massive fireplaces in the sitting rooms and the charming wonkiness that comes when a place wears its age well. It’s wonderfully remote, so stock up before you arrive although leave some space in the cupboards for the fruits of a visit to Madiran, a 20-minute drive away, where a number of small wine houses are perfect for picking up a potable souvenir or two.
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More inspiration…
Villas in South of France
Coastal villas where you can find your own place in the sun, some with pools for cooling off or olive groves for afternoon naps in the shade.
Luxury villas in France
Browse our collection of luxury villas in France. Expect grand rooms, lots of space, glistening pools, sunny terraces and beautiful gardens.
Our favourite beaches in France
With over 2000 miles of coastline, France’s beaches are every bit as diverse as its towns and cities – from the towering cliffs of Brittany to the sandy playgrounds of the Riviera, there’s something for all tastes.