With daily flights to a range of nearby airports and multiple self-drive options from the UK, Provence is a practical as well as luxurious choice for a group holiday, and this fantastic private villa near Rousillon can accommodate parties of up to 14 in great comfort and style. Les Ocres has everything you need to cater for a group and much more besides, including a gym room, home cinema and a magnificent 18-metre private swimming pool.

The villa sits in an elevated position on a forested hillside just a few kilometres south of Roussillon. From a distance you might even mistake its jumble of terracotta rooves for one of the hilltop hamlets that dot the Luberon landscape, but closer inspection reveals a stunning modern villa set on a 45,000m2 plot. The views from up here are naturally breathtaking, and while the house is beautifully contemporary, the grounds follow the traditional restanque design of Provence, giving separate areas of terraces, lawns and woodland to enjoy and explore at your leisure.

The house is built over several levels to accommodate the hilly terrain, with an impressive, double-height central living space and an open courtyard with a huge barbecue and plenty of shaded dining space. There’s further open and shaded lounging space on the wraparound terrace at the front of the house by the pool; a magical spot where you can look out over a seemingly endless Provençal patchwork of green and gold.

Les Ocres feels superbly self-contained and very private, but you’re a mere 10-minute drive from Roussillon and its famous red cliffs, and if you're reasonably active you could walk here through the woods in around 20-25 minutes. Come for a meal and stay to wander its pretty streets and art galleries or explore the Ochre Trail past colourful rock formations and panoramic viewpoints. With luxury accommodation and a spectacular location, Les Ocres is an ideal base for any special occasion.

The local area

In addition to the special beauty of Roussillon, the Luberon landscape is blessed with rolling hills topped with one charming hilltop town after another. You’re surrounded by famous names such as Gordes, Ménerbes and Bonnieux, all worth at least an hour or two of wandering, ideally coinciding with lunchtime. There are also lesser-known gems such as Lourmarin with its impressive castle, and Apt, an unassuming and authentic gem of a town whose historic Saturday market is arguably the best in the region.

If you’re here between June and August when the lavender is at its perfumed best, there are many photo opportunities in the surrounding area, and a wonderful lavender museum at Coustellet. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, bisected by the sparkling Sorgue river, is full of interesting antique shops, whilst Avignon is a longer but very rewarding day out, though best visited in the quieter early or late season months.

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