With the designer flourishes that earned it coverage in a French interiors magazine, Vue Mer is a slice of true French exclusivity. Furniture and fittings combine comfort with contemporary elegance and from your infinity pool or the shady terrace overlooking the Gulf of St-Tropez, the expanses of unspoilt countryside all around offer a more relaxed side to the glamorous Côte d’Azur experience – although the shiny beach resort of Ste-Maxime is just a 15-minute drive away.

Built on three levels into a hillside with beautiful landscaped gardens, every floor has direct access to the terraces outside, creating a sense of openness and making it a favourite of older families or groups of friends who prefer to be a little more independent. However, the superb open-plan kitchen, living and dining area provide ample space for sociable evenings, if you don’t venture into nearby Grimaud (6km away) for dinner. There are shops there too, and tennis courts should a competitive streak emerge in the cooler evening air. 

The local area

Medieval Grimaud hosts a music festival in July and August within the ruins of its own historic château. It also offers horse riding and you can stock up your fridge at its weekly market, held every Thursday. Alternatively, there’s an assortment of stalls set up in Port Grimaud on Mondays and Fridays. The port is also the place to hire a boat. For the nearest beach, head to Beauvallon (5km) where you’ll find a sailing school and an 18-hole golf course too. Sophisticated St-Tropez is only 12km away but the time required to drive there in the summer months can be deceptive due to its popularity. So, perhaps arrive in style by boat – an easier and quicker way to visit in the height of the season.

The Mediterranean coastline of the Var region enjoys 430km of sandy beaches, hidden coves sheltered by pine groves, and some of the most enjoyable resorts in the heart of the Côte d’Azur. Although the experience can be somewhat fraught in the summer months, if you can brave the crowds there are delightful towns all along the coast and inland. St-Tropez was a sleepy fishing village until the 1930s when its magical coastal light was discovered by artists, to be followed several decades later by the international jet set. Nowadays it is one of many Côte d’Azur resorts seeing the rich and famous from all over pitching up in their super yachts. Ste-Maxime faces St-Tropez across its harbour, and has a fine beach; Fréjus and St-Raphaël are pleasantly tranquil, overlooked by the lovely rugged scenery of the Massif de l'Estérel. The arrière-pays (inland) is a rich tapestry of beautiful hilltop villages: Seillans, Fayence, Bargemon and Mons. Inland, are the valley towns of Draguignan, Lorgues and the beautiful Abbaye du Thoronet.

Our choice of French properties is diverse, ranging from simple charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal.

To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.