Monaco's royal family - the famous Grimaldi clan used to have a little-known coastal area in the South of France named after them. Up until the end of the 19th century, the Gulf of Grimaldi lay between a small fishing town and a hilltop village with an 11th century church.
It shouldn't be possible to see Corsica from Nice. But sometimes the beautiful island in the Mediterranean appears to loom spookily on the horizon from the Cote d'Azur. Or is just a mirage ? Find out more and discover some lovely summer rental properties in Corsica.
It is quite a while since I last had a foreign holiday, five years to be exact. Not that it has been a case of not wanting to, more an adopted state of inertia focused by a need to live within my means. Since giving up work, I have been living a modest, but pretty busy, life here in Norwich, volunteering at the local Arts Centre and writing music and theatre reviews for our local listing magazine.
Secluded on a hilltop giving unparalleled views over the beautiful medieval village of Najac, with its own heated pool in a secret garden, the attractions of the 19th century Château du Pic are obvious. Built in 1886 by the Najac born Rouquet brothers returning to the village having made their fortune in Paris, Château du Pic boasts the elegant proportions of the era combined with all the comforts of modern living. This truly elegant but comfortable home has been renovated to an extremely high standard whilst retaining its period features and is beautifully furnished; combining the luxury of the new with the stylishness of the past.
We could see it clearly; it would be a stone cottage in an idyllic rural setting. With the benefit of the experience of renting vacation houses over many years in different parts of France, we found we were gradually tweaking our requirements for the French house.
This rural house dating back to the 17th century is entirely part of the Frais Vallon property. The farmer working on the domaine and his family used to live in the house until recent times. The last renovations in the house were undertaken to install modern day comforts while preserving authentic features of the building: its large stone fireplace, its oak beams as well as its cobblestone flooring (with river pebbles). These features are typical of rural buildings in Périgord but this quality and these dimensions are rare for a house of that size. The cobblestone floor, usually used to cover one-level buildings floors (the church of Lamonzie-Montastruc), it is very unusual for first floors except for some castles (château de Montastruc) because of its weight.
Well in the Corrèze department of France, the letters 'ac' signify that the property had habitation in Roman times. So there was probably a mill there many centuries ago. There was certainly one there in the 14th century, when the bishop of Toulouse acquired it. At that time the mill pond extended to some 14ha!
Our family home is available to rent all year round, it has the most stunning sea views from both behind and in front of the house and many people say it's one of the best on the Côte d’Azur. The saline infinity pool is very special, it looks onto the bay of Cannes, the islands and all the way up the Cap d'Antibes.
After several years holidaying in France we looked for a home in several regions, finally settling on the Côte d’Azur where we saw over 40 houses. None of which met our demanding requirements until, in 1999, flying back to London after another fruitless trip, Sarah, my wife, flicked through an inflight magazine and said, 'That's it'.
The Cherry farmhouse started life as a barn and animal sheds in the early 18th century, together with a small Fermette (cottage) and prune drier. When bought by its present owner in 1992, the Fermette was half tumbled down, but the barn and sheds were restorable.
The principal reason for buying La Fontaine was the view of the Pyrenees from our south-facing terrace and after some 15 years of ownership we never tire of it. A bonus is that on the other side of the village there is another splendid view - of the Black Mountains.
After we had owned La Fontaine in Cailhavel for a few years, we discovered that a significant French Neo-Impressionist* artist once lived nearby. In a house called l'Alouette which is five minutes down the road D221 out of Cailhavel towards the main road D623 to Limoux. The house is still family owned.
Settled at the apex of an orchard and surrounded by the many fruit trees of Le Grand Verger la maison blends seamlessly into the rural ambiance of the Gascon countryside. Many have assumed this is the conversion of an original barn complex like those seen all around the beautiful verdant countryside of the Gers but it’s surprisingly a new build!
Richard cycled by and checked the pool at first light as he does most mornings. Without waking a soul this ex-adman living in the sun is the best of hosts, never seen or heard but available if needed. By 7.30, the sun is well up and the house begins to rise. Adults for a quick pre-breakfast dip, teenagers sleep off a long late night. This morning we lay the table on the terrace outside the drawing room overlooking a distant valley populated by miniature cows and tiny farmhouses. They look as it they have been sleeping in the sun for hundreds of years, as indeed they have.
Having travelled all over the World for work, there was something about Provence and the South of France which remained with the owner of Villa Coste Rousse. Since visiting the area several times on holiday as a child and which inspired her and her family to buy a second home in the unspoiled village of Callas deep in rural Provence. Callas with its narrow, cobbled streets, fountains (16 in total!) and charming shady square is perched high above the Gorges du Pennafort and the vineyards of Provence. Despite remaining almost unchanged for centuries, the village has a small grocery, an amazing boulangerie, a traditional tabac and four excellent restaurants. There's also a market every Saturday. All of which are within walking distance of Villa Coste Rousse. What better way to start the day than absorbing the wonderful views from the balcony, whilst tucking into freshly baked croissants?
Maison Montratier, completely refurbished in traditional architectural style, accommodates eight guests. Guests will enjoy a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious salon and 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and a private swimming pool set in open countryside in Tarn-et-Garonne.
100 year old barn gets a modern makeover in the Midi-Pyrénées. The owner of Maison de Saint Jean shares how she discovered this wonderful 100 year old barn and restored it to a stunning and contemporary space, now a 4 bed holiday rental home in the Midi-Pyrénées with heated swimming pool.
Lagrasse is considered among the list of the most beautiful villages in France, with its ancient ramparts, its bridge, its abbey, and the Notre Dame du Carla chapel... We set off to explore this pretty village, an architectural gem from medieval times, located in the heart of Corbières, Occitanie.
It's not just the rental, although it is a gorgeous, restored cottage in the Périgord Noir set within the peaceful grounds of a small 17th century manor house that was formerly the courthouse for a nearby château. Both cottage and manor are constructed in the local golden limestone with traditional stoned-tiled 'lauze' roofs and stone window surrounds, typical of the old local architecture. It is set in spacious, leafy grounds with areas for outdoor dining, a very large, private swimming pool and lovely views of the surrounding tree-lined hillside.
For years we had dreamed of giving up our hectic lives in the UK and running gîtes in France. Holidays were spent in various areas of France trying to decide where it would be best to start our new life. In 2010 we found what could be our ideal new home and gîtes near Castres in the Languedoc region in South-West France. To make sure we booked a weeks holiday to enable us to get to know the gîtes and the area.
This half timbered house, dating from the 16th century, appears on the French Cassini map, the first general map of the Kingdom of France. After the décimation of the population during the 100 years war between the French and English in the 16th century, migration from the West of France and the Haute Auvergne / Quercy was encouraged, bringing this unique style of house building to the Agen region.
Love at first sight, yes it's real – or it was for my husband and I… Truly, we went out for dinner and came back having bought a house. We'd always fancied trying to afford a second home, somewhere to escape to with a kinder climate but otherwise all the benefits of home, no compromise.
What's behind that door, we asked the owner of what eventually became Maison Tigre, looking at a small, badly fitted wooden door at the end of the hallway. We knew there was some sort of building next to the main house but had no idea what it was or what state it was in. 'Oh you can’t go in there,' she said 'it's far too dangerous! It used to be the village cobblers but the roof and floors have collapsed and it's just a pile of rubble.'
How to make your holiday rental house a home. Make the most of your self catering family holiday house by making it feel like a home away from home. The owner of Château Monjardin in the Loire Valley describes how you can make your holiday house feel more like a home for your family during your stay. Add fresh flowers, cook using local produce and make the space your own.
Discover Languedoc wine making region. The house has been in our family since 1816. After we took it over in 2012, our project was to make it our perfect holiday retreat. We wanted to find the ideal combination between the charm of an old château-like house and modern comfort.
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