Your Personal Concierge Team in France
In March, as part of our familiarisation programme, your Personal Concierge team spent a week exploring the Club Homes in the South of France.
On this trip, Maria, Thais, Elena, Ozlem, Covi, Francesco and Romyr travelled from Cote d'Azur to Provence gathering valuable information and insights to share with you for your next trip to the South of France.
Your Team Recommends
1. A walk along the coastal path of Cap d'Antibes during sunset - a 5.5 km hike along the coast. The last point of this trek is absolutely stunning with one of the most picturesque bays in this part of Côte d'Azur, surrounded by turquoise waters and golden rocks where we admired one of the best sunsets we've ever watched.
2. Visit Les Baux de Provence - a picturesque Medieval village at a fortified rocky site located between Arles and St Remy-de-Provence. The village can only be explored on foot and you will see ancient buildings and homes that have been carefully restored, beautiful Renaissance façades and magnificent "hôtels particuliers" which today are converted into art galleries and museums. While walking you will come across many craft shops selling Provençal products and souvenirs including truffles, lavender sachets and Marseille soap.
"Visiting Les Baux de Provence, a little picturesque town with narrow cobbled streets lined with beautiful local shops was one of the highlights of the trip and a great excursion recommended for all age groups. This little town is only 30 minutes away from Villa Marianne." Covi Polo, Personal Concierge
3. Le Mas du Capoun Restaurant - this family-run business is located only a 10-minute walk away from Villa Marianne, offering contemporary French inspired cuisine using local produce and served in a relaxed environment. In the summer months, lunch and dinner can be enjoyed on the terrace and patio close to the pool.
4. Spend the day in the old town of Saint Paul de Vence - the town is full of character and little charming streets with galleries, shops and local restaurants. Only a 20-minute drive from Nice makes it an ideal place to stop for lunch on the way to La Retraite.
"The highlight of the trip for me was the first town we visited, called Saint Paul de Vence. It has some breath-taking views of the mountains and the sea. I highly recommend the outdoor dining at Obatik, a local restaurant offering high quality dishes, drinks and wonderful service." Romyr Laureno, Personal Concierge
5. Discover the beaches in Antibes - Antibes boasts beautiful sandy beaches, as well as secluded pebbled coves and rocky platforms. Drive along the coast and select a spot to spend the day.
6. Fine Dining at Keller Beach in Antibes - Located at the tip of Cap d'Antibes, enjoy the beauty of the location with a private beach and gourmet cuisine from Restaurant Le César.
7. Visit the coastal village of Grimaud - Located on the French Riviera the village of Grimaud is a perched village, with historical links to the Grimaldi family. Visit the Chateau de Grimaud and other historical ruins and enjoy fresh pastries and cakes from a local boulangerie. The port of Grimaud is also a must see with its beautiful Venetian and French fisherman's houses resembling those of Saint Tropez.
8. A round of golf in Mollégès - for golf enthusiasts, there are two state of the art golf courses near Villa Marianne; Domaine De Manville and Golf Servanes.
9. Take a break at Le Beau Bar at Saint Remy de Provence - This is a fantastic stop for those visiting St Remy de Provence. We stopped here to enjoy delicious coffee, ice cream, crepes and we sat in the outdoor terrace to have a break from exploring. A great treat for families travelling with children.
