Villas in France
France offers three villa holidays: sea-view homes on the Riviera, rural villas among the vineyards and hilltop villages of Provence, and staffed chalets in the French Alps, with private pools, long lunches and sauna evenings.
Why Choose France for a Luxury Villa Holiday?
In France, a long August lunch under olive trees and a February week in a private chalet can belong to the same year, and often the same address book. Our villas sit in three regions. The South of France is the coastal choice, centred on Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Cap Ferrat, with sea-view villas above beaches such as Pampelonne. Provence is quieter and more rural, all hilltop villages, vineyards and olive groves around the Luberon. The French Alps are chalet country, with Courchevel, Méribel and Megève offering homes close to the slopes.
What a villa adds here is your own table and the space around it. In Provence that means a market morning and a long lunch on the terrace. On the coast it is a private pool to return to after the beach. In the Alps it is a sauna or hammam after skiing, and a chef if you want one. The climate follows the same split: summers in the south are typically warm and dry, while mountain winters usually bring cold, snowy days.
For a family summer we would usually start in Provence or near Saint-Tropez. For a winter group, we would choose a staffed chalet in the Alps, where many homes have five or more bedrooms. The regions below introduce each in turn, and Find Your Perfect Villa matches them to the way you travel.
DESTINATIONS
Popular Regions in France
90 VILLAS
Cote d'Azur
Pine-backed bays, hilltop villages and long summer evenings define the Côte d'Azur. Our villas sit mainly around St Tropez and Cannes, with more in Antibes and Cap Ferrat. Days typically reach 31°C in July and August, so sea views, private pools and easy beach access matter.
78 VILLAS
Provence
Inland Provence of olive groves, vineyards and stone hill villages, where a villa week runs on market mornings, long lunches on the terrace and a swim before dinner, based among the limestone ridges of the Alpilles or the hilltop villages of the Luberon.
57 VILLAS
French Alps
Chalet country in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie, anchored by Megève, the Three Valleys and Val d'Isère. Most villas are chalets with ski rooms, saunas and mountain views, and a private chef and housekeeping can usually be arranged.
52 VILLAS
St Tropez
St-Tropez pairs beach clubs and harbourside dining with quieter villa country on the surrounding peninsula. Ramatuelle and La Croix-Valmer offer sea views and easy beach access, while summers typically bring highs around 31°C. Ideal for relaxed, sociable stays.
38 VILLAS
Alpilles
The Alpilles pair limestone ridges with olive groves, vineyards and honey-coloured villages. Villa stays centre on St Remy and Eygalieres, with Les Baux close by. Days tend to mean market mornings, cycling or walking, long lunches by the pool, and a game of petanque as the light softens.
35 VILLAS
Luberon
The Luberon is a patchwork of vineyards, lavender fields and honey-stone hilltop villages, with Gordes and Bonnieux at its heart. Villas here tend to come with pools, petanque courts and long views, while market mornings, cycling lanes and long lunches set an easy, sociable pace.
22 VILLAS
Ramatuelle
Ramatuelle sits on the hills above Pampelonne Beach, a short drive from St Tropez. Private villas here often combine sea views, gated grounds and a walk to the sand, with beach clubs, village markets and long summer lunches close by. Summers are typically warm, with highs around 30°C.
20 VILLAS
Cannes
Cannes pairs the Croisette and its famous festival calendar with quieter hills just inland. Villas around Mougins, Vallauris and Théoule sur Mer put pools, sea views and wellness spaces within easy reach of beach clubs, market stalls and long lunches. Summers are typically warm and dry.
20 VILLAS
Megeve
Megeve is a car-free-feeling Savoyard village with a proper working centre, set in the French Alps beneath Mont Blanc. Chalets on Mont d'Arbois, Rochebrune and Demi-Quartier put you near the lifts in winter, with walking, cool summer days and spa-led downtime when the snow has gone.
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Best Time to Visit France
Temperature units
June to September is the main villa season on the coast and in Provence, with July and August typically the warmest and driest months. In the French Alps, December to March is usually the main ski season, and hiking takes over from July. High summer is also the busiest time: school holidays fill the beaches and the best villas, so book July and August many months ahead. June and September tend to be gentler, with restaurant and beach-club tables easier to find.
Historical averages for this area over the past 10 years: typical high and low temperatures, total monthly rainfall and peak wind speed. Conditions vary from year to year.
Spring (March-May)
Average highs typically climb from 10°C in March to 16°C in May, though May tends to be the wettest of the three months. The Côte d'Azur and Provence turn green, wildflowers appear in the Luberon and Alpilles, and Gordes, Lourmarin and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence are far quieter than in summer. Walkers, cyclists, golfers and cooks do well, with early markets selling asparagus and strawberries. Pools are usually cool and the Alps are mostly between seasons, although high resorts often keep skiing into April. In May the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix fill the coast.
Summer (June-August)
July and August typically bring highs of around 25°C, the year's lowest rainfall and, by August, the warmest sea. Beach clubs around Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Antibes and Cap Ferrat are at their busiest, and sailing, paddleboarding and boat days are at their best. Inland, lavender usually flowers around Valensole and Sault from late June into July. Evenings stay warm enough for dinner outdoors, with Bastille Day on 14 July and village festivals. From July, the valleys around Chamonix and Megève open up for hiking and cycling.
Autumn (September-November)
September is often one of the most comfortable months on the south coast, with highs typically around 20°C, less rain and a sea still warm from summer. The grape harvest begins in Provence, the Rhône Valley, Burgundy, Champagne and Bordeaux. October and November tend to be much wetter, but the Luberon, Mont Ventoux and the Alpine valleys are good for walking, cycling and golf as the leaves turn. November brings the olive harvest and the start of truffle season. Once the crowds thin, this is the season we would choose for a food-led stay in Provence.
Winter (December-February)
Winter splits France in two. In the Alps, resorts such as Courchevel, Méribel and Val d'Isère usually run from December to April, and catered chalets are in highest demand at Christmas and February half-term. Average highs across the country typically sit between 6°C and 9°C. The coast is generally milder and its towns are quiet, with Nice Carnival and the Menton Lemon Festival in February and Riviera golf courses usually open. Strasbourg and Colmar hold Christmas markets, and Paris rewards museum and restaurant visits. A villa with a sauna and hammam comes into its own.
Month-by-Month Guide
| Month | Best for | Where to stay |
|---|---|---|
| January | Skiing, wellness stays, Paris museums | French Alps |
| February | Ski holidays, Nice Carnival, Menton Lemon Festival | French Alps, Côte d'Azur |
| March | Late-season skiing, quiet coastal breaks | French Alps, Riviera |
| April | Gardens, spring skiing at altitude, city breaks in Paris | Provence, high Alps |
| May | Wildflowers, Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix | Côte d'Azur, Luberon |
| June | Early lavender, outdoor dining, Fête de la Musique | Provence, South of France |
| July | Beaches, lavender, family holidays, Alpine hiking | Saint-Tropez, Cap Ferrat, Provence, French Alps |
| August | Watersports, beach clubs, boat days | Côte d'Azur, Var coast |
| September | Grape harvest, walking, quieter beaches | Provence, Riviera |
| October | Wine, olive harvest, cycling, autumn colour | Luberon, Alpilles |
| November | Truffles, gastronomy, culture breaks in Paris and Lyon | Provence |
| December | Ski openings, festive chalets, Christmas markets in Alsace | French Alps |
Concierge Travel Guide to France
Most guests fly into Nice Côte d'Azur for the Riviera, while Marseille Provence and Avignon serve Provence and Toulon is a further option for the south. For the Alps, Geneva, Lyon, Chambéry and Grenoble are the usual airports, and some guests arrive via Paris and connect onward. All are well linked to major European, North American and Middle Eastern hubs, and a private transfer or hire car is generally the easiest way to reach a villa.
Where to Eat
The Michelin Guide began in France, and the Riviera has a strong concentration of starred dining around Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Antibes and Cap Ferrat. Provence favours the long lunch, in Aix-en-Provence, Gordes and the villages of the Luberon. Courchevel and Megève are known for starred chalet-style dining. The food changes with the landscape: bouillabaisse in Marseille, socca and pissaladière around Nice, tapenade and lamb in Provence, then tartiflette, raclette and fondue in the mountains, made with cheeses such as Beaufort and Reblochon. Markets run year-round and are busiest in summer. Go in the morning, when Aix, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Saint-Rémy are at their liveliest.
Wine
Provence rosé, the Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape are all within reach of our Provence villas, and the coast pairs its seafood with rosé. Our concierge team can arrange cellar visits and tastings at Côtes de Provence estates, along with olive producers, truffle hunts, cookery classes and market tours.
Beaches
Pampelonne, near Saint-Tropez, is lined with beach clubs offering sunbeds and table service. So is the Cap d'Antibes shoreline around the Plage de la Garoupe, while La Croisette in Cannes is the beach most visitors know by name. For quieter water, head for the calanques between Marseille and Cassis, the Presqu'île de Giens or the Îles d'Hyères, where coves are reached on foot or by boat. Boat trips run from Cassis, Hyères and Saint-Tropez.
Skiing
Courchevel and Méribel both sit in Les 3 Vallées ski area. Val d'Isère, Megève and Chamonix are the other names on most Alpine itineraries. Ski schools and sledging keep younger guests busy. In summer the same valleys switch to walking and cycling, as do the trails of the Luberon, and the Mont Blanc cable cars make a memorable day out.
With Children
Aqualand near Fréjus and Aquasplash in Antibes are good for hot afternoons, and Marineland in Antibes is a long-standing wildlife attraction. The Camargue is good for birdwatching, horse riding and flamingos. The Verdon Gorge and the Luberon make easy nature days from a Provence villa.
Culture and History
Avignon's Palais des Papes, the Roman amphitheatre at Arles and the Pont du Gard are the classic day trips inland. Nearer the coast are Aix-en-Provence, Grasse, Vence and Èze. For art, there is the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the Musée Picasso in Antibes, the Mucem in Marseille and the Carrières de Lumières at Les Baux-de-Provence. Avignon's theatre festival runs in July and the Rencontres d'Arles photography festival in summer. The Riviera also has a busy calendar of classic car events.
Golf
Cannes-Mougins, Valescure near Saint-Raphaël, Terre Blanche in the Var and Pont Royal in Provence are the best-regarded courses in the south. Méribel and Megève have mountain courses. Our concierge team can arrange tee times, instruction and private transfers, and we keep a small collection of villas near the courses.
Find Your Perfect Villa in France
Our 226 villas and chalets in France sit in three regions, and the choice between them shapes the whole stay. The South of France has the most, around Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Cap Ferrat and the Var coast. Provence swaps the sea for lavender fields, hilltop villages and vineyards. The French Alps are chalets for ski groups in winter and walkers in summer. Timing matters as much as the region, so check Best Time to Visit before fixing dates.
A fully equipped kitchen and terraces are almost standard. Many villas have a pétanque court, and heated pools are common, though heating is often charged separately, so it is worth checking when comparing homes. Saunas and hammams turn up far more often here than elsewhere in our collection, especially in the Alps, where many chalets add an indoor pool and massage room. Housekeeping and a private chef can be arranged in many homes, and the most sought-after are fully staffed. Most homes are let in seven-night blocks, and rates currently average $666.
| Traveller type | Where to stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Families | Provence or the South of France | Private pools, large gardens and pétanque courts, with the Var coast beaches within reach and a slower pace inland. |
| Couples | Luberon or Alpilles | Quiet hilltop villages, markets and vineyards at a calmer pace than the coast, with many villas within walking distance of a town. |
| Large groups | South of France or French Alps | Estates and chalets often with five or more bedrooms, plus space for shared dining and entertaining. |
| Beach lovers | Saint-Tropez or Cap Ferrat | Pampelonne, Gigaro and the Cap Ferrat coastline, with many villas within walking distance of the beach or looking out to sea. |
| Food and wine lovers | Provence | Morning markets, wine estates close by and a strong gastronomic tradition. Villas with a private chef are available. |
| Skiers | Courchevel, Méribel or Megève | Some chalets are ski-in ski-out and many more are a walk from the lifts, with chefs and housekeeping available. Peak weeks go early. |
| Wellness | French Alps | Many chalets include a pool, sauna, hammam and massage room, used as much in summer as after a day's skiing. |
| Golf | South of France | Courses within reach of the Var and Cannes areas, playable for much of the year. |
| Fully staffed stays | Courchevel, Saint-Tropez or Cap Ferrat | Fully staffed villas and chalets at some of the most sought-after addresses in France. |
If you already know the setting you want, start with a collection rather than a map. Our chalets near the slopes cover the Alps, and our villas in wine country are mostly in Provence. From there, narrow by resort or village.