Maison Tintin

Maison Tintin is in a beautiful part of the Alpes-Maritimes, between Valbonne and Opio and just 16km from the beaches of the French Riviera.

The villa can be found in a remote yet semi-residential area of similar holiday homes, surrounded by woodland and very close to a stunning 18-hole golf course. The nearest large supermarket is just under 4km away, where you will also find other useful amenities.

The picturesque market town of Valbonne can be reached in around a 10-minute drive. It’s a charming town to explore with its grid of idyllic lanes and impressive central square, Place des Arcades, dating back to the 17^th century. Valbonne is also home to the Friday morning Provençal market where you can pick up seasonal fruit and vegetables as well as other regional delicacies. There are many good restaurants and atmospheric cafes across the town as well as pretty shops selling all sorts of lovely items.  

This area is also wonderful for walking, horse-riding and mountain-biking with many trails through the nearby Valmasque forest. Stop off for a picnic by the Fontmerle lake, a serene spot for birdwatching or admire the scenery as you walk by the Brague river – keen hikers can continue as far as Biot village.

Biot (12km) is one of the many gorgeous villages to visit across the Côte d'Azur hinterland, along with flower-filled Mougins (11km) and nearby Opio (4km), known for its original olive oil mill. Pass hilly landscapes of olive groves, cypress trees and woodland as you drive through this region, often with stunning glimpses of the Mediterranean not far away. Grasse (11km) is another gem to visit with its charming historic centre and fascinating perfume heritage.

There will be plenty of opportunities to spend the day along the French Riviera with both Cagnes-sur-Mer (15km) and Cannes (16km) around half an hour away by car. The nearest beaches around Villeneuve-Loubet offer watersports and boat hire or head south of Antibes towards Juan Les Pins (20km) for some of the loveliest sandy beaches in this part of the Côte d'Azur.

Spend time in Cannes or Nice, travel as far as Monaco in under an hour or drive inland to the waterfalls and rockpools around Gourdon and beyond. The serene Lérins Islands, reached via a boat from Cannes, are another superb day out or experience the French Riviera from a yacht on a sunset cruise.

Read more about Grasse

Fall in love with Grasse and its surrounding villages as you experience the Côte d’Azur hinterland staying in one of our handpicked villa rentals in and around Grasse. Pass lavender, jasmine, roses and flower farms as you drive into the hills of the Provence-Alpes-Maritime – no wonder Grasse is known as the ‘perfume capital of France’.

As well as the Museé International de la Parfumerie, visit the perfume houses of Galimard, Molinard and Fragonard for guided tours and even perfume-making workshops. Elsewhere, explore the historic winding lanes and come across artisan shops, café terraces and the impressive Rubens frescoes inside Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Puy de Grasse. There’s a lovely daily flower market at Place aux Aires whilst Place aux Herbes hosts the larger twice-weekly market on a Wednesday and Saturday morning.

A short drive from Grasse, encounter a wealth of picture-perfect villages and beautiful landscapes for walking, hiking, horse-riding and cycling. The perched village of Cabris is especially bucolic with incredible vistas over the Tanneron forest and Lac de Saint-Cassien. There are more glorious views from the small village of Spéracèdes with its pastel-coloured houses and olive trees.

Discover century-old hiking trails through the Siagne valley as well as pretty villages, ancient bridges and idyllic swimming spots. Visit the illuminated caves of stalagmites and stalactites just outside Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne before pottering around the authentic village admiring its fountains, café terraces and inviting food shops showcasing goats cheese, honey, olive oil and other products of the region.

South of Grasse, drive to the charming hilltop village of Opio, also famed for its olive oil, and don’t miss the Friday morning market in Valbonne, a very charming town dating back to the 16th century, home to a wonderful town square with pavement cafes and restaurants.

Golf lovers have a great choice of courses in the region including Golf du Claux Amic, once a 17th century hunting estate with stunning views and Golf Grande Bastide just south of Opio as well as prestigious courses close to Mougins and Cannes. As well as endless hiking trails across Grasse’s surroundings, other activities include a range of land and water-based activities in and around Lac de Saint-Cassien, only 15km from Grasse, as well as tree-top adventures and zip-lines with French Riviera views at Riviera Nature just north of the town.