Villa Patou

In a gorgeous setting in the hills surrounded by olive trees, Villa Patou is less than a 10-minute drive from the heart of historic Grasse, a beautiful town in the Côte d'Azur hinterland known for its perfume heritage.

Acres of working olive groves and cypress trees surround your holiday villa, alongside other elegant houses and holiday residences dotted around the countryside. Within 4km you are in the centre of Grasse with its pretty cafes, restaurants and atmospheric markets. Visit perfume studios alongside the Musée International de la Parfumerie and admire Rubens’ impressive artwork in the town’s historic cathedral.

Spend time in idyllic villages and market towns in the area from Valbonne (7km) with its wonderful Friday morning market to Picasso’s beloved Mougins (11km), known for its art galleries, flower-filled lanes and gastronomic restaurant. The hilltop town of Cabris (10km) is also home to a couple of excellent restaurants whilst further inland is the perched village of Gourdon (12km) with magnificent views all around.

Keen walkers can discover endless hiking trails across the Alpes-Maritimes including Gorges du Loup and its waterfalls, the wonderful route by the Brague River between Biot and Valbonne as well as gentler walks through the Valmasque Parc. Meanwhile, Cap d’Antibes (26km) is all about coastal paths, dramatic scenery and little bays. Cycling, horse-riding, rock-climbing and canyoning are also popular pursuits in the region, not to mention seasonal watersports along the coast.

Indeed, you are well-located for visiting the sunny shores of the French Riviera. Within half an hour you could be strolling along one of France’s most famous boulevards, La Croisette, in Cannes (17km) or taking a boat tour of the Côte d'Azur. The vibrant beachside restaurants of Juan-Les-Pins (21km) await, as does the historic charm of Antibes (22km) and its old town, home to a Picasso museum.

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.