The hotels in the South of France are some of the best and most beautiful in the world, just like the towns, beaches, and food in this area. But if you’d rather go it alone and live like a local, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur area is just as well set up to offer a private country homestay. In fact, getting a villa is one of the best ways to really get to know the towns and villages in this area. You can choose between a house in the countryside surrounded by flower fields or a big villa on the French Riviera. There are a lot of places to stay in the South of France. Here are some of the best houses that we like the look of. See our list of the best Airbnbs in the South of France for short stays. Trade Tracker
1. Mas Milord, St Remy, Provence
This farmhouse in the Alpilles Mountains has everything you need for a peaceful stay in Provence. The exposed stone walls and wooden beams look great with the luxury furniture and artwork from the area. This charming mix is best seen in the bedrooms, where there is a main bedroom in its own wing and another bedroom in a separate studio with a lounge, kitchenette, and separate door. People gather in the big kitchen, which has a high ceiling, modern appliances, granite counter tops, and a large dining table. There is also a big eating area outside among the lavender and wisteria, as well as a lot of sun loungers by the heated pool.
- Beds: 10
- Price: from £1,957, 7 nights minimum
2. Toulon, La Seyne-sur-Mer, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
The heated infinity pool at this beachside house is the same shade of blue as the Mediterranean Sea behind it. If you stand in the right place, the two colors blend together. Just because of where it is, this house stands out. Behind the pool, under the shade of tall pine and olive trees, is a beautiful white house with five bedrooms. Each of the five rooms has its own bathroom and a view of the sea or the landscaped yard. The master bedroom has a large bathtub and a deck with a view of the Mediterranean. The inside is stylish but simple, with bright yellow chairs by the fireplace and a games room with a pool table, foosball table, and arcade game for the crew to play on.
- Beds: 10
- Price: from £1,639, 3 night minimum
3. Lavender Bloom, Saint-Martin-de-Castillon, Vaucluse
Outside this country house in the country, you can still smell flowers. The house is surrounded by fields of lavender, and it also has a beautiful Mediterranean garden with a cobblestone path that leads to a hidden terrace, outdoor lounge, and swimming pool. The house is a classic maison from the 17th century. It has sky-blue shutters on the outside and exposed stone walls and wooden beams on the inside. There are seven large bedrooms, each with its own big bathroom. Some of the bedrooms also have places to sit or dress. The bedroom is set up like a dorm, so eight kids can sleep there and have the best holiday party ever.
- Beds: 8
- Price: from £695 per night, 7 night minimum
4. The Mas de Canfier, The Luberon, Provence
This airy country house is in the Natural Park of The Luberon and is surrounded by olive trees that are grown organically. The building was built in the 18th century, but only the architectural features like the honey-colored wooden beams are still there. The rest of the building has been updated with white and warm colors. All seven rooms have air conditioning and a private bathroom. The house is perfect for small children because it has a room in the annexe apartment that can be set up with two single beds and another room that has a cot and a separate changing room. There is even a living room just for kids to play in, as well as a living room with direct access to the yard for the summer and a living room with a fireplace for the winter. A farmers’ market is in the nearby small village of Ronion, and the famous town of Gordes is 10 kilometers away.
- Beds: 14
- Price: from £771 per night, 5 night minimum
5. Les Confines, St Remy, Provence
At this stately 18th-century bastide, which used to be the home of architect and landscape designer couple Bruno and Dominique Lafourcade, guests are transported to the heart of Provence. The three-story lime-washed ochre facade and green shutters, as well as the beautifully designed gardens filled with bright flowers, rare plants, wisteria, and topiary hedges, give the impression that this peaceful 20-acre property, which was built from scratch, has been there for centuries. A spiral ladder leads up to a lookout platform on a tall plane tree, where there is also a small summer cottage and two pools. Inside the cozy manor house, the bedrooms have pretty canopy beds, and the baths have clawfoot tubs. Downstairs, the well-stocked country kitchen has everything you need to make ratatouille, or you can hire a local chef to make a Provencal feast that will be served on the outdoor eating terrace’s long marble tables.
- Beds: 20
- Price: starting at about £14,000 for a one-week stay, or about £700 per person
6. Villa Garoupe, Cap d’Antibes, French Riviera
Set on the small slope of powdery sand that is Garoupe Beach on the Cap d’Antibes and made famous in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night, this former Forties beach club-turned-villa is a one-of-a-kind architectural idea. It’s a large waterfront property with a covered eating terrace and living area, a sundeck with retro-style beach cabins, a heated plunge pool, and a private pontoon. Nothing beats the place where you roll out of bed and into the blue shallows. In its heyday, this place was a glittering hotspot. Edith Piaf had her engagement party here, and famous people like JFK and Churchill came here to swim. In the 1920s, trendsetting couple Sara and Gerald Murphy hosted picnics for Picasso, Zelda, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway. There is also a cozy kids’ bedroom under the roof and a full butler service. The minimalist design gives Villa Garoupe an airy, yacht-like feel, making it the perfect place to spend a Mediterranean vacation without ever leaving the beach.
- Beds: 8
- Price: starting at about £12,600 for a one-week stay, or about £1,575 per person
7. L’Étoile des Baux, Baux, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
This eight-bedroom house is a rare mix of eye-catching modern architecture, old stone walls, mosaic-tiled floors, and warm Provencal colors. It faces a rocky limestone cliff and the impressive medieval Citadel of les Baux-de-Provence. The house is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and the Alpilles mountain range. It has a lush garden and a pool with a view. The owners’ idea of hospitality goes beyond deep comfort, fine blankets, and natural bath products that smell good. They also want to add unique touches. The house manager knows every nook and corner of the area, and the Mehari four-seat electric golf cart can take you to a nearby restaurant. There is a mini-grocery with the best snacks from the area, a self-service bar with access to a wine cellar with vintages from the area, and plenty of things to do day and night, like a mini-theatre, an outdoor movie theater with surround sound, an exercise room, and tennis and golf clubs nearby. Kids will love the two bright garden rooms that are made out of rock and have fossils of seashells in them.
- Beds: 8
- Price: starting at about £11,850 for a one-week stay, or about £740 per person
8. Villa Ama Pampelonne, Saint-Tropez, French Riviera
What makes this low-slung house stand out from the many beautiful vacation homes near St. Tropez is that it is filled with art. It’s owned by a well-known European collector, so the walls and 108,000-square-foot yard are filled with amazing modern art from Jeff Koons, Richard Serra, and Damien Hirst. The only thing that can beat the views of Pampelonne Bay are the unbroken views of the bay. Even though Le Club 55 has a staff of four, car service, and a helipad for quick getaways, you may still want to relax on a sunbed by the heated pool or take the five-minute walk to the beach along a wooded path. The interiors of the seven bedrooms, which include a kids’ room with three beds and two bedrooms in the hotel, are clean, modern, and elegant without being ostentatious. In keeping with the spirit of the place, there is a large gym for keeping your body in shape, and the best thing is a high-tech outdoor movie theater with a giant screen that suddenly rises from the ground.
- Beds: 14
- Price: starting at about £50,750 for a one-week stay, or about £3,625 per person
9. Villa Neptune, Théoule-sur-Mer, Cote d’Azur
This house doesn’t just look out over the Mediterranean; the waves of Théoule-sur-Mer are lapping right under it. You can jump right into the sea from the private steps or launch a boat from the private jetty because of the unique position. There are sun loungers, a jacuzzi, and a shady al fresco eating area right next to the water that make the most of the beautiful blue views. The polished floors, white walls, and neutral furniture give the house a French seaside elegance. Each of the five bedrooms has its own balcony with a view of the water. Some of the rooms have beautiful four-poster beds or bathrooms with clawfoot tubs.
- Beds: 10
- Price: from £6,833 for 7 nights
10. Le Mas En Rose, Avignon, Provence
It’s hard to find a better place for a cozy and romantic family vacation than this charming traditional home near Avignon. The layout is great if you have small children. On the first floor, there are two double bedrooms, one of which has an attached bathroom with a bath, a twin bedroom, and a kids’ room with two twin beds. Outside, there is a lot of space to run around and explore, as well as a saltwater pool and a climbing frame with swings that are safe for kids. While the kids play on their own, adults can relax in the large outdoor lounge with a glass of local wine. The dining room wall has an amazing collection of bottles. If you want to eat out, there are a few cafes and restaurants in the nearby town. The kitchen has everything else you need to make a French meal for the whole family.
- Beds: 10
- Price: from £2,543 for 7 nights
11. Villa Rosehip, Cap d’Antibes, French Riviera
This stylish house has a great mix of modern and French provincial styles, from the ornate chandelier in the open-plan dining room to the vintage-style range in the kitchen and the sleek wine cellar downstairs. The rooms look like they belong in a small hotel. Each one has a different colorful wallpaper and a smart bathroom attached to it. People who get up early will love the bedroom in the glass house in the yard. It has curtains for privacy and a glass roof so you can sleep under the stars and wake up to the sound of birds singing. In the summer, you can leave the French doors open and enjoy life outside. There is a 12 person outdoor dining area and lots of places to sit around the Roman-style gardens and pool.
- Beds: 10
- Price: from $2,055 per night
