An independent guide to characterful houses, landscapes and local culture.

How to read the guide

South-west to Provence

France

Rural houses, old stone and landscapes made for slow, independent holidays.

  • Gascony
  • The Pyrénées
  • Provence
  • Côte d’Azur
France

France makes independent villa holidays feel effortless. A morning market, a shaded lunch and a river or village to explore can fill a day without it ever feeling planned.

Gascony is spacious and quietly beautiful; the Pyrénées add wild scenery and walking. Provence brings lavender, ochre villages and a celebrated food culture, while the Côte d’Azur combines luminous coastal landscapes with glamorous old towns.