Beyond the Riviera: Give Provence a Chance
By Heather Whipps

What do you know about Provence, besides that it sprouts field upon field of lavender? Time to get a bit closer with the French Riviera's alluring cousin to the west. We love Provence for the way it's shunned time and does everything slowly, so much so we've added some more villas there. Let us introduce Provence...

As much as the jet-set would like to believe, the inland hills of Provence aren't merely a pretty backdrop to the glitzy shores of the French Riviera. There's lots going in that distant scenery, some would say much more interesting and rewarding than the glamour of St. Tropez or Monte Carlo's showy casinos.

As the first of the Roman Empire's outlying settlements, Provence is a jumble of every historical period and its customs are deep-rooted. It is also the purest of French countryside. Much like Italy's Tuscan landscapes, everything here seems saturated—from the bold flavors infused in its famous Provencale cuisine to the sun, which beats down with particular ferocity. Luckily, the shade of an oak tree is never far off and, wandering through Provence's tiny villages, you're apt to share the spot with craggy monsieurs playing boules or an artist painting a scene. Cezanne and Van Gogh, before them, were seduced by the incomparable light and colors of this magical region.

Like the farmhouses that dot Tuscany's valleys and hills, the villas of Provence offer the best way to experience and explore. Rent a car and you're set for an unforgettable holiday filled with history, scenery and plenty of the unexpected (unscheduled stops at roadside farmer's markets are recommended)! In Provence, you can tour vineyards where the craft was perfected over centuries, see the ancient Papal seat at Avignon, play on the beaches where Henri Matisse found artistic inspiration and even spend a day hiking—these are the lower Alps, after all.

Our newest private homes in Provence include eight, nine and ten bedroom options where large groups—a family reunion, maybe?—can stay together. One of those, La Bastide Neuve, is a 17th-century farmhouse located in the village of Luberon. The villa's 6000 square feet of living area was renovated with careful detail and is surrounded by eighty-seven acres of woods and classic Provencal lavender fields. Also in Luberon, but a bit smaller at six bedrooms, is Les Murets, a charming villa that pays homage to the elegant-country style of the region. Its kitchen is the perfect place to test out your cooking skills with the fragrant local herbs. A bit to the north lies La Roque Figuiere, a five-bedroom villa with great panoramas over the nearby village. A heated pool and covered spa pool for six offer lots of space for evening viewing.

Ask us about our other villas in Provence.

Step Back in Time France's oldest surviving castle can be found in the spectacular medieval village of Roquebrune, east of Provence proper in the Cote d'Azur. It's worth the day trip: Middle Age homes cozy up side by side here with more modern ones (relatively speaking!). The village used to belong to Monaco and its residents still cross the border freely and daily.