Revered as a holiday destination for decades for its blue waters and sunny skies, its landscape of vineyards, herbs and flowers, the French Riviera continues to enchant. We will shortly be adding many more properties here but, at are offering two beautiful villas in and near the medieval hill town of Mougins, renowned for its many superb restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.

Further along the coast, we have two further villas with direct sea access, near St. Raphael. The villas are equidistant (approximately 40 minutes) from both Cannes and St. Tropez, and St. Tropez can also be reached by ferry for day trips (50 minute trip).

St. Raphael is a fashionable summer and winter resort situated on Fréjus Bay, its old harbour lined with cafes and shops, and bustling with activity. Just 3 kms to the east of the town centre, in a private position with gardens leading down to the sea, and sharing a secure main gate access and parking area, are Villa Palais and Villa Jardin. These stunning properties offer numerous facilities including three boats, which can be rented with or without a skipper, kayaks and snorkelling equipment.

For those interested in enhancing their knowledge of Mediterranean cuisine, The Villa Book recommends Les Petits Farcis, www.petitsfarcis.com, based in Nice. This is run by food writer, Cordon Bleu-trained cook and longtime French resident Rosa Jackson, who arranges market tours and cooking classes in her beautifully renovated 17th-century apartment, steps from the vibrant food market and the Quai des Etats-Unis.