Provence, apart from the wonderful lavender and poppy fields what else is there to do?

Yes, Provence is famous for its beautiful countryside, endless Lavender fields, spectacular Poppies, and let us not forget Provence Rosé wine! But did you know that the coastline is full of amazing beaches, quaint ports and the rejuvenated City of Marseille is the second largest in France?

Provence is now part of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region of France, it no longer has its own official identity, however it is still widely known purely as Provence! (As is the Cote d’azur..) Within the region there are departments, the main Provencal ones being Bouches du Rhone, Var, Vaucluse, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and within the departments there are the famous towns, cities, villages, hamlets…

The team at South France Villas can help you plan your holiday in Provence, as little or as much as you would like.

It can all be very confusing for a first visit to Provence so where should you go and what should you do?

South France Villas top ten things to do in Provence.

 1-   Of course it has to be a visit to the Lavender fields. The most famous images that you see for the Lavender fields are taken in the Luberon national park (Vaucluse), also made famous by Peter Mayle’s “A year in Provence”.  Lavender has so many qualities; deters insects, cleanses, helps you sleep to name just a few. We are sure some form of Lavender, maybe soap, oil or freshly picked will find its way back home with you.  July is the ultimate time to visit as the Lavender should be in full bloom. 

Provence villa to sleep 8         

Luxury Provence villa in Cassis

          2-  Cassis, a beautiful coastal town at the end of Le Calanques (Mediterranean fjords), these spectacular cliffs start at the coast of Marseille and stretch for about 20 kilometres. If you like hiking then this is a perfect day trip whilst on holiday in the South of France, there are plenty of tiny inlets with beautiful beaches to stop for a dip in the sea or maybe a picnic lunch.  Cassis itself is very charming, an ancient fishing port where the local fishing boats mingle with the luxury yachts, the private 12^th century Chateau de Cassis dominates the port, 

3- Uzes, Try if you can to visit on a Saturday, the streets turn into a magical market with a truly French atmosphere. Uzes is a small town and not very touristy so you may need to know a few basic words in French, if not then a smile always helps! Why not buy a delicious spit-roast chicken, or a paella from one of the street sellers, take it back to you villa for a lovely lunch in the sunshine!  Family holiday villa in Uzes, Provence  

4- Marseille, the second largest city in France and the largest port in France. A wonderful vibrant city, it really is worth a visit. Marseille has recently been endorsed by Anthony Peregrine who only writes the truth about France. Read his article here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/

     

Provence holiday villa Aix en Provence

5-   Aix-En-Provence, Capital of Provence from the 12th to 18th centuries. Beautiful avenues lined with cafés and lively medieval streets nearby. There are numerous fountains in the city which is why it is often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains. If you want to enjoy a glass of local wine, Au P’tit Quart d’Heure is the place to be – this little wine bar is very popular so make sure you go there early in the evening if you wish to sit down. Don't forget to try the speciality of Aix-en-Provence - Calissons, a marzipan cake made from almond paste and crystallised melon.

6- Avignon, do you remember singing the song “Sur le pont d’Avignon” at school? Then why not visit what remains of the famous bridge, which is now classed as a World Heritage site. A visit to the stunning Palais des Papes is a must, the view from the top is priceless. A visit to Avignon is a real cultural experience. 

Luxury holiday villa to sleep-12-isle-sur-sorgue

7-  Isle sur la Sorgue, The Antique centre of Provence, there are hundreds of Antique shops and a market most Sundays, can you spot the difference between an original and a replica? The river is the heart of the town with numerous restaurants and cafés along the water’s edge, the perfect place to people watch! Keep an eye out for one of the ancient water wheels which are still in service. 

Luxury Provence villa in Toulon  

8- Toulon, en route to the Cote d’Azur, Toulon has also retained lots of Provencal character and over the last 20 years there has been huge investment. The traditional squares and fountains have had a facelift, designer boutiques and swanky restaurants have opened. The city still has a large naval connection with the French Navy having a large base here. Rugby is very popular (Jonny Wilkinson used to play for Toulon), why not fly over for a match during the Heineken cup, or if you like Golf there a plenty of golf courses in the area. there are flights to London and Southampton.  

9- Salon de Provence, the French version of the Red arrows the Patrouille de France (La PAF), is based in Salon, they can regularly be seen flying overhead and practicing their breath-taking moves. Nostradamus was the most famous resident of this pretty town. The house where he lived in the 16th century has been turned into a Museum, with guided tours available. The ancient tradition of making soap from olive oil has continued in Salon and another great place to visit is the Marius Fabre shop and museum. 

10-  Saintes Maries, this small coastal town is brought alive in May and October for the Gypsy Pilgrimage, dating back to the middle ages this festival is based on honouring three Saints, Saint Sara, the patron Saint of the Gypsys, Saint Mary Jacobe and Saint Mary Salome. The lively procession leaves the church down to the beach and the famous white Camarge horses are ridden into the sea, the procession then leads back to the church and the whole town celebrates. It is thought that this is where the Gypsy Kings first founded their flamenco group, sitting on the beach, strumming their guitars around a camp fire.

   South France Villas, have over 40 holiday villas to rent in Provence and over 200 in total.

 Our Provence collection ranges from a quirky 17th century tower for 2 people to a huge Provencal country home perfect for weddings or family get togethers as it sleeps 30! 

Bonne Vacances!

South of France Food- The Pourcel Brothers and more.

The Pourcel brothers (twins) have been sharing their culinary expertise for over 30 years, they are the most famous Chefs in the Languedoc Roussillon region, well known throughout France, their reputation and business ventures have now spread worldwide.

They have just announced the closing of their flagship restaurant in Montpellier "Les Jardins des Sens", the good news is they will be reopening in 2019 after taking over Montpellier's old town hall.  With an investment of over 11 million euro, this fantastic piece of architecture will be magically transformed into the new place to be and eat in the South of France!

For their last week at Les Jardins des Sens they have invited over 20 chefs from across the world to provide an amazing gastronomic experience, with lunches from just 50 euro per person.

If you are visiting the Languedoc Roussillon area from Spring 2016, then you will have the opportunity to dine at their pop up restaurant, set to open in May. Situated in Montpellier on Avenue de la Mer, catering for up to 250 people, it will be less formal, offering tapas, a wide choice of charcuterie, a cheese counter, along with a wine bar. We are sure this will be another success for the Pourcel brothers.

Eating and Drinking is a very serious pastime in the South of France. Lunch is served from Midday until around 2pm and Dinner from 7.30pm. (Outside of these hours then it is a sandwich or McDonalds! Although in the summer months some restaurants are open all day or non-stop as they say in French).  

Nearly all restaurants will have a set menu normally with 3 courses, including Le Plat du jour. Try if you can to choose Le Plat du Jour as you can guarantee it will be freshly cooked and it maybe something that you have ever tried before! Lunchtime offers the best value as the majority of French workers dine in restaurants thanks to the generous Ticket Restaurants (Luncheon vouchers), that they receive from their employers.

You will always be asked if you would like an aperitif before starting any meal, maybe a Kir Royale or if you want to be very French then try a Pastis! One cannot finish a French meal without an espresso! If you fancy a little sweetness then order a café Gourmand, this French favourite is an espresso served with a small selection of little cakes or pastries.

The Languedoc Roussillon has a wide choice of restaurants from the cheap and cheerful local PMU bars, where you will find laminated tables and non of the French je ne sais quoi!, but you will get a good Plat du Jour, maybe Steak Frites, Beouf Bourignon or Cassolet in the winter months, to the Michelin Stared Restaurants like Jardin des Sens (before it decided to close), L'Octopus in Beziers and Le Piece de resistance in the Languedoc is the 3 starred Auberge du vieux Puits situated in a tiny village called Fontjoncouse.



As you would expect on the coast freshly caught Fish is the highlight of the menu, Oysters, Prawns and other shellfish taste so much nicer by the sea in the South of France sunshine! The Port of Marseillan has some amazing restaurants, and the oysters don't have far to travel, you can see their beds in the Etang.

June is a great time to visit the area, there is much more availability for our Luxury Villas, the private beaches are less crowded, easier to get in the top restaurants, the weather is just perfect and flights are cheaper, so what are you waiting for?

Our Villas offer a relaxing welcome haven after returning from a day sightseeing, lazing on the beach or dining at one of the wonderful Languedoc restaurants.


www.jardindessens.com
www.aubergeduvieuxpuits.fr/en
http://www.restaurant-octopus.com/

Golfing holidays on the Cote d'Azur, South of France.

The Cote d'Azur is a great place for a Golfing Holiday, it has the most amazing choice of Golf Courses, You can easily play a different course each day of your holiday!

We highly recommend Les-chenes-verts-sleeps-10-AM047 as the perfect place to stay for a golfing holiday in the South of France. This holiday villa near to Mougins and Cannes has 5 bedrooms, air-conditioning, an infinity pool and the most wonderful views over the South of France.  If you only fancy a weekend golfing then this is possible out of season, however why not come and stay for a week or two?



Below is a list of golf courses that are all less than a 30 minute drive away from this holiday villa. All the South of France golf courses have a restaurant and bar, driving ranges, buggy and club hire.
Golf passes are available which cover 3-5 green fees for a number of courses and prices start from as little as 225 euro. Do make sure that you reserve your tee off time a couple of days in advance. The clubs marked with an * are included on the golf passes.


There are plenty of other things to do should you have non-golfers in your party, nearby Cannes has amazing shops, museums, market and restaurants.
The South of France beaches are worth a visit, even if you just to sit at a café and people watch!
Grasse the perfume capital of France is only 10 minutes away, why not design your own perfume!

The Royal Mougins Golf Club  (20 minutes drive from the villa) 18 hole par 71  

Said to be one of the best golf courses in the South of France, set amongst rolling hills and a flatter forest area interspersed with 8 lakes and streams.  Designed by golf architect Robert von Hagge this is a beautiful and challenging course.  It is an unashamedly up-market golf club which is reflected in the green fees of €175 - €200.

Golf Country Club de Saint Donat * (20 minutes drive from the villa) 18 hole par 71  

This championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr was inaugurated in 1993 and is now fully mature.  A tree lined parkland course laid out over undulating terrain, it has a number of water hazards and lots of bunkers! 2015 green fees were €79.50 with reductions for late afternoon or early morning starts.

There is also a 9 hole “pitch and putt” course of 800m with a green fee of €23.50.

Golf de la Grande Bastide  * (5 minutes drive from the villa) 18 hole par 72 
A pretty, gently undulating course with wide fairways, water hazards and well bunkered greens. Very peaceful with a relaxed atmosphere.  2015 green fees were between €40 & €82 depending on time of year and time of day.

Golf du Claux Amic  *  (25 minutes drive from villa) 18 hole  Par 72  

Recently fully re-furbished, this highly individual course is perched on a mountain plateau above Grasse.  A challenging course with some tough greens and a long testing par 5 18^th hole. The sleek new club house enjoys lovely views. Green fees from €55 to €75.  

Golf Country Club Cannes-Mougins  (15 minutes drive from the villa) 18 hole par 72  

One of the top golf courses in the region and one which has hosted a number of tournaments on the European tour.  A predominantly flat, parkland course - the well maintained tree-lined fairways are quite tight and there are a number of water hazards and well placed bunkers.  Handicap certificates required with a maximum handicap of 28. 2015 green fees were from €100 - €175.

Golf d’Opio Valbonne  * (15 minutes drive from the villa) 18 hole par 73  

An attractive mostly undulating course with some slightly hillier sections. A recently upgraded club house with a nice restaurant.  2015 green fees were between €42 and €87.

La Bastide du Roy – Golf de Biot  (25 minutes drive from the villa) 18 hole par 67 

A predominantly flat course with wide open fairways. 2015 green fees €60 reduced to €40 for late afternoon starts.

Le Provencal Golf Club (15/20 minutes drive from the villa)  9 hole par 35  

This is quite hilly in palces with tree lined tight fairways. 2015 green feed were €38 weekdays and €40 at weekends.. 

  

Victoria Golf Club (10 minutes drive from the villa).  9 hole par 34 

Quite a hilly course with a stream in play on a few holes. 2015 green fees were €38 on  weekdays or €40 at weekends and public holidays.


Please do not hesitate to contact one of our team for further information on our luxury villas near the South of France golf courses.

www.southfrancevlllas.com 

Small villa rental agencies are not afraid of the big boys!

It seems that Expedia are taking over the VRBO and Home Away group for a mere 3.9 Billion dollars!! They have announced that from 2016 they will be implementing a booking fee that holiday makers will have to pay!

So not only are they charging huge fees to the property owners (costs have increased dramatically over the last few years) they are taking money from the end user as well.  The goal posts have been changing over the last few years, one must upgrade if you want your advert to appear..... one must accept immediate on-line bookings..... one must etc......


As the proverb goes can they have their cake and eat it?
It may sound like they are trying to "oust" the small family companies, but bring it on we say!

The larger they become the harder it will be for them to offer any real customer service, and how do you find the perfect villa amongst thousands of properties?

Our sentiment is "We want to plan your holiday the way your would plan your own".

South France Villas do not charge the client any booking fees, we also provide financial failure insurance at no extra cost offering peace of mind to our clients.

South France villas are celebrating 15 years in the holiday rental business and we thought we would share some of the changes we have seen over that time, our top 5 are:

1 - WI-FI, clients now wish to have high speed and free internet access on holiday and even on the beach, when we first started very few houses even had the internet!

2 - Bathrooms! We have a joke that the French want to know the size i.e. the M2 of a villa and the British and Americans want to know how many bathrooms and loos there are! Gone are the days of 2 or 3 families sharing a bathroom!

3 - Low cost airlines, Ryanair and Easy-Jet have opened up the Languedoc Roussillon area to the whole of Europe, there are now 5 airports in the region. With a flight time of less than 2 hours this can be more appealing than the 10 hour drive, with the added bonus of not having to pass through Calais.

4 - Credit Crisis, this had an impact for off season bookings, however July and August continues to be popular. So many people have happy memories of childhood family holidays in the South of France and want their children to also experience the unique French culture, however with a little more luxury than a tent or caravan and of course not forgetting the holiday essential WI-FI!

5 - Direct marketing sites, Owners Direct, Holiday Lettings and the like made a huge impact on the market place. However owners and clients are now returning to the more personal, specalised agencies like us, not just for the personal service but also after seeing the amount of scams that have taken place on the direct websites.

So if you are thinking of booking a villa holiday in the South of France maybe in the
Languedoc Roussillon, Cote d'Azur or Provence then you know where we are!

www.southfrancevillas.com

South of France 2016 - It is never too early to book your Holiday!

Are you thinking of going to the South of France for your 2016 annual holiday?

Maybe visiting the lavender fields of Provence, the sandy Languedoc Beaches or do you fancy shopping on the world famous French Riviera?

Loyal Francophiles know they have to book early to get the best villas and this year it seems to be earlier and earlier.  Almost all our villas are now taking bookings for 2016 and we even have a couple booked for 2017! 

 

South France Villas’ top 5 reasons why you should book early:

1. No settling for second best, get the villa that fits your exact requirements. For example, a villa with a heated pool, walking distance to a restaurant, or on the beach.
2. The Euro/Sterling exchange rate is good at the moment which will help when paying the deposit (30% is the norm).
3. Take advantage of the good flight and ferry deals.
4. Possible early bird discounts.
5. Peace of mind, no panic when the adverts start on Boxing Day! 

The 5 most popular requests we receive for Languedoc-Roussillon and Cote d’Azur villas are:

 

1. A villa near or on the beach. 
2. Walking distance to a restaurant, shops and of course no holiday in France is complete without a trip to the local Boulangerie!
3. Large family villas with plenty of bedrooms and enough bathrooms!
4. Villas with heated pools.
5. Privacy – Not overlooked.

  

 

What happens if I don’t book now?   

Don’t panic! If your dates are flexible then South France Villas should be able to find you something even at the last minute (we have just added a beautiful 7 bedroom Chateau with 2016 availability). We are adding new villas to our website on a weekly basis, so great deals can pop up.

 

South France Villas are celebrating 15 years in the business this year and we have a large collection of holiday villas either with a private pool or directly on the beach. We have something for everyone’s budget. All the team at South France Villas speak English and French, live, or have lived, in the area and are passionate about Le Sud de France!

If you are not sure which area of the South of France you want to visit then please do get in touch and we can talk through your wish list.

We want to plan your holiday the way you would plan your own.....

www.southfrancevillas.com 

Weddings in the South of France

Are you thinking of getting married in the South of France?

Have you ever dreamed of getting married in a 17th Century Chateau with enough bedrooms for all of your guests? Or in a typical Provencal Mas surrounded by lavender scented countryside? Or perhaps the thought of a Wedding Ceremony in a Contemporary Villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea catches your imagination?
After all, Hollywood stars have had their wedding in the South of France – look at Angelina and Brad!

A Wedding in the South of France is not only incredibly romantic, it is also much simpler than it may seem.  

We have a carefully selected collection of Wedding Venues from a 19^thCentury Chateau in the Cote d’Azur, to a large informal beach-front Villa in the Languedoc Roussillon region of the South of France.

Do you need someone to help who knows exactly what is what and has immense local knowledge?  

 

We will be delighted to help you with your enquiry, we can help with your wedding accommodation along with putting you in touch with a specialist wedding planner. They can guide you through the process and arrange absolutely everything or just as much as you would like including caterers, wine, flowers, music and photographers!  

The facts: There are various scenarios for a Wedding in France, the Civil Ceremony, the Religious Ceremony, and the Humanist Ceremony.

You are not required to have a religious wedding in France, however you cannot get married in a church without firstly having a Civil Wedding.

Here is a useful guide to the different types of weddings, and the essential documents that you need to be able to marry in France.

Civil Ceremony

Only a Civil Ceremony is legally binding in France. (You must have been resident in the town/village for at least 30 days prior to the wedding.)

They are conducted by the Mayor, or their legally authorised representative in the Mairie (Town Hall). You will need two to four témoins (witnesses) for your civil marriage. They will need to be present at the wedding and sign the official register. The ceremony will be performed in French, however, it can be possible to make arrangements with the Mayor for a translator to be present.

Religious Ceremony

A Religious Wedding Ceremony is not legally binding in France. In order to have a religious ceremony, you must first have a civil ceremony, and your religious official will need to see your marriage certificate. It is a popular idea in France to have the civil ceremony the day before the religious ceremony, or have the civil ceremony in your country of residence prior to arriving in France.

Humanist Ceremony

Due to the residency requirements in France, and to makes things easier many foreigners to marry in their home country and then have a blessing, such as a Humanist Ceremony in France. This opens up the possibilities of dream locations as the ceremony can be conducted almost anywhere.

What Documentation is required for a Civil Wedding (Legally binding)?

All documents must be an original or official copy and endorsed with an Apostille Stamp/Apostille Certificate. This is obtainable from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK.  Also, any documents which are not in French must be officially translated, (by an agency verified by the French Consulate).

Valid Passports for both parties and also for the witnesses (les témoins), including photocopies of the front and back.

Justificatifs de Domicile – Proof of Address. You will need two documents showing proof of residence in the town/village where the ceremony will take place, for example; a gas/electriciy bill and a bank statement.  Both parties must be resident in the town or village for at least 30 days prior to the civil ceremony. If you have family are friends in the village they may be able to give you an Attestation d’Hebergement.

Official copies of your Birth Certificates. They must be translated into French by a certified translator and issued within three months of your wedding date.

Certificat de Celibat – This is a certificate which does not exist in the UK. It states that you are not married already. It can be obtained from your Consulate. 

Certificat de Coutume – A notarised statement of law by an attorney who has a licence both in France and in your home country. It certifies that both parties are free to marry and
 that your marriage will be recognised in your home country.

Certificat de Notaire –If you are planning to have a prenuptial agreement, this must be presented to the Mairie.

The Marriage Certificate

If you marry in France by way of the official Civil ceremony then you will receive a livret de famille. It is an official document which is used for all events concerning your new life together as a family. It will be a record of all births, deaths, divorce and name changes.

You can receive further copies of your marriage certificate by writing to the Mairie in the village where the wedding took place.

If you would like any further advice about rules and documentation required for getting married in France, you can contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK) or the French Consulate for your country.

Wedding Planners

At many of our venues the owners double up as wedding planners as they have made many contacts over the years. If you do not speak French then you may wish to recruit a professional wedding planner in France, they can do as little or as much as you would like. Quite often they can save you money as they may have negotiated discounts with suppliers in particular for wine and flowers.  We can help put you in touch with the correct people as South France Villas are rental specialists rather than wedding planners, and it is essential that your day runs smoothly.

General information and advice

Traditional French Weddings are a little different from British ones, straight after the ceremony and photos, it is the Aperitif or Apero as it is fondly known in the South of France. The Apero is similar to the “evening party” in the UK when all friends and relatives are invited and drinks and nibbles are provided. The evening meal and party for a French Wedding is for close friends and family, the meal would normally commence around 9pm and one would be lucky to finish eating by midnight! Live music or a DJ may play on into the early hours. (Certain venues, villages and towns have restrictions in place so do check this out).

A free bar is the norm, with a selection of wines and spirits or digestives as they are called in French.

The French don’t tend to have a wedding present list, and instead a boite is provided at the venue for guests to give money either by cheque or anonymously with cash.

Of course lots of Brides and Grooms to be, want their wedding to be influenced by their home country thereby having the best of both worlds.

There are 300 days of Sunshine in the South of France and the summer can be very hot, so do make sure that you have a back-up plan should it be too hot or should there be a drop or two of rain.

Accommodation

If you are renting one of the larger Châteaux or Villas and guests will be staying with you, do not be afraid to ask your guests to contribute to the accommodation costs. In your contract it will say the maximum number of guests allowed at the property and this must be respected outside of the wedding day (ensure you have agreed with the owner to a larger number on the day). We can help with alternative villa bookings or recommend local hotels and Chambre d’hotes for extra guests.

For further information please feel free to contact us or you can check out Weddings and Special Events page