Luxurious Villa, Pool, Tennis, Pétanque, Bar, Sea View

This Provencal style villa with four fully equipped apartments and four double rooms can easily accommodate 18 - 20 people in luxurious surroundings. It is perfect for an extended family holiday or a reunion of friends, perhaps to celebrate a special occasion.
The property has a tennis court, a large salt water pool, a pétanque court and a gourmet kitchen with an incredible outdoor bar with a fireplace and seating for all. You can cook yourself or hire a chef! Enjoy the sun all day long, from morning coffee on your private terrace with a view of the sea, to an early morning tennis match or relaxing by the pool, and ending the day watching the sun set by the pool.

This beautiful villa is located in the hills above Nice near Saint-Paul-de-Vence with views of the Mediterranean and the Alps and is ideal for large groups looking for a place to gather, celebrate, or explore. This property is located near the beach, the cities of Nice and Cannes, charming medieval villages, markets, skiing, golf, and more. The estate consists of the main villa and a separate cottage which together can accommodate 18-20 people in four large suites and four apartments. The 6500 square meter grounds offer many activities including a large saltwater pool, a tennis court, pétanque, and a large covered terrace with an outdoor bar, fireplace and grill.

Le Haut des Espinets was built in Provencal style in 1982 by the architect Alain Berp whose attention to detail in construction and in quality of materials is evident throughout the home. The timber construction and the floors are good examples. The architect reused materials from the ruins of an old monastery in Portugal to create the lovely beamed ceilings. The floors are made of stone from Burgundy and contain fossils which you can see if you look closely. The spacious 600 square meters of living space includes a large entry hall, living rooms with fireplaces, a central dining room, the main kitchen and bar, and bedrooms. The outdoor space has a large covered patio featuring an outdoor kitchen, bar, barbeque, and enough dining space for the entire household.

This multi-story villa features four double bedrooms and four apartments which are laid out for maximum privacy. This home also has many communal areas making it comfortable for multiple families, several couples, or a multi-generation vacation. The house was designed and oriented to take advantage of the sun all day long and to provide views of the Mediterranean from the terraces. The garden is built in levels. The house and pool are at the top with the tennis court on the level below. When you explore the grounds, you will see many exotic trees, fruit and flowers. Figs are ripe in August; apricots and plums in June.

The heart of the home and where you will no doubt want to spend most of your time is the spacious covered outdoor patio. It is located just outside the kitchen and living room and it features a fireplace, a long bar, a sink, a barbeque with an adjustable grill, two refrigerators, and a freezer. The entire household can dine in this lovely spot. You will be drawn to this space all day, enjoying your croissant and coffee in the morning sun, a salad and a glass of rose at lunch, or eating dinner by the light of the pool in the evening.

The large saltwater pool is just next to the outdoor patio area. The swimming pool is surrounded by landscaped lawns where you can lounge in the summer sun under the palm trees or dine al-fresco by candlelight, an idyllic spot day or night. There are more than 12 lounge chairs -- and two chaise lounges in a small alcove -- providing enough seating for all. A large central umbrella provides shade. The pool features an alarm for safety. There is an outdoor shower nearby to rinse off before or after swimming. The lawn is big enough to kick around a soccer ball or enjoy a game of badminton or frisbee. On the next level below the pool is a private tennis clay court where you can play overlooking the Mediterranean. Alternatively, you can enjoy a ping pong tournament in the courtyard behind the patio or play a game of pétanque on the court next to the central kitchen. Pool toys and equipment such as tennis rackets are provided.

The gourmet kitchen is suitable for any level of chef. It’s the perfect place to gather to cook, listen to music, even pop out the kitchen door for a round of pétanque. If you feel like taking a night off from cooking, you can hire a chef to impress you with the local cuisine. The kitchen features a large refrigerator/freezer with filtered water and an ice maker, two dishwashers, a small under counter beverage fridge, a gas stove, coffee makers, granite counter tops and enough dish ware and glasses to accommodate a full house.

This property consists of the main villa and a cottage, both of which are furnished to the highest standards. The cottage has two double bedrooms, each with queen-sized beds and an en-suite bathroom, as well as a shared private kitchen and living room on the upper level which leads out to a small terrace. In the villa, there are two more en-suite double bedrooms and four self-contained apartments. Each apartment has a bedroom with king-sized beds, a bathroom, kitchen area, sitting area and private terrace with a view of the sea. All bedrooms are elegantly furnished in neutral, relaxing color schemes. The rooms are all situated for privacy, for slipping away for a moment of peace. All rooms have coffee makers, plush linens, and most have a TV. Should you need to reach the outside world, each room is equipped with high-speed, wireless internet and a place to work. There is a printer on the premises if needed. Three of the apartments have rollout sofas to accommodate additional family members and fold-up cots or portable cribs can be added to accommodate children/babies.

Our location
We are located in the beautiful Côte d'Azur region, just a 15-minute drive from the Nice Airport, in a quiet residential setting only 2.5km from the charming village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. You can walk to a local boulangerie in around fifteen minutes and larger shops and restaurants are within a short drive.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence (2.5km) is one of the most famous villages of the French Riviera and is well known for its narrow cobbled lanes filled with art galleries, lovely shops, atmospheric cafes, and museums, including the recently renovated and expanded Fondation Maeght. Saint-Paul-de-Vence has many excellent restaurants including the renowned La Colombe d’Or. Make sure you visit the village when the charming fruit and vegetable market takes place (Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 - 2).

Further north, the town of Vence (5km) is another incredible place to visit, especially for the amazing Chapelle Matisse/Chapelle du Rosarie which was created by Henri Matisse himself. You can also experience the town’s historic ambience, delightful restaurants and cafes, more art galleries and markets.

Cagnes-sur-Mer (4km) is within easy reach and has a wonderful market in its pretty old town and a lovely museum, Les Collettes, which used to be Renoir’s maison. Drive down towards the beach where you will find a lovely promenade with restaurants and a long stretch of coastline with some great water sports. Cagnes-sur-mer also has an excellent coffee shop, Copenhagen Coffee Lab.

Beach lovers can also head to the spectacular beaches around Villeneuve-Loubet (with its delightful village just inland) and Saint Laurent or south towards Antibes (15km), Cannes (27km) and Théoule-sur-Mer (40km). Some of the beaches around Nice, towards Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (28km) and Beaulieu-sur-Mer (27km) are also wonderful for a day out by the sea in beautiful surroundings.

Boat trips can be enjoyed from many ports along the Côte d'Azur coastline, visiting towns such as Saint-Tropez, Monaco or the idyllic Sainte-Marguerite or the lovely Saint-Honorat islands. You can also drive towards Monaco (40km) and as far as the Italian border with Ventimiglia (59km) under an hour away.

The great city of Nice (18km) is also a brilliant day out for its restaurants, markets, Vieille Ville, museums, and its lovely promenade and beaches. Or, you may prefer to soak up some of the glamour in Cannes (27km) known for the famous film festival of course but don't miss La Croisette, the place to be seen!

Heading inland, there are some charming French Riviera villages to explore such as Tourrettes-sur-Loup (10km) with its artisan craft studios and pretty weekly market as well as Opio (20km) and Biot (14km) or learn all about the perfume heritage in the beautiful town of Grasse (24km) with its lavender fields, olive groves, and rolling hills in the surrounding countryside.

There are numerous golf courses across the French Riviera (12 in the area!), the nearest being near Nice and Biot but also the well-known Royal Mougins Golf Course within 30km. For guests who love cycling, this villa is near some of the region’s best cycling routes. As one guest put it, the house is right on the Col de Vence and there was “no better way to cool off after a day of cycling than in the fabulous pool.” Horse-riding is also a popular pursuit in the Côte d'Azur region.

Hikers will find some amazing marked trails including great walks between Saint-Paul-de- Vence and Vence as well as coastal routes and other paths in the area. Skiers will not want to miss the nearby ski resorts of Isola and Auron. One can leave in the morning, ski for half a day, and be back to the villa for lunch by the pool!

Please refer to the comprehensive guide in the villa for details on these activities and many other things such as restaurants, tours, day trips, to mention just a few resources. Most of all, feel free to make discoveries on your own!