Our autumn trip to the south of France has been and gone. We always look forward to seeing a little of the sunshine that seems to elude us during the British summer nowadays, but had to do a hasty re-packing of the suitcases the day before our departure as, incredibly, rain was forecast! As usual in southern France, however, the storms were short-lived, and we were soon able to soak up some September warmth.

     A quick break for afternoon tea                          Champagne and canapés  in the evening sunshine             

We arrived at Avignon and drove straight to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to see a delightful little bungalow on a small domaine just 500m from the town centre. We love St Rémy, it retains an old-fashioned Provençal feel, and there are so many opportunities for real gourmet experiences; either in the unique little shops or the great choice of restaurants there. The bungalow (P349A, sleeps 2) is the perfect base from which to explore the area; it has a comfortable interior, a small private garden where you can eat out, and there is a large shared pool on the domaine. Although there is plenty to do and see in the local area, ( following an art trail, visiting picturesque village with a bustling street markets, or tasting the local wine at one of the many ‘caves’, for example) you may choose to venture further afield; the fascinating city of Avignon is about a 30 minute drive, as is the spectacular countryside of the Camargue where you can mingle with flamingoes and the beautiful wild white horses.

P349A with large shared pool

From St Remy we headed east towards Banon; the landscape towards the end of this journey becomes increasingly dramatic, a mix of rugged mountains and more gentle lavender-covered slopes, stunningly beautiful. La Rochegiron was our next stop, to visit the newly refurbished pigeonnier P324D (sleeps 4). We know that the owner of the property has very high standards when it comes to renovation, already evident in the other holiday cottages in this delightful private hamlet, and we weren’t disappointed. The pigeonnier is decorated in warm Provençal colours, with little touches that reflect the character of the original building and the area. It has a small enclosed private garden, and a swimming pool in a fantastic setting which is shared with the other properties ( see P324A, P324B and P324C).The stunning location makes these properties a very popular choice for holidays, either individually or grouped together for families who like to holiday together while retaining some independence.

The Pigeonnier P324D                           Shared pool with superb views

From inland Provence we made our way to the Côte d’Azur. At Grasse we visited C200A, this was my first ever time at one of Susan’s favourite properties, and I could certainly understand why she finds it so special. It is unique, extremely stylish and it has an immediate feel of tranquility about it which I loved. It is just a 10 – 15 minute walk from the centre of Grasse, and the views over the town and surrounding countryside to the sea are magnificent, I could have lingered on the balcony all day….

Original Art Deco property C200A and its beautiful pool

On the western edge of Grasse, just 300m from the  local shops at Saint Jacques,  we went to see  C387A . This very pretty house is almost in the countryside, and there is a very exotic feel to the garden which is full of palm trees and other Mediterranean plants. We particularly liked the wide terraces by the pool and running all along the front of the house – real sun traps. Several of our tenants this year have said how much they have enjoyed Grasse, particularly the newly refurbished Old Town and the perfumeries. Also popular is the train journey from Cannes along the coast and into Italy – parking at Grasse railway station is free, and there are regular connections to Cannes.

 Relax on the spacious terraces at C387A

It was good to revisit C381A at Le Tignet; last year we saw the apartment just before the finishing touches of the renovation, and now we could see for ourselves that it is every bit as lovely as our 2009 clients have told us. At this property also, the views across the countryside to the sea are absolutely breathtaking. Thank you Jean Paul and Marilyne for your warm hospitality, as always!

A photo can't begin to do justice to the view from C381A ...

We always like to recount good meals out, and after going to C381A we had a very nice lunch at the Café-bar de l’Union in Spéracèdes, whch is within walking distance of the property. The ‘Plat du Jour’ was a very tasty home-cooked lasagne with a side salad, served in friendly and pleasant surroundings.  There was just the one dish on offer, but this makes for an excellent value meal, and it was clearly enormously popular with the locals, as the place was bursting at the seams!

It’s always a pleasure to visit Cannes; the sea was sparkling in the sun as we walked along the Croisette before calling in at C385A, which is just 150m from the sea front. The apartment is on an attractive little street that is lined with cafés and restaurants (it is blocked to cars at one end by bollards) and it is an easy walk to the boutiques on the Rue d’Antibes. The interior has a very peaceful atmosphere – there is double glazing and air conditioning, and the décor is light and tasteful. It really is an oasis of calm after the excitement of the Croisette.

C385A is the yellow building with green shutters - there's a choice of restaurants right on your doorstep. 

The glitz and glamour of Cannes is great fun, but I’m a country girl at heart, and I fell in love with C386A which is just on the edge of  glorious oak forests close to the lovely medieval village of Fayence. It is in a beautfully quiet position, yet just a 3km drive to all amenities and ideally situated for exploring both the coast and inland Provence. The house is comfortable, homely and well equipped – perfect for a family holiday.

 C386A - lovely forest setting and just a 5 minute drive from shops and restaurants.