Chateau De Culas

The villa

Built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar as a fortress protecting the land against pillaging Saracens, this château in the French Riviera is now a stunning holiday retreat with a dramatic backdrop within the French Alps.

Hosting up to 15 guests across the seven - bedroom home, this château is ideal for friends or families travelling together. The château has been uniquely renovated to include all the comforts of home, not to mention superbly designed bathrooms with craftsman - style features, the well - appointed kitchen, elegant sitting rooms and charming outdoor lounge and dining spaces.

Set on 11 private acres, guests will enjoy relaxing dips in the heated private pool, plus hiking trails straight from the château with views that will never be forgotten.

The château's hilltop location provides ultimate peace and serenity, with no neighbours in sight. However, when in need of a bit of culture, the village of Saint Andre les Alpes is just over 2.5km away, with shops, delicious cuisine and village tours.

The highlight of the area has to be Lake Castillon, with pristine turquoise waters that make it one of the most popular watersports lakes in France. The château not only offers beautiful aerial views of the lake, but exclusive access to a private beach as well!

The château is situated just over 2.5km from the village of Saint André les Alpes where you will find bakeries, cafes, a supermarket, ATM and petrol station. There are also great restaurants in the village and locally, as well as a small local market on a Wednesday and Saturday morning.

There is fishing on the private lake less than 300m away, accessed via a small fairly steep track, or alternatively head 3km by road to the public beach on the other side. Watersports that are available on the lake in the summer include canoes, pedalos, windsurfing, catamarans and stand - up paddle boards. There is also lovely swimming and canoeing opportunities in the river Verdon that flows into the lake.

There is horse riding, pony trekking and golf nearby the château. You will also be able to find quad - biking, white - water rafting and canyoning in the area, cycling plus some wonderful trekking opportunities, with some routes straight from the château. Castellane (23km) is an especially great town for those seeking exciting activities, about half an hour away by car.

There are also some great flying schools and it's great fun watching the tandem - paragliding nearby if you don't wish to take part!

The incredible and famous Verdon Gorge (53km) is just over an hour away, ideal for hikers but can also be enjoyed from your car.

There are many beautiful villages in the region for you to discover where you can soak up the Provencal charm and admire their rich history. These include Colmars (32km), Annot (44km), Entrevaux (58km), Moustiers St Marie (66km) and a little further, but worth it, is Sisteron (74km), a delightful village of flowers.

Other highlights include the spa towns of Digne (45km) and Gréoux - les - Bains (80km) or head south to the stunning town of Grasse (85km) with its fascinating perfume heritage and marvellous landscapes.

Nice, Cannes, Monaco and the French Riviera coast are all just over 100km of the château for a brilliant day - out.