Domaine Saint Peyre

The villa

Located between Saint - Tropez and Gorges du Verdon, this gorgeous domaine is set in complete privacy surrounded by a hillside garden and forest beyond. A characterful village hosting the region’s largest Provençal market is just a 10 - minute drive away.

With a glorious heated swimming pool, poolside summer kitchen and various terraces in its vast garden, this is a picture - perfect house in the Dracénie region of Provence. It was a dream come true for its new owners who moved to southern France just a few years ago and they have renovated the house to the highest of standards. What especially attracted them to the domaine was the sense of great privacy, surrounded by a 20 - hectare forested estate with vistas of vineyards and olive groves - there’s an authentic ‘wow factor’ here!

Sleeping up to 12 guests, there are six bedrooms across three floors. Guests can expect hotel quality mattresses, air - conditioning in the bedrooms, beautiful bath and shower rooms (some en suite) as well as fine furnishings and very tasteful décor across the villa’s elegant lounge, TV room and stylish kitchen - diner with everything you may need.

Stone steps lead through the landscaped Provençal garden down to the impressive salt - water swimming pool with its summer kitchen beneath the shaded pool house, including a shower and WC. There are other idyllic spots scattered across the garden, ideal for a morning coffee as the birds sing, al - fresco lunches beneath the fig tree and peaceful evening apéritifs - perhaps a glass of wine from a local family - run winery or even the award - winning vineyards of Château de Berne, only 10km away.

Families will adore the pétanque court, table tennis, basketball hoop and little football goals whilst there are some wonderful walking opportunities across the estate. When it’s time to leave this tranquil idyll, it’s just a 6km drive to an old Provençal village known for its pretty houses, fountains and atmospheric Tuesday morning market.

In the Var hinterland, Abbaye du Thoronet is just a 15 - minute drive away, the magnificent waterfalls near Sillans - la - Cascade can be reached in half an hour whilst Aups, the gateway to the Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon, is only 29km by car. Closer to home, find horse - riding, mountain biking as well as watersports and summer swimming in the Argens River.

Heading south, wind through the Massif des Maures, stopping off in mountain villages, until you reach flower - filled Grimaud, the beaches of Sainte - Maxime or glamourous Saint - Tropez - it’s amazing that you could be on a ferry sailing from Sainte - Maxime to Saint - Tropez within an hour.

In the Var hinterland, Domaine Saint Peyre enjoys a stunning setting within a 20 - hectare forested estate with views towards vineyards and olive trees so typical of the Dracénie region of Provence. This is a fantastic location for exploring pretty Var villages, visiting award - winning vineyards, partaking in watersports along the Argens River and spending time by the Gorges du Verdon and the French Riviera.

There are local villages around a 10 - minute drive to the south and north. The most popular one, 6km by car, is an old Provençal village famed for its Tuesday morning market, the largest in the Var department, and its surrounding vineyards. Even if not market day, it’s a joy to potter around its lanes, coming across pretty squares, fountains and old houses. There are a couple of supermarkets just outside the village as well as the Michelin starred Chez Bruno (8km) and the award - winning vineyards and wine - tasting cellar of Château de Berne (10km).

Indeed, there are plenty of opportunities to sample excellent local wines both around the village and slightly further afield near Vidauban (16km) including the vineyards of Château d'Astros where ‘Le Château de ma Mère’ was filmed. The Argens River runs near Vidauban and beyond, a paradise for keen watersport enthusiasts with canoeing, kayaking and stand - up paddle boarding opportunities close by. Mountain biking and horse - riding are other popular pursuits in the area.

Close to the domaine you will come across character villages including Flayosc (18km), Salernes (20km) and Cotignac (22km) as well as summer festivities, markets and brocantes. The waterfalls at Cascade de Sillans are half an hour by car whilst Aups, the gateway to the Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon, is 29km away - the south shore of Lac de Sainte - Croix with its incredible scenery and outdoor activities can be reached within an hour. Heading south, drive into the heart of the Massif des Maures to mountain villages surrounded by oak and chestnut forests such as Le Plan - de - la - Tour (38km), La Garde - Freinet (30km) or even flower - filled Grimaud (40km) with incredible views towards the bay of Saint - Tropez.

Indeed, Saint - Tropez is around an hour by car with the exclusive beach clubs of Plage de Pampelonne just a little further whilst the family - friendly shores of Sainte - Maxime are 45km by car. To avoid the heavy summer traffic in the area, it may be better to drive to Sainte - Maxime and catch the ferry to Saint - Tropez.  If you wish to spend further time by the French Riviera coastline, consider driving to the historic seaside resort of Saint - Raphaël (46km) and neighbouring Fréjus (43km), loved for their rich heritage, summer ambience and glorious beaches. You could even continue onwards to Cannes (85km) to really soak up the glamour of the glistening Côte d'Azur.