Maison Eau Douce

The villa

Enjoy mesmerising views towards the sea and Parc National des Calanques from your rooftop terrace in this stunning home for up to 12 guests. Close to the charming seaside village of Cassis and within walking distance to the Mediterranean, Maison Eau Douce is all about contemporary living in the beautiful Côte d'Azur.

Wander through the hacienda style courtyard into your holiday home and the modern interiors are sure to impress. The vast living and dining space features stylish furnishings and picture book windows framing the views of the distant mountains. Step outside the huge sliding windows to be greeted with swaying palm and cypress trees as you look out towards Cassis and the shimmering blue sea. Head to the rooftop terrace to enjoy even more incredible vistas all around you.

There are six double bedrooms, each one featuring colourful and bold décor, many with sleek modern bathrooms and doors leading to the gardens or terraces, whilst a seventh bedroom with twin beds is perfect for families. With air - conditioning throughout and additional features such as a fitness room, Maison Eau Douce offers comfort alongside sophistication.

Wander through the pretty terraced gardens with flowering shrubs, olive trees and stone steps and you’ll soon reach the inviting pool surrounded by towering pines and beautiful views of the hilltops and mountains beyond. Lazy summer days can be spent in the shade of the pool house with its relaxed bar where you can sip chilled white wine from the vineyards surrounding Cassis, spending quality time with family and friends.

You can wander down to the coast and a little off the beaten track you’ll find a beautiful beach, perfect for swimming in the crystal - clear sea. Lovely Cassis is so close with its pastel - coloured buildings along its charming port, exquisite restaurants and lovely cafes. Follow walking trails into the outstanding Calanques National Park or take a boat trip to visit the rocky cliffs, a magnificent natural wonder.

To the east, one of the Mediterranean’s most amazing roads, La Route des Cretes, heads over mesmerising landscapes towards the pretty town of La Ciotat or continue as far as Saint - Cyr - sur - Mer, Toulon and Hyères. In the other direction, the exciting city of Marseille is waiting to be explored with its vibrant cultural scene, colourful markets and wonderful buildings, an authentic jewel of the French Riviera.

Maison Eau Douce is situated in a residential area just outside the delightful village of Cassis on the beautiful Côte d'Azur, just 30km south - east of Marseille, in the Bouches - du - Rhone department.

In an elevated position, it’s about a 20 - minute walk (1km) down the hill and across the rocky terrain to reach the beautiful beach where you can swim in crystal clear waters off the pebbly shore and the most adventurous can follow rocky paths to reach smaller coves, backed by pine forests and vineyards. The sea is especially wonderful for snorkelling.

The main town beach in Cassis is Plage de la Grande Mer where you can hire kayaks and try out windsurfing. There are also a number of stunning calanques that can be reached by foot or boat.

Indeed, this area is famous for wonderful walks through the Calanques National Park, from family trips to impressive hikes. There are over 300km of marked trails to follow, all with amazing sea and mountain views. Calanque de Port - Miou or Calanque de Port Pin are good places to start or the most experienced hikers can spend a day walking as far as Calanque du Devenson, passing many climbers en route as the cliffs get higher and higher (do check before you set off as some paths close in the height of the summer).

Cassis itself, only 2km away from the maison, is a charming seaside village with lovely restaurants, a picturesque harbour and pretty lanes filled with pastel coloured houses so typical of villages of the French Riviera. Market days are Wednesday and Friday mornings.

Another amazing trip is to drive along the incredible Route des Cretes towards La Ciotat (10km), known to be one of the most fantastic road trips in the Mediterranean. Spend time in charming La Ciotat with its pretty buildings, old port, lovely parks and welcoming beaches. Take a boat out to île Verte where there’s an amazing beach, perfect for a picnic or spend the day paddle boarding into places of natural beauty. Look out for the atmospheric night market in July and August as well as the main market on a Sunday morning.

Continue on as far as Saint - Cyr - sur - Mer with its lovely beach or you could even reach the great towns of Toulon (40km) and Hyères (60km) in under an hour. In the other direction, the multi - cultural and vibrant city of Marseille (30km) is a must - see for its colourful markets, beautiful buildings, characterful bars and exciting cultural scene.