Villas in Provence

Most of our Provence villas are in the hills of the Var, around Lorgues, Carcès and Fayence. Expect vineyards, perched villages and the coast within reach. For the Luberon, look at Apt and Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt; for lake swimming, Bauduen on Lac de Sainte-Croix. Choice in the Luberon is limited, summers are hot and you will need a car.

Where

Villas: 320
From, per week: £162
Cheapest month: October
Nearest airports: Marseille Provence for the Luberon, Aix, the Alpilles and the Verdon; Nice Côte d'Azur for Fayence and the eastern Var. Both are around two hours from London. Avignon and Aix-en-Provence also have TGV stations if you would rather travel by train.

Where to stay in Provence

Central Var (Lorgues, Carcès, Draguignan, Les Arcs, Tourtour)

The largest group of our Provence villas sits in the green, wine-growing hills of the central Var. Lorgues has a busy market and shaded squares, Carcès has its own lake, and the Cistercian abbey of Le Thoronet is close to both. Tourtour is a perched village to the north. The coast at Sainte-Maxime is around 45 minutes to an hour away, and Marseille or Nice airport roughly an hour and a quarter.

Best for: Villas among vineyards, within reach of both the coast and the lakes

Not for you if: You want lavender fields and Luberon villages on the doorstep: they are well over an hour away.

Fayence and the perched villages (Callian, Montauroux, Tourrettes, Bagnols-en-Forêt)

A line of hilltop villages looks south over the plain towards the Esterel hills. Callian and Montauroux sit above Lac de Saint-Cassien, good for swimming, paddling and fishing, and Fayence is known for its gliding centre. Cannes and the coast are around 40 minutes away, and Nice airport about 45 minutes.

Best for: The shortest transfer from Nice, with hilltop villages and a lake

Not for you if: You want to walk to the beach: the sea is a drive away and village streets are steep.

Lac de Sainte-Croix and the Verdon (Bauduen, Gréoux-les-Bains, Allemagne-en-Provence)

Bauduen sits right on the shore of Lac de Sainte-Croix, with small beaches and boat hire nearby, and the Verdon Gorge opens at the lake's north-eastern end. Allemagne-en-Provence and the spa town of Gréoux-les-Bains are on the edge of the Valensole plateau, where the lavender flowers from mid-June to mid-July. Marseille airport is around an hour and three quarters away.

Best for: Lake swimming, kayaking and lavender on the Valensole plateau

Not for you if: You dislike crowds at beauty spots: the gorge roads and lake beaches are busy in August.

The Luberon and Aix (Apt, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Aix-en-Provence)

Apt is a working market town with a large Saturday market, and Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt sits beneath the Vaucluse plateau, close to the ochre cliffs at Roussillon and the hilltop village of Gordes. Aix-en-Provence, about an hour south, has fountains, cafés and Cézanne connections. Marseille airport is around an hour and a quarter from Apt. Choice here is small, so book early for summer.

Best for: Classic Provençal villages, markets and ochre landscapes

Not for you if: You want quiet roads in August: the best-known Luberon villages are very busy.

The Alpilles and around Avignon (Maussane-les-Alpilles, Mallemort, Montfavet)

Maussane-les-Alpilles sits among olive groves below Les Baux-de-Provence, with Saint-Rémy-de-Provence a short drive away and Arles, with its Roman arena, around half an hour. Mallemort is on the Durance between the Alpilles and the Luberon, and Montfavet is on the edge of Avignon. Marseille airport is about 50 minutes from Maussane.

Best for: Food, wine, Roman sites and easy reach of Avignon and Arles

Not for you if: You want a wide choice: there are only a handful of villas in this area.

Northern Provence (Nyons, Valréas, Puyméras, Pernes-les-Fontaines)

Mont Ventoux, the famous Tour de France climb, dominates the skyline here. Nyons is known for its olives, Puyméras is close to the Roman remains at Vaison-la-Romaine, and Pernes-les-Fontaines is a small town of fountains near Carpentras. Avignon's TGV station is around an hour from most villages, and Marseille airport about an hour and three quarters.

Best for: Cyclists, walkers and quieter villages with markets and vineyards

Not for you if: You want the sea: the coast is two hours or more away.

La Foux d'Allos (Alpine ski resort)

Officially in Provence but a different holiday altogether: a ski resort at around 1,800 metres in the Southern Alps, part of the Espace Lumière ski area shared with Pra-Loup. In summer it is a base for walking, with the high Lac d'Allos nearby. Allow around two and a half hours from Nice airport on mountain roads.

Best for: Skiing in winter and mountain walking in summer

Not for you if: You picture lavender and vineyards: this is a high mountain resort with a winter ski season.

When to go to Provence

May, June and September are the best months: warm days, busy markets and fewer people. The lavender flowers from mid-June to mid-July, and harvest starts around mid-July. July and August are hot, and the Luberon villages and Verdon lakes are crowded. The mistral, a strong, cold north wind, can blow for days at a time, most often in winter and spring. Some restaurants close between November and March, while La Foux d'Allos is busiest in the ski season.