Grimaud is a medieval village located on top of a hill and standing out for its flower filled cobbled streets, ancient churches and great views of the Saint-Tropez coastline. It offers traditional French boutiques, bars and a good range of restaurants from simple to high-end plus a weekly antique market every Sunday.

One of the main highlights of the village, other than the typical Provencal character and history, is the ruins of the eleventh century castle at the top of the village, which can be seen from the villa. A short but steep walk from the village to the castle is worth it for the magnificent views of the sea and surrounding countryside. Reward yourself after with a coffee or ice-cream in one of the many pretty cafes along the narrow lanes filled with bougainvillea.

Outdoor activities in the area include tennis, golf, horse-riding, go-karting, polo and funfairs for young children. In the summer months you can practice a variety of watersports at the sandy beach in Port Grimaud.

The town of Port Grimaud (7km) has an interesting history – it was constructed in the latter half of the twentieth century from marshland and it is mainly a traffic free zone with a great marina that can only be accessed by foot or boat. There are lots of pretty coloured houses, Venetian style bridges and small boats to watch come and go and there appears to be an overall relaxed atmosphere, particularly compared to some of the more glamorous towns nearby. As some of the areas are privately owned you can take a guided boat trip to tour the marina and then kick back with a drink or meal in one of the marina’s cafes and restaurants. You can also enjoy great views of the marina from the Church of Saint-Francis of Assisi.

Fashionable Saint-Tropez is just 12km from Villa Abricot, or you can beat the traffic, park in Port Grimaud and take the ferry across from there during the day. Saint-Tropez is famous for its winding medieval streets, traditional pastel-painted fishermen’s cottages, boutiques and restaurants and the port with fishing boats moored alongside luxurious yachts. Those who enjoy the glitz and glamour must also visit Pampelonne Beach and its various beach restaurants including the exclusive Club 55, popular with celebrities and well as visitors.

The Cote d’Azur offers a magnificent coastline of sandy beaches with crystal clear sea-waters, not just the fashionable and private beach clubs but also beautifully unspoilt areas such as the six kilometres of La Croix Valmer coastline where you will find some stunning walks surrounded by diverse flora and fauna. Furthermore, inland there are delightful Provencal villages to discover such as Ramatuelle, Gassin, and Bormes les Mimosas and fields of lavender making this arguably one of the most beautiful areas in France.