Villa Baside des Virettes

Nestling in the hills on the edge of the medieval village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup, La Bastide des Virettes has spectacular views to the coast. It sits in established gardens and terraces, making it an ideal Riviera retreat in a semi-rural residential area just outside the village. The bastide has been recently renovated and fitted with every modern convenience. Much loving care and attention to detail has been used, with the villa being uniquely decorated in a beautiful baroque style. Frescos and painted woodwork feature throughout along with antiques and artwork collected from across the south of France furnish the rooms. With its location on the village fringes, the property retains privacy and has everything needed for a relaxing sojourn.

Bastide des Virettes is fully south facing and set in a large flat lawned and landscaped garden. All living areas of the house are on the ground floor, with a large and comfortable open plan living and dining room, children's TV and playroom, and a double kitchen. From the house, French doors lead out onto a good sized covered dining area, with views towards the sea.

Upstairs are four sumptuous bedrooms and three bathrooms. Beautifully decorated and furnished, and individual style, they each are named after a colour. The master bedroom has two sets of French doors out on to a balcony with views to the swimming pool and across to the Mediterranean. A good size dressing room is ideal for a cot. Its large, classic designed en suite marble bathroom, includes a bath, separate shower. The "Blue Room" is another double, with an en-suite shower room. Lovely painted features characterise this room, and two the two sets of French doors and a small balcony, flood it with light. The "Green Room" is arranged as a twin, with views across the garden and the surrounding village, countryside and coast. This room shares a bath with an overhead shower, with the "Turquoise Room", which is at the back of the house and set up as a twin. These rooms also share a separate WC.

To one end of the garden and landscaped within the rock, is a stunning 15 metre free form pool with waterfall and Jacuzzi. There is a shallow beach style entrance to the pool, making it perfect for younger children to paddle in, whilst the middle part reaches 2m in depth. There's also a boules court for a gentle afternoon game or two. There are covered terraces at either side of the pool – one for soft seating and the other outside the house for dining al fresco.

The locals call Tourrettes-sur-Loup the "village of violets", for its cultivation of this little flower. It's a picturesque and historic village, off the beaten track and full of cafés, boutiques and patisseries along its winding cobbled streets and arched passages. It's an easy place to spend a morning, watching a game of boules in the Place de la Liberation, or visiting the market on a Wednesday. the local is tarte à l'orange, which is really worth a try. The beaches of Cagnes are only 8km away, and the glamour of Cannes and Antibes, just 14km. St Paul de Vence is also close, and perfect for those wanting to explore its galleries and boutiques. The hills around Tourrettes are truly beautiful, and offer magnificent walking and cycling country.