The serene beauty of the Côte d'Azur hinterland is all around you at this picture-perfect blue shuttered bastide. Set in the Préalpes d'Azur just a 5-minute drive to a characterful village, you are only 14km from Grasse, the perfume capital of France.



La Bastide du Lierre is an attractive holiday home offering spacious interiors for up to 12 guests across its five pretty bedrooms and bathrooms. With the ambience of a welcoming family home, kick back in the TV lounge, play table football in the living room, prepare feasts in the contemporary kitchen or chill out in the garden studio with its summer kitchen and lounge.   

The gardens are such a joy, not only because of the heated swimming pool and its surrounding stone terrace, but also for the vast amount of space for lounging in the sun, reading beneath a fruit tree, playing football or badminton on the lawns or enjoying a relaxed game of pétanque with a glass of rosé. The outdoor lounge is another picture-perfect spot to soak up the bastide’s tranquility in the dappled light before feasting al-fresco on the picturesque terrace.

In the forests, the house is set just off a narrow country lane which leads to the river and some spectacular hiking spots in one direction and a charming French village along the Route Napoléon in the other. As well as restaurants and other useful amenities in the village, look out for one of the best boulangeries in the region and don’t miss the Sunday morning market where local producers come down from the mountains to sell their cheese and meat.

Visit Grasse’s cathedral, market and perfume studios before venturing to the historic market town of Valbonne or Picasso’s beloved Mougins, now adored by gastronomes and artists alike. Then there’s other picture-perfect villages from Gourdon, Cabris and Saint Cézaire sur Siagne to the Pays de Fayence and the incredible scenery and activities of Lac de Saint-Cassien.

Even closer to home, set off for hikes by the river or through the forests, coming across historic sites, caves and incredible landscapes, head further into the mountains or, for a complete change of scene, drive south for a day out on the French Riviera with its sandy beaches, watersports, boat trips and elegant Côte d'Azur towns such as Cannes and Antibes.

In the Alpes-Maritimes department, close to the Var border, La Bastide du Lierre enjoys a beautiful setting in the Côte d'Azur hinterland. It is ideally located for visiting Grasse and experiencing the beauty of the mountains in the Préalpes d'Azur whilst only being 32km from the glamour of Cannes and the French Riviera.

This is a haven of tranquility with only one neighbour 100m away yet less than a five-minute drive from a typically Provençal village with a range of amenities including restaurants and apparently one of the best bakeries of the region. A weekly farmer’s market hosts regional producers of meat and cheese from the mountains.

It goes without saying that this area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts with the most wonderful hikes both close to the village and further afield. Come across the pre-historic site at Castellaras de la Malle, follow La Pierre Druidique trail, hike near the Siagne river at Arche de Ponadieu or head further north into the mountains for forests, waterfalls, tiny villages and the most spectacular landscapes. The GR4 hiking trail passes close by and there are opportunities for horse-riding, mountain biking and other adventures. The local caves are also worthy of a visit, a great way to escape the summer heat.

Grasse (14km), the perfume capital of France, is a fine day out with its fragrance studios and museums where you can learn all about the town’s fascinating heritage and even create your own perfume – look out for famous brands such as Gallimard, Molinard and Fragonard. Visit the town’s 13th century cathedral, Notre Dame de Puy, to admire its famous Rubens paintings before pottering around Grasse’s atmospheric medieval lanes, coming across café terraces and delightful restaurants.

Local picturesque villages also worth visiting include medieval Saint Cézaire sur Siagne (11km) with its views of the Siagne valley, and the pretty villages of Callian (24km) and Montauroux (24km), both close to the stunning Lac de Saint-Cassien, another superb spot for walking and water-based activities in the summer months. Fayence (30km) is also a joy to explore or head towards the coast stopping off in picture-perfect places such as the historic market town of Valbonne (24km) and flower-filled Mougins (26km), known for its gastronomy and art.  

If you wish to experience the allure of the French Riviera then visit the glitz of Cannes (32km) with its palm-fringed shores and upmarket ambience or spend time in the old town of Antibes (37km), home to a warren of charming historic lanes. Chic Juan-Les-Pins is where Parisians head in the summer months for beachside restaurants and watersports whilst the Cap d’Antibes offers idyllic coastal walking trails and sensational scenery.

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