Velvet Citadel

You don't get these kinds of views very often. Miles of untouched Luberon landscape unfold from the dining terrace of this home, offering a stunning backdrop to alfresco feasts and sunset drinks. You may not get these same vistas from the pool terrace, but with a pizza oven and ping-pong table, you'll be too occupied to notice. The interiors are tailor-made for entertaining, too – at the heart of the villa is an open-plan living space, where natural hues and exposed wooden beams lend a country aesthetic. A fifteen-minute walk brings you to the historic village of Viens, with its Renaissance château – make sure to visit on a Wednesday for the local market.

Home truths:
*Due to this home's location, we recommend hiring a car to get the most out of your stay.
*While there is a gate to the pool area, it is directly accessible from one of the bedrooms, so children should be supervised.
*Bedroom one's en-suite doesn't have a toilet. However, there's a separate WC in the hallway.
*Two of the en-suite bathrooms have open toilets with limited privacy.
*There are two air conditioning units in this home – one serves both downstairs bedrooms, and the other serves all three upstairs bedrooms.
*Bedrooms four and five share one bathroom. There's a separate bathroom in the pool house with a shower and toilet.