Description
Set in garden full of old olive trees and specimen trees, this lovely old house is an easy stroll into the heart of historic Vence with all its treasures. It is a quick 6 mile drive to the beach at Cagnes, and Nice is only 20 mins away, both have lovely proms. Villa Paradou is set in a gated domaine and has full use of the communal pools, gardens and play areas, in addition to its own secluded 16m long pool. It has English Satellite TV + DVD and stereo equipment. The house is approached via an electronic gate into the domaine. It has a very large private parking area. The house is entered through a carved wooden front door which opens into an impressive hallway with its Italian chandelier. The kitchen and living room lead off from this: another hallway leads to the main bedroom and bathroom and the guest loo. The staircase twists away up to the first floor where there are 2 further charming bedrooms and a landing that leads through to the second bathroom and the 4th bedroom.
There are fans in each bedroom. The central heating is oil-fired and very effective-though once again, we rarely use it in the day time as the sun pouring into the sitting room warms the whole house up even in the middle of winter. Awnings shade the living-room during the summer.
The house is ideal for children. The garden is enclosed and there is rarely any traffic moving around the domaine anyway. The communal pools and play areas are very close to the house and would be an ideal way for children to socialise with other youngsters staying in the surrounding properties.
Outside:
The garden has a large, very gently sloping lawn with specimen trees and shrubs which offer additional shade. The 16m pool is surrounded by a large sun terrace and has a cool, shady pool house. It is only 1.8m deep at its deepest, making it ideal for those who are less confident swimmers, while its length makes it ideal for those who like to do a 'workout'. There is a set of steps at one end of the pool so getting in and out is very easy for the old and young alike. The steps are an ideal area for small toddlers and small children to paddled and play. The pool also has a security fence around it to protect toddlers from entering the pool without adult supervision. This is a legal requirement in France. There is a barbecue(charcoal), sun loungers, chairs and tables are all available. There is also a pool and children's paddling pool on the domaine + table-tennis and children's playground.
Utility Room:
The washing machine is in the arched area under the house, making hanging out the washing in the garden very convenient.
Cleaning / Towels / Linen / Maid service:
Towels and linen are supplied. There is a 80 euro charge for laundering these- price depends on party size. Maid service 100 euros for end of rental - potential supplement for longer term rentals or if pets etc have created excessive work.
Other:
Impressive hallway and staircase.
The stone built pool house is ideal for dining as it is cool and shaded even on the hottest sunny days.
Rates
There is a rates table which displays the rates for seasons.
Payment
We accept payment via bank transfer in euros to our French accounts the details of which we provide when you are ready to book. We require a 20% booking deposit and a 20% damages deposit which is refunded at the end of the rental period.
Additional Information regarding the properties location
Coast/Beach:
The beach at Cagnes is 6 miles away-we rarely miss an evening stroll along its lovely new prom. Nice is 20 mins away and Cannes takes about 30-40 mins. There are many other lovely spots along the coast, we love Villefranche and Golfe Juan. Of course Antibes and Juan les Pins are less than 20min away. Wherever you drive to from Vence, the scenery is stunning. Visit St Paul de Vence and Grasse. Or just drive up the mountain. Another day trip would be to Monte Carlo or San Remo over the border.
Travel:
Nice airport is about 15-20 mins away. We would definitely recommend a car, although friends have stayed here and used buses to go everywhere. We now go into Nice by bus as it's so cheap, easy and reliable.
If you drive from the UK it is very easy to get to Vence from the A8-10 mins. The house is on the approach to Vence from this direction and very easy to find. The great thing about Villa Paradou's location is that, being so close to the village, there is no need for a 'nominated driver'!
Distances:
The centre of the wonderful old bustling market town of Vence is only 500m away. The Cite Historic is absolutely charming. There are many restaurants, bars, food shops, clothes shops and a bi-weekly market. There are also many art galleries. Our favourite spot is the terrace of the Brasserie Victoire where you can sit and watch the Real Provence go by over a glass of Provencal rose.
Further Details:
There are many restaurants, bars, patisseries, butchers, grocers, supermarkets, hairdressers, banks, boutiques etc etc. Vence is a thriving community that, however, loses none of its village charm. You are just, literally, spoilt for choice.
We leave several travel guides in the bookshelves in the house, with details of so many places of interest it would not be possible to list them all here.