Les Chênes Verts

In the same family ownership for many years, Les Chênes Verts is a spacious villa built on three levels. It was extensively renovated in 2013/2014 and has been furnished and equipped to a very high standard. It comfortably sleeps 10 with three large air-conditioned bedrooms (two with king-size beds and one with twin beds) with en-suite bathrooms and two additional air-conditioned twin bedrooms with a shared shower room.

 All bedrooms have plenty of wardrobe space and a hair dryer.

Ground floor

The main entrance to the villa opens to a large entrance hall which in turn leads to:

A large air-conditioned L-shaped Salon / Dining Room. The large (56m²) salon and linked dining room is air conditioned and has polished marble floors. The salon is furnished with sofas and arm chairs, a large Sony TV connected to a satellite box (non-subscription channels only), a DVD player, a high quality hi-fi system with wall mounted speakers and a connection facility for an i-pod.  A selection of CDs and DVDs is available. There is a large wood-burning stove in the inglenook fire-place.

The dining room has a large dining table with seating for up to 10.

The Kitchen.  The modern kitchen has black granite work surfaces, an induction hob, fridge with small freezer compartment, separate under-counter freezer, oven, microwave, dishwasher and lots of cupboard and storage space.  It is supplied with 2 kettles, coffee machines (filter and Nespresso), toaster, blender, a large selection of saucepans and ovenware including many Le Creuset items, crockery, glassware, cutlery and a wide range of kitchen utensils. 

Sliding glass doors open from the kitchen on to:

A large, attractive, covered terrace with an extending glass-topped table and seating for ten people to enable dining al fresco.  Steps lead down from the terrace to the garden.

An air-conditioned Bedroom 1 with a king-size bed and large East facing windows en-suite Bathroom 1 with bath/shower, two wash hand basins and WC. South facing French doors lead on to the terrace.  There are four recliner chairs and a small coffee table on the terrace immediately in front of the bedroom.

A cloakroom/downstairs WC and a store room.

A spiral staircase leading up to the top floor master bedroom and marble stairs down to the lower ground floor.

Top Floor

Master Bedroom (Bedroom 2) - a large air-conditioned bedroom with King Size Double bed. TV/DVD (Sony flat screen). French windows open to the South and a window faces East to the swimming pool. En-suite Bath/Shower Room (Bathroom 2) with bath/shower, wash hand basin and WC.

Lower Ground Floor

A small hallway from the garden (accessed also via stairs from the entrance hallway) leads to:

A semi self-contained kitchenette with sink (cold water tap only) fridge, kettle, 2 washing machines and tumble drier, ironing board and iron, wall cupboards with pool ‘glassware’ and crockery.

A large air-conditioned twin (or double) bedroom (Bedroom 3) with two 90cm single beds that can be moved together if required to form a double bed. French windows lead to garden on West side.  En-suite bathroom (Bathroom 3) with bath/shower, wash hand basin and WC.

Two smaller air-conditioned twin bedrooms: Bedroom 4 with South facing window and Bedroom 5 with East facing window each with two 90cm beds and free-standing air-conditioners

A large shower room Bathroom 4 with walk-in shower, WC and wash basin.

Les Chênes Verts is perfectly located just half an hour from Nice and 20 minutes from Cannes, Antibes and the beaches of the Côtes d'Azur. It is only a few minutes’ drive from the beautiful villages of Valbonne and Mougins and sits on a hillside with views across a wooded valley to the picturesque hamlet of Plascassier.

The villa is within walking distance of a good supermarket, a boulangerie and a number of restaurants and just a few minutes’ drive from the delightful medieval town of Valbonne with its many excellent restaurants, shops and a buzzing Friday market.

The villa is 32 kms from Nice and 40 minutes’ drive from Nice international Airport.

The TGV train stops at Nice and Cannes and the nearest junction to the A8 auto route is Junction/Exit 44.

• The House information manual provides information in more detail on all of the following
• The villa is just a few minutes’ drive from the ancient villages of Valbonne and Mougins and less than half an hour from the iconic resorts of Cannes, Antibes and Nice.  The casinos and bright lights of Monaco are only an hour away.
• The dozy little village of Plascassier, just across the valley from the villa, is probably best known as the place where Edith Piaf died at the age of 47 in 1963.  She owned a villa nearby and spent much of her later life there.  The 17^th century church is worth a visit and the Auberge de Provence in the square offers a good lunchtime menu.  It’s a 10 - 15 minute walk from the villa.
• The lovely little town of Valbonne was formally founded in the early 16^th century though there is evidence of a settlement there as early as the 12^th century.    Interesting little shops and restaurants are tucked into the picturesque cobbled alleys off the main square where you can sit and soak up the sun in an open air café or visit the bustling market that takes place every Friday morning.  
• The old town of Mougins, which dates back to pre-Roman times, has been the home of many famous artists, intellectuals and foodies.  Picasso lived here for the last 12 years of his life and many world famous chefs including Alain Ducasse and Roger Vergé have owned restaurants here.  It remains a very ‘arty’ place and has many galleries and fine restaurants.  There is a car park at the bottom of hill leading up to the old town.
• The ancient little village of Gourdon is perched on a rock above the valley of the River Loup.  It is about half an hour’s drive up a good (if steep) road and the views are fantastic.  There are a number of tourist shops and cafés and the castle is open to the public.
• Saint-Paul-de-Vence is one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera and has long been the haunt of the rich and famous.  Yves Montant and Simone Signoret spent a lot of time in the town, the artist Marc Chagal lived here and, a little further down the intellectual scale, Rolling Stone Bill Wyman has a house here.  The chapel in Vence, which Matisse designed and decorated, is also not to be missed. Just outside the town is the Fondation Maeght museum of modern art which has a world famous collection of works by Giacometti, Chagal, Miro and many others dotted around a garden and gallery.  It is a 50 minute drive from the villa and an excellent day out with children.
• The Gorge de Verdon, Europe’s ‘Grand Canyon’ is one of the most spectacular and beautiful gorges in Europe.  It is some 25 km long and over 700 metres deep and it is possible to drive much of the way along its rim.  Its possible to kayak down the Verdon River and there are some spectacular hiking routes or, if you are into technical rock climbing, some 1500 recognised climbs.  We suggest you allow the best part of a day for the trip and have lunch in one of the restaurants in the lovely little town of Castellane.
• Tourrettes-sur-Loup, about half an hour’s drive from the villa. A medieval village perched on the top of a rocky outcrop overlooking the dramatic valley of the River Loup. It is a very popular tourist destination renowned for its arts and crafts which include weaving, painting, pottery jewellery and sculptures, all of which are created in the village.  It is home to many historically significant monuments and has many highly recommended restaurants.
• The old town of Nice (or Vieille Nice as the locals call it) is a delightful place to spend a day.  It is a hive of activity by day and night and a wonderful place to wander around, get lost and have a drink, eat an ice cream or have a traditional meal in one of the many cafes and restaurants.  There are colourful markets selling flowers, artisanal produce, fruit and vegetables, a big fish market and lots of shops selling souvenirs, chocolates, antiques and clothing.  It is about a three quarter hour drive to the old town.
• There are a vast number of cultural attractions throughout the Côte d'Azur. Nice, for instance, has more museums and art galleries than any French city other than Paris and also has an Opera House, as well as hosting many other musical events.
• There are a number of semi-tropical gardens on the Côte d'Azur that are open to the public. Particularly recommended is the Ephrussi at St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, a Rothschild villa and garden.
• If the traffic is not too heavy, Antibes is less than half an hour’s drive away.  There is lots to see including the Picasso Museum (closed lunchtime), an excellent market, lots of trendy shops and many good street cafés and restaurants.  A wander around the port to ogle at the billionaires’ super yachts makes for an interesting half an hour, or there is a small beach on the other side of the harbour wall.  There is a lovely two-hour walk along the footpath around the Cap d’Antibes if you are feeling energetic. Park at Plage de la Garoupe and take the path from the far end of the beach.
• Two events of world importance each year are the Cannes Film Festival (mid-May) and, in the Film Festival's last week, the Monaco Grand Prix (motor racing, of course!).
• Many of the world-renowned scent factories in Grasse encourage visits and on-the-spot purchases, as do the glass-makers in Biot.
• Restaurants and eating out: There are so many restaurants in the area that you will be spoiled for choice.  They range from the Michelin starred Bastide Saint Antoine in Grasse to L’Auberge St Donat just a short energetic walk from the villa.  A number of local ‘favourites’ are listed in The House Information Book with the owner’s very helpful comments. Details can be provided in advance on request.
• Markets and Shopping Cannes and Antibes are, of course, famous for their up-market shops but at the other end of the scale is the bustling Rue Meynadier in Cannes with its market atmosphere, affordable clothes shops and artisan food stores.

There is an excellent market in Valbonne every Friday morning and in Mouans Sartoux every Thursday morning.

• There are many high quality golf courses in the area.  (See the list provided in the House Information manual) and there are public tennis courts at Opio and others in surrounding towns.
• There are lots of spectacular walks and hiking trails in the region (Google ‘Walks near Grasse’) and a number of horse riding centres in the region – Google ‘Horse Riding Grasse’ for details.
• If you would like to see what night-time visitors come to the woodland ask Fernando to show you how to set up the trail camera.  You may be surprised!
• Beaches There are countless beaches up and down the coast to explore. One of the nearest  is at Cagnes-sur-Mer  (about  20 kms from the Villa). La Neptune on this beach has a bar and a restaurant, plus sun beds, sun umbrellas etc.
• Cagnes-sur-Mer also has a race course which holds meetings, mainly trotting, throughout July and August.