A stunning villa in the heart of the Côte d'Azur with breathtaking views, luxurious amenities and impeccable service.
The house is magnificent
“The house is magnificent. Plenty of room for everyone. We were 14 adults and two small children. The kitchen is fantastic. Well stocked and all the appliances you need. The space is incredible. Every room has kitchen facilities and plenty of private...”
“The house is magnificent. Plenty of room for everyone. We were 14 adults and two small children. The kitchen is fantastic. Well stocked and all the appliances you need. The space is incredible. Every room has kitchen facilities and plenty of private...”
In an enviable position just outside St-Paul-de-Vence, L’Ancien Monastère is a handsome domaine offering a superb standard of accommodation for a large group in the very heart of the magnificent Côte d'Azur.
The set-up of this spacious villa and charming cottage is perfect for an extended family holiday or perhaps a reunion of friends with a range of bedrooms and apartments as well as a superb large living room with a roaring fireplace, central kitchen and wonderful outdoor space to gather together to share special moments.
L’Ancien Monastère has the ambience of a traditional Provençal home yet it was built in the late 20th century cleverly using materials from an old monastery to add character and charm, such as the impressive wood beamed ceilings and reclaimed stone flooring in the living space. Throughout you will find high quality furnishings and bold original art-work, making it a superb place to spend time in great comfort. Each of the villa’s bedrooms and the cottage have pretty terraces where you can find a moments peace in the vast and beautiful grounds.
Enjoy views of the Mediterranean from many of the rooms in the main villa or step outside and be mesmerised by the mountain and sea landscapes around you. Play a game of boules or wander down the enchanting terraced gardens to discover the tennis courts. The swimming pool is surrounded by landscaped lawns where you can lounge in the summer sun and the al-fresco dining terrace with its outdoor kitchen, open fire and bar is an idyllic spot for balmy nights dining by candlelight.
The concierge service is second to none and the owners are willing to assist with anything their guests may need from wine and champagne in the fridge on arrival, private chefs and restaurant bookings to tennis coaching, sailing lessons and golf reservations.
One of the French Riviera’s most famous villages, St-Paul-de-Vence, is just minutes away with its picturesque cobbled lanes filled with art galleries, cafes and restaurants as well as the well-loved Fondation Maeght, a museum of modern art. Discover Matisse’s incredible chapel in Vence, just a ten-minute drive away or head a few minutes south to the atmospheric market in the old town of Cagnes-sur-Mer.
The marvellous coastline of the Côte d'Azur is within a short drive with great beaches around Cagnes-sur-Mer, Villeneuve-Loubet as well as Antibes and beyond. Nice and Cannes are also magical places to visit so close or head to some of the French Riviera’s idyllic inland villages and towns such as Biot, Opio and Grasse.
L’Ancien Monastère is the perfect oasis from which to discover this incredible region of Côte d'Azur beaches, classic hilltop villages, endless activities and extraordinary landscapes.
What Oliver loves...
Gather together by the pool for wonderful feasts on the al-fresco dining terrace with its own bar, barbecue and open fire
You’re only minutes away from the charming village of St Paul de Vence with its famous restaurants and Fondation Maeght museum
Experience the charming city of Nice with its art museums, beaches and beautiful old quarter within a short drive.
What you should know
This domaine is made up of the main villa, featuring four apartments and two bedrooms, and a separate 2-bedroom cottage
There is also space for an extra 6 people (making 24 guests in total) using the sofa-beds in three of the apartments – supplements apply so please enquire
Many of the rooms are accessed via stone steps but Apartment One can be reached from the entrance path so may be more suitable for those who have reduced mobility
Meticulously selected. Rigorously approved. Our experts have reviewed over 100,000 holiday homes; only the very best make it into our collection.
4.7/5 Rated Excellent
Voted one of the Best Villa Rental Companies in the World by Condé Nast Traveller readers for nine years running.
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The Local Area
About the surrounding area of L'Ancien Monastere
Beach Nearby
<1hr to Airport
Outstanding Landscapes
Located in the beautiful Côte d'Azur region, just a 15-minute drive from Nice Airport, L’Ancien Monastère is in a residential setting only 2.5km from the charming village of St-Paul-de-Vence. You can walk to a local boulangerie in around fifteen minutes whilst other shops and restaurants are within a short drive.
St-Paul-de-Vence (2.5km) is one of the most famous villages of the French Riviera and is well known for its narrow cobbled lanes filled with art galleries, lovely shops and atmospheric cafes. The Fondation Maeght museum also attracts visitors, as do the excellent restaurants including the renowned La Colombe D’Or. Make sure you visit when the lovely fruit and vegetable market takes place.
Further north, the town of Vence (5km) is another incredible place to spend some time, especially for the amazing Chapelle Matisse/Chapelle du Rosarie which was created by Henri Matisse himself. You can also experience the town’s historic ambience, delightful restaurants and cafes, more art galleries and markets.
Easily reached from the nearby road connecting Vence to the coast, Cagnes-sur-Mer (4km) also has a wonderful market in its pretty old town and a lovely museum, Les Collettes, which used to be Renoir’s maison. Drive down towards the beach where you will find a lovely promenade with restaurants and a long stretch of coastline with some great watersports.
Beach lovers can also head to the beaches around Villeneuve-Loubet (with its delightful village just inland) and Saint Laurent or south towards Antibes (15km), Cannes (27km) and Théoule-sur-Mer (40km). Some of the beaches around Nice, towards Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (28km) and Beaulieu-sur-Mer (27km) are also wonderful for a day out by the sea in beautiful surroundings.
Boat trips can be enjoyed from many ports along the Côte d'Azur coastline, visiting towns such as Saint-Tropez, Monaco or the idyllic Sainte-Marguerite Island. You can also drive towards Monaco (40km) and as far as the Italian border with Ventimiglia (59km) under an hour away.
The great city of Nice (18km) is also a brilliant day out or you may prefer to soak up some of the glamour in Cannes (27km).
Heading inland, there are some incredible French Riviera villages to explore such as Tourrettes-sur-Loup (10km) with its artisan craft studios and pretty weekly market as well as Opio (20km) and Biot (14km) or learn all about the perfume heritage in the beautiful town of Grasse (24km) with its lavender fields, olive groves and rolling hills in the surrounding countryside.
There are numerous golf courses across the French Riviera (12 in the area!), the nearest being near Nice and Biot but also the well-known Royal Mougins Golf Course within 30km. For guests who love cycling, this villa is near some of the region’s best cycling routes across the Côte d'Azur and horse-riding is also a popular pursuit.
Hikers will find some amazing marked trails including great walks between St Paul de Vence and Vence as well as coastal routes and other paths in the rugged interland near Gourdon (27km). You can swim from the rocks in Gorges du Loup, near Gourdon, or visit the enchanting waterfalls.
The Region
The Provençal way of life is one that’s deeply tempting for anyone who’s been feeling the need to get away from it all. This is a place where the Mediterranean weather turns fields of corn and lavender into picture-perfect backdrops, where you can sip your locally bought wine and enjoy the landscapes before heading out and tackling them head-on with a range of great activities for families, groups of friends and adventurous foodies. Better yet, our range of villas in Provence and chateaux and holiday homes in the Côte d’Azur make the perfect base to explore this enchanting region!
