Only a few steps from a vast sandy beach, the luxurious Villa Santa Clara features a heated swimming pool, cinema room, gym and beautiful balcony with gorgeous views over the palm trees towards the sea.

It’s hard to imagine a more enviable setting for this impressive villa near Sète, a historic fishing port often referred to as the ‘Little Venice of Languedoc’. Simply stroll across the park and promenade and you will reach the sandy shores and one of the town’s oldest beachside restaurants for tapas and seafood overlooking the Mediterranean.  

Back at your villa, gather for al-fresco feasts on the decked terrace, prepared on the Weber barbecue, then soak up the sun in the colourful garden or cool off in the infinity swimming pool. Everything about Villa Santa Clara exudes a ‘wow factor’ from the open-plan lounge and state-of-the-art kitchen-diner opening out to the terrace to the cinema room, gym and sauna for guests’ private use.

Sleeping up to 10 guests (and two additional children), the four main bedrooms are stunning with king-size beds (which can be made up as twins), Smart TVs, dressing rooms and en suite bath or shower rooms. For an extra touch of luxury, two of the bedrooms lead out to the upper balcony for glorious vistas towards the sea, especially atmospheric as you sit out with a glass of Languedoc wine and gaze out to the everchanging evening sky.

A smaller fifth en suite bedroom with Smart TV can be found in the basement, simpler in style so perhaps perfect for accompanying teens who wish to have easy access to the cinema and fitness room! Elsewhere, kids will love the table football and ping pong whilst there is a kayak, paddleboard and beach games (from sand toys to mini football nets) available for guests to use, provided by the professional and thoughtful owners.

Take advantage of the villa’s bikes and cycle along the promenade to the heart of Sète; passing beachside restaurants, ice-cream parlours and the local watersports centre, you can reach the Théâtre de la Mer in just over 3.5km whilst Les Halles de Sète is a little further, a fantastic food market and an ideal spot for lunch.

Food-lovers who wish to venture further afield shouldn’t miss the Saturday morning market in historic Pézenas, around half an hour away by car, or find a waterside restaurant serving freshly harvested oysters by the Étang de Thau. There are of course endless vineyards and characterful wine villages to explore across the Languedoc countryside as well as the vibrant cities of Béziers and Montpellier, both under an hour away.

Closer to home, tour Sète’s charming canals by boat, look out for summer jousting tournaments and visit the town’s many art galleries and museums. Described by the Telegraph as “the perfect break”, Sète’s culture and heritage prove the town is so much more than just glorious Mediterranean beaches.

• This 5-bedroom villa sleeps up to 10 guests and two extra children using foldaway beds – please see the “Features” tab for details of each bedroom.
• Bedroom 5 is smaller in size and simpler compared to the other four bedrooms (with no window) but it still features a Smart TV and en suite shower room - perhaps best suited to teenagers with easy access to the cinema room!
• The 'Worldwide Music Festival’ usually takes place in Sète in early July with some concerts taking place at the nearby beachside restaurant and along the beach.