The August community has the art of travel perfected to a tee. We share the passion for travel and love of culture, and just like you, the thought of travel sparks curiosity and excitement.
It's this and the fact that we live and breath the South of France that we would like to share with you our most favourite places in the region close to your home as we prepare to welcome our August families. Below you can find the most perfect South of France itinerary that many of you can look forward to on your next long weekend trip to your August French Riviera home. We can't wait for you to discover and immerse yourselves in the local culture with your family.
T H U R S D A Y
Leaving on a Thursday because you can. There are 52 Thursdays in a year, so owning your August Provence home means you can reserve any 1 or many of these Thursdays so that you can travel off-peak and at leisure. Bon voyage!
Touch down at Nice international airport
Nice international airport is very well connected with international flights from all around the world, attracting nearly 14.5m passengers in 2019. It's the third busiest airport in France (after the 2 Paris airports) but whilst it boasts such great airport status, it's also small and easy enough to get around so that you can swiftly find your bags and pick up your rental car so that you can start heading to your August home in very little time. And guess what? Your August home is only 25 minutes away!
Welcome home!
After a short drive through the picturesque fields and hills of Provence, you will arrive at your beautiful Provence style August home, perfectly ready and waiting for your arrival. The beds will be done, fresh towels will be laid out, and who knows there might even be a bottle of rosé waiting for you so that you can start your holiday the French way. All you have to do is choose your room and crack that bottle open. You are home!
First dinner in Valbonne
Whether it's an early dinner or late supper, for your first meal, why not indulge and sample that gastronomy delights that the region of Provence has to offer? There are almost 80 Michelin Star restaurants with 100s more Michelin Recommend restaurants so you can't go wrong and plus it would be rude not to!
Just 5 minutes drive for your home is the colourful village of Valbonne where you can enjoy a nice dinner in one of the many restaurants this neighbour village has to offer. Spend your first evening wandering through the charming Place des Arcades and picturesque old village centre and dust off your French with your ordering skills. What are you in the mood for?
A cosy atmosphere and refined french cuisine?
An absolute must-try is the Michelin recommended restaurant 'La Table by Richard Mebkhout'. In the heart of this charming village, this pocket handkerchief-sized restaurant is in the hands of an experienced chef, who’s worked with the best. He signs a succulent, market-fresh 'Retour du marché' set menu that changes every week. It is just 'délicieux!'.
A typically French restaurant inspired by Provencal seasonings and flavours?
Head to 'Le Bistrot du Sommelier', also situated in the heart of Valbonne, this restaurant offers simple traditional food, using only fresh local products. And, as the name of the restaurant suggests, let yourself be tempted by their great wine recommendations!
An ambient atmosphere and spices?
We definitely recommend you visit the family-run restaurant 'La Pigeot'. Situated near the top end of the village, La Pigeot is beautifully decorated and the air is filled with delicious spicy aromas. Specialising in Moroccan cuisine, all dishes are served in a traditional manner, where diners can seat themselves on a carpet and tagines are served in cone-shaped cooking pots.
F R I D A Y
Valbonne Friday food market
Friday is market day in Valbonne! The perfect way to buy all the freshest local products to cook the best meals at home for the weekend.
Make sure you also stop by:
Lunch at home
Afternoon by the pool
Afternoon activities
Incase pool time fun is limited for those who prefer other activities, your August home is ideally located so that you can enjoy a few swings or see the nearby sights by pedal power:
Golf courses aren't what is missing on the French Riviera! The Golf Grande Bastide and the Victoria Golf Club are both under 10 minutes drive from your home.
You can rent bikes and get them delivered to your door with France bike rentals.
The most stunning natural feature of the entire Côte d’Azur is the Massif de l’Esterel, a coastal mountain range of red-ochre rock which forms the backdrop to some of the classic images of the South of France. Therefore, we suggest doing l'Esterel as a first route. You start from Mandelieu and go to St Rapheal and then come back.
Dinner at Le Clos St Pierre - Chemin de Saint-Pons, Le Rouret
Another day, another dinner. A short 10 minutes drive from your home is one of our favourite places which we can't recommend enough. Nestled on the church square of a neighbour village, Le Rouret, the warm and welcoming Le Clos St Pierre is headed up by Daniel Ettlinger, Michelin Star awarded Chef. A taste of Provençale loved by locals and guests from afar, expect nothing but a beautiful stone setting experience and the freshest market-sourced seasonal ingredients. Bon appétit!
For a slightly less formal feed, try “Le bistrot du clos” - it is next door and offers a beautiful room, set around a central bar, and a large patio surrounded by stone walls and shaded by trees.
S A T U R D A Y
Good morning...
In France, breakfast is not breakfast without the smell of fresh baguettes, croissants and pains au chocolat, especially on holiday.
Walking distance to your home is 'Les petits pains d'Emilie', a typical French bakery where you'll find freshly baked bread, croissants and pains au chocolat to feed the whole family.
It is so close that you might be tempted to send the kids to get it for you!
In the mood for some fresh air?
The South of France has some of the most stunning scenery and finest places in the world for hiking especially in Provence with an immense amount of hiking trails. So, rather than being on packed beaches with 90% of the tourists when the sun is out, our favourite outdoor activity is exploring the hilltops of our French Riviera backyard.
No matter your fitness level, breathing in the fresh air, one step at a time in the wilderness always seems to be a crowd-pleaser.
One of our favourite hiking trails is the "Sentier de la Brague Walk", it takes just about 3 hours to complete the hike from Valbonne to the Medieval hilltop town of Biot, along the Brague River Valley.
This path is fairly flat and it's mostly in the shade of dense forest which makes it a great walk for a hot day. It follows the Brague river through a forest filled with alder, hazel and ash trees so there are lots to see. With waterfalls along the way, you feel like you’re in an enchanted forest! Depending on the time of year, this hike is a forager’s dream - fig trees, blackberry bushes and wild mushrooms can all be found amongst the undergrowth but always double check before nibbling away!
Lunch in Biot
Once in Biot, head to one of the many little 'cafés' for a well-deserved lunch - we recommend 'Gallerie des Arcades' that serves very traditional tasty Provençale food and where you'll be able to admire paintings from Fernand Leger and Picasso.
Visit La Verrerie de Biot
The village is famed for its glass production which started in 1956 when Eloi Monod created "La Verrerie de Biot". There are now eight different glass studios in Biot - many of them can be visited free of charge. At La Verrerie there is also an international glass gallery with major artists' work on show, so while in Biot it is worth stopping by for a bit of culture.
Al fresco Dinner at home and cosy TV night
S U N D A Y
A day in Menton
Only a short distance away from your August home, this spritely town is the perfect alternative town for relaxed kid-friendly beaches with plenty of aquatic sports to encourage a plunge into the Mediterranean.
Head to the beach...
Sablettes beach is quiet and sheltered and has a lovely view of the town of Menton and its beautifully painted houses. The shallow waters are perfect for youngsters, and the beach is large with packed-down sand. Wonder around the old town of Menton, and have lunch in one of the many small cafés.
Visit the gardens of Menton
The town of Menton is the last rail stop on the glamorous Côte d'Azur before you get to Italy. It’s temperate Mediterranean climate is perfect for producing citrus which is why it's coined the Lemon city. It is also home to the most exquisite gardens.
Here are just a few of many you can choose from:
Sample the taste of Italy before you leave
With Menton being very close to Italy, the taste of Italy is not to be missed. Enjoy dinner by the waterfront at "Leone" for coastal dishes or "La Trattoria" for tasty family size pasta portions before you head back to your August home to pack and pause this holiday until next time.
With August, holidays don't have to end, there are no holiday blues because holidays are endless with August. Your adventure is only just beginning and we can't wait for you to fall in love with your August homes every time you visit.
To find out more about how to own holiday homes with August, get in touch: info@augustcollection.co.uk
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August
Aldwych House, 71-91
London WC2B 4HN
United Kingdom
