THE FACTS ABOUT LES OLIVIERS

France Cote_d_Azur

There are times when you really can have the best of both worlds, and at Les Oliviers, you can mix food and culture in equal measure. This five double-bedroom villa is equidistant (about a 20-minute drive) from Cannes and Nice, the latter offering a jazz festival in July, Matisse and Chagal museums, the excellent MAMAC for modern and conceptual art and the Hotel Negresco for Negronis and rubbernecking. It is also within easy reach of one of the greatest galleries in France, the Fondation Maeght in St Paul-de-Vence, which shows work by artists such as Giacometti and Miró. The house comes with a chef (who also runs cookery courses) and a huge kitchen with two of everything, including ovens and dishwashers. Furnishings are bold and comfortable rather than antiques-precious, so you won't feel guilty sleeping off a cassoulet on the sofa. Most bedrooms have sea views, but the stars of the show are the swimming pool with separate Jacuzzi, and the dining area overlooking the panoramic Bay of Cannes. BEST FOR Culture and food PLUS POINT The speedboat for hire from £150 a day SLEEPS 10 COSTS £8,260-£11,270 per week CONTACT French Chapters (020 7722 0722; email: info@villa-rentals.com; www.villa-rentals.com)