Prepare to be wowed by this extraordinary villa in the Esterel National Park on the French Riviera. Constructed in 1904 for Lord Amherst, it retains an air of aristocracy, as seen with the grand staircase, antique furnishings and the chandeliers in almost every single room. On sunny days, what could be more civilised than afternoon tea out in the courtyard complete with loggia running around and a fountain in the middle? However, you'll probably be happy to hear that some additions have been made in the hundred or so years since. The huge heated swimming pool is one such example, as is the gym, cinema room and billiards table inside. Lots of people have been so charmed by the address that they've held weddings or large parties here, and you can do the same if you so wish. Alternatively, you can arrange art classes, wine-tasting or sporting events through the host, or see more of the area with a chauffeur or private yacht. There's no shortage of places to visit around here. The medieval village of Fréjus with its Roman amphitheatre is only five minutes' drive away, as is the seaside town of St. Raphael. There are plenty of walking routes and scenic points to discover in the surrounding countryside, but Cannes is only forty minutes away in the car if you prefer to idle about aimlessly.

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Additional fees

• Your host can help arrange a variety of extra services during your stay, including massages and beauty treatments, wine tastings, cookery lessons, laundry and dry cleaning, fridge fills, restaurant reservations, private chefs, airport transfers, chauffeurs and yacht charter with skipper and crew

• If you’re travelling with children, your host can organise babysitting services – alternatively, a live-in nanny can be arranged at a cost of £475-£670 per week

• There may be some extra fees to pay here, such as charges for utilities, final cleaning fees, city tax and security deposits – all of which you may need to pay in cash to the homeowner. Please reach out during the booking process to confirm.

Additional fees subject to a 3.5% handling charge.