Print this pageDate Added: 22-09-2007
We dream of a house in the sun where the clear turquoise sea laps gently around our feet and the pure air is perfumed with wild herbs and lavender. Imagine strolling through vineyards and pine woods far from the concrete jungle of modern urban life.
Brenda from Petra Villas has been captivated by the Var region of Provence. Unlike the busy Riviera resorts the Var is a tranquil paradise for the discerning who enjoy the French culture. We have many beautiful properties to view, but to avoid disappointment my advice to potential purchasers is first visit the area to determine your preference, coastal or inland. Many clients ask for an old stone farmhouse in the countryside to renovate and end up buying a fairly new villa minutes from the beach. Once you have decided on a property to view, it is important to make the necessary arrangements to travel to France as soon possible, and to assist we are pleased to advise on hotel accommodation for you. Our excellent standard of customer service ensures that our clients often become good friends, asking us to look after their homes and also handle lettings for them.
The Var is popular with Parisians looking to own second homes due to the 4 hour TGV train journey from Paris to Toulon, and competition for property is fierce. The same applies to those seeking that "provincial stone house" for under £100,000. Recently, and while clients were planning to view, such a property has sold within 24 hrs.
For those seeking a property as a long term investment, and interested in letting during the holiday season, I would recommend the Toulon area. Refurbishment on a grand scale has been taking shape in the city, old buildings renovated, little squares with fountains, restaurants and bijous shops appear on every corner and additional palm trees have been planted. Toulon offers an excellent cultural infrastructure, such as the Opera House, Châteauvallon Dance & Theatre Centre and Zenith Concert Hall. Galleries and workshops portraying amazing sculptures and paintings are on show. An area not far from the Opera House display unusual sculptures and one can observe the artists at work, one in particular is Marc Gérin - Jean, at L'atelier du "SIAI" whose work includes wonderful 7 ft tall fairy-like creatures. The colours and produce of Provence are on display in the morning market on Cours Lafayette near the harbour offering an authentic part of Toulon's heritage, a meeting place for those who appreciate food and the Provencial way of life, and has become a favourite hunting place for the best local chefs.
From Toulon harbour ferries sail to Corsica, Italy and Algeria, while smaller boats offer a cruise to the "Golden Islands" of Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant Naturist Island, all known for their outstanding beauty. Bus boats around the bay are an alternative to road transport. Toulon now attracts the big cruise ships bringing in the tourist for a day of sight-seeing and shopping.
For the cycling enthusiasts a designated cycle lane goes from Toulon to St Tropez and on to St Raphaël.
Away from the activity of the harbour lies the charming little quarter of "Le Mourillon". Alongside the sandy beaches you will discover restaurants, playgrounds, water sports and all the pleasures of the Mediterranean.
Travel west along the coast and discover the little ports such as Sanary with its brightly-painted houses, Bandol famous for its wine and busy marina and Saint-Cyr bordered by pine woods. The surrounding hills shelter pretty little villages such as Le Castellet, Evenos and La Cadière d'Azur.
Toulon is the perfect base to explore Provence and the Côte d'Azur, making the purchase of a property in the surrounding area an extremely good investment. Villas, Guest Houses and B&B's may be assured of maximum bookings during the holiday season and beyond.
The Var region and surrounding areas are home to breathtaking scenery such as the Verdon Canyons, second only to the Grand Canyon, popular for walking, climbing, gliding, fishing, canoeing, cycling, bungee jumping and golfing. The area is also home to the first Organic Village in Europe.
Under an hour from Toulon one can experience the mediaeval villages of St-Maximin, St-Zacharie, Barjols with its 30 fountains and 12 stone washtubs, La St-Baume associated with Mary Magdalene and Cotignac's huge market, all full of history, antiquities and ancestral craft traditions. Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Cassis, St Tropez, Cannes, Nice, Monaco and the Italian border are all within 180 km radius of the City of Toulon.
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