Valbonne, France
Self Catering Valbonne Villas and Houses - Valbonne Apartments
Valbonne is a pretty little village near Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of south-eastern France. Valbonne means 'the good valley'. The village is situated in a basin, halfway along the Brague river. The Park Departmental de la Brague, provides excellent hiking trails when you rent a self-catering holiday home in Valbonne, France. The trails down by the River Brague are enjoyable in summer as they remain cool and shaded at all times.
The architectural plan of the village of Valbonne differs from that of many other villages located in the South of France which typically spiral around a hill. Valbonne is laid out along a grid pattern; as seen in the Hollywood movie French Kiss – starring Kevin Kline and Meg Ryan! Originally, the grid consisted of ten streets crossing ten streets but the village has progressively expanded around the centre. The construction took over a century, and the village remained untouched until the middle of the 20th century. Although the population of the town of Valbonne has greatly increased in recent years, the village itself has remained intact, retaining its 16th century charm.
The famous Romanesque abbey-church was built in the 13th century by Benedictine monks of the Order of Chalais. It is a perfect example of Chalaisien architecture, which is very similar to primitive Cistercian architecture - and a must see when staying in a Valbonne holiday rental villa or house. The clock tower was added in the 19th century. The religious architecture is supplemented by several chapels and oratories, both in the village and surrounding countryside.
The monastic buildings have been well preserved. Their restoration, begun in 1970, is ongoing. They house the Heritage Museum 'Le Vieux Valbonne' which houses numerous everyday objects representing the rural life of the village. Exhibitions and presentations bring to life the history of the village and monastic order of Chalais.
Nearby Biot is famous for its pottery and glass-blowing, something that has been done in Biot for hundreds of years. The walled town itself is full of quaint streets and interesting nooks.
Travelling to your self-catering Valbonne holiday property is easy. By car from the A8 exit for Antibes (junction 44) go inland (away from the Carrefour Hypermarket) and follow signs as appropriate. The nearest airport is Nice International. Low cost, scheduled and charter flights from all over the UK fly into this airport throughout the year.
Valbonne enjoys a Mediterranean climate. The summer season lasts from May to October, although April and November often experience temperatures above 20 °C (68 °F). Winters are mild, with average temperatures of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) during the day and 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) at night in the period from December to February.