The town of Valbonne is one of the French Riviera’s hidden gems, the charm of Valbonne and it’s architecture is left over from the 16th Century. In contrast to the twisty little streets in the hundreds of other villages on the French Riviera and the rest of France, Valbonne village is laid out in neat, symmetrical rectangles planned by the Abbot of Lerins, based on the layout of Roman cities. At the epicenter of the village is the glorious 16th century Place des Arcades.

Valbonne is a fairly large town with a population of around 12,000 people and a large Anglophone community. A beautiful and lively village situated in a lovely valley and surrounded by open woodlands. Its peaceful surroundings and traditional French architecture have made Valbonne property much sought after.

The village itself has been pretty well maintained over the years. The central part of Valbonne has retained its 16th century character and during a leisurely promenade through the old town you can see how fondly it has been cared for for the residents. You’ll feel like you have stepped back in time with stone fronted houses, ornate doors and entrances, large steps up to the main doors and the many vines and flowers decorating the exteriors of the village houses.

In the centre of the village is the quintessential and beautiful 16th century square Place des Arcades. This central square is surrounded on all four sides by picturesque arcades, cafe terraces and little shops. There are little streets running off from every side of the square down the symmetrical lanes inviting you to amble a while and gaze at the beautiful village houses together with more restaurants and little boutiques before you amble back to the Place des Arcades for a well deserved aperitif.

The town is very active throughout the year with regular markets every Friday and an antiques/brocantes market on the 1st Sunday of every month. Many of the annual fetes are celebrated within the village accompanied by live music or parades and are great fun for all the family.

The village is in the commune of Valbonne Sophia Antipolis, which consists of the technology and business park of Sophia Antipolis. First developed in the early 70′s, Sophia Antipolis has evolved into a highly recognised international business community, with more than 1,000 companies employing in the region of 22,000 people giving rise to a varied and international society.

The French Riviera and villages such as Valbonne have long been a retreat for Parisians taking a weekend break from the hustle and bustle of city life, being just an hour and a half away by plane. This region has also been a firm favourite with the British for many years and the ever increasing flights into Nice airport have made a second home on the French Riviera more accessible for many UK residents. The laid back lifestyle, more than 300 days of sunshine per year, the varied lifestyle, an international cuisine and cafes of Valbonne are the perfect get-away.

The hot Mediterranean climate of the French Riviera means that you are almost guaranteed sun all year round. Summers are hot, with maximum temperatures hitting the high 20′s or quite often more. Even winters are mild and you could be sitting in the Place des Arcades in bright sunshine sipping a delightful glass of rose from a provencale vineyard in any of the winter months.

Locality is everything and only 25 minutes from Nice airport, 20 minutes from the beaches of Cannes and during the winter months you can be on the snow within 60 minutes, Valbonne offers the international resident everything. There are many privately gated domains or single properties within a wide range of prices to suite every budget. If you’re thinking of holidaying on the French Riviera, Valbonne is an excellent town to base yourself for the duration. There are many luxury villas to rent in Valbonne to suit every budget and every size of family.