Les Rosees

Intimate elegance at this peaceful, romantic retreat in the Mougins hills above super-cool Cannes

A gravel path leads up through four terraces, past rambling roses, honeysuckle and the pool to the shade of a tamarind tree, where lines of lavender direct you to the front door; at night candles illuminate the path. This 400-year-old mas is a magnificent house, both inside and out, endlessly beautiful yet very homely, a place to escape the coastal crowds and luxuriate in blissful tranquility.

Silks draped over elegant sofas, a candelabra on a grand piano signed by Liza Minnelli (who stays for the Cannes Film festival), lime-washed walls, and an open fire in one room with a pane of glass in the bathroom so you can watch the flames flicker while you soak. The 4 suites are stunning and impeccably thought out: beamed and warm in colour, with huge baths, sublimely comfortable beds, fine Ralph Lauren linen and Bose sound systems. Breakfast, a feast, is taken wherever you want: in your room, on the terrace, in the dining room. Mougins has fine restaurants and a food market; art galleries, perfume factories and golf are nearby. Perfect.

Highs

• The 30-something owners, Kilpérick and his Canadian wife Jenny, who look after you with great charm; he's fluent in English, a font of local knowledge and pulls out all the stops to make your stay as special as possible
• Gorgeous rooms, a real sense of space and comfort
• Spectacular level of craftsmanship in the house
• Come in summer and you can stay in a prettily refurbished gypsy caravan parked in the grounds
• Delightful, slightly wild and wonderfully scented gardens, a great spot to top up the tan
• Good selection of restaurants in nearby Mougins

Lows

• The house is overlooked by a couple of houses across the road
• You’re on a country lane, the odd car or tractor passes by
• Airport transfers can be arranged but we recommend you rent a car - Mougins' historic centre and eateries are a 25-minute uphill walk (or a 5-minute hop in the car)
• Traffic in the Cote d’Azur can be crazy in summer
• No TV or phone in the rooms but you do have Wifi internet, mobile reception and a CD player