Uncover The Côte d’Azur’s Inland Treasures

The glamour of warm sunshine, golden sand and glittering-blue water has beckoned well-heeled crowds to the Côte d’Azur for well over a century. But away from the celebrated shores of Cannes and St Tropez, there’s a quintessentially French side to the Riviera that not everyone gets to experience – or knows how to find. Just a short journey inland, in the foothills of the Loup region, you’ll uncover a tranquil authenticity and slower pace of life. This is the setting for a new kind of holiday home from August, curator of co-owned property collections in hand-picked European idylls.

Here, we delve into the lesser-know Riviera lifestyle August has been unlocking for homeowners of its Premium and Signature Collections, complemented by destinations in The French Alps, Mallorca, Tuscany and the Cotswolds.

Discover a quieter paradise

Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Perched on a verdant hillside with sweeping valley views sits the mediaeval village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup – known colloquially as ‘the village of violets’ for its bountiful purple blooms, scented springtime air and yearly Fête des Violettes festival. A tangle of narrow flower-lined streets, churches and townhouses, this place exudes old-world character. Yet it has somehow managed to escape the throngs of visitors that flock to nearby Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Long enamoured by artists, poets and songwriters, you’ll find shades of Tourettes-sur-Loup’s past in the dozens of workshops and galleries scattered through its winding streets and vaulted alleyways. It’s the enviable setting for one of August’s Premium Collection homes, and there’s much to love about this little Riviera town.

Dive into the lifestyle

Arriving in the tree-lined Place de la Libération at the heart of the village, you’re embraced by a slow energy that escapes the popular tourist haunts along the coast. Admire the 16th-century Église Saint-Grégoire, then follow your curiosity along the backstreets and through an ivy-cloaked archway to the Mairie de Tourrettes sur Loup – the village’s tucked-away townhall. Don’t miss the chance to pay a visit to the Bastide Aux Violettes, the museum dedicated to Tourrettes-sur-Loup’s floral heritage, or the 15th-century Château de Villeneuve and its charming square.

When you buy into the August Premium Collection, you’ll have the perfect base from which to spend your days hopping between the many independent studios and galleries peppering the town. Nights, of course, can be spent savouring heady French wines and local cuisine.

Grasse

A little further west, right on the border of the Parc naturel régional des Préalpes d’Azur, discover Grasse – the ‘perfume capital of the world’ and another August neighbourhood. This mediaeval town’s fragrant synonym is well-earned. It is home to a host of French parfumeries that scent the air and offer excellent day-trip potential. Wander its quaint cobblestone streets and fountained squares, framed with trees and flowers and take in the atmosphere of this small but vibrant city.

Immerse yourself in the Perfume Capital

Whilst here, you’ll want to visit the city’s 12th-century cathedral, the Notre Dame de Puy de Grasse, and, since this town is all about perfume, the International Perfume Museum and botanical gardens, too. Better still, craft your own signature fragrance at one of the many parfumeries dotted throughout town. The Fragonard Museum – home to a collection of paintings by the city’s Jean-Honoré Fragonard – offers a glimpse of Grasse’s artistic heritage. Or for an afternoon escape, take a drive up onto the mountain plateaus, where you’ll find fields abloom with roses, wild French lavender and jasmine during the warmer months.

August homeowners can enjoy everything this lively yet laid-back town has to offer with its Premium and Signature homes. From here, you have the ideal jumping-off point to explore the coast and other picture-perfect places like Roquefort-les-Pins, Le Rouret, Châteauneuf, Valbonne and many more.

Make the Riviera and beyond your new European getaway

Beyond the Côte d’Azur’s shimmering shoreline and undulating interior, August’s innovative co-ownership model is making it possible to buy into a European lifestyle that can be hard to access. With its Premium Collection of homes in the South of France, Cotswolds, Tuscany, Mallorca and the French Alps, homeowners can live like a local with the turn of a key.

Book a call with August to discover how you could co-own five Premium curated homes and live the authentic European dream.