Villa d'Arnaud

The peacefulness at Villa d’Arnaud is hard to beat. Breakfast overlooking the valley and mountains was stunning, and the place was clean, beautifully decorated, and had good beds. The Nespresso coffee was a nice bonus. Getting here means taking 800m of unpaved road, but that's a very small price for finding this hidden paradise. We had a fantastic stay and highly recommend it.

I stayed in a two-person studio with a sea view during a winter holiday. The sweeping views were breathtaking, with the Maures mountains stretching out as far as you can see and the sea on the horizon. Nid du Duc is perched at the top of the Val d’Arnaud, in the heart of the mountains, since the Maures are the mountains with the Alps plunging into the sea. It's an incredibly peaceful and rare spot, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The welcome was courteous, and we appreciated having a baguette delivered on the first morning. The service was good, hotel-quality: bedding, towels, bathrobes, toiletries and basic supplies for meals. The decor was nice, with inexpensive but comfortable furniture. Special mention for the shower area and its beautiful Italian fixtures. We didn't use the lovely pool or pleasant terrace in that season, but gas barbecues and sun loungers were available. Wifi averaged 3Mb/s, and there was a 4G/LTE antenna in Grimaud, though the signal was weak. There were some drawbacks. The road to Nid du Duc is unpaved and badly potholed in places. It was surprising on the first arrival and even worse in the rain. Without a 4x4 or crossover, access could be a problem, and I don't expect the road to improve over the years. There wasn't much storage for belongings in the studio, with too few shelves and wardrobes. Above the cooktop there was no range hood, light or backsplash, and the oven was in a really inconvenient spot. The septic tank is poorly placed under the terrace and sometimes gives off unpleasant odors. An infinity pool would have looked better on this steep terrain. I recommend the place for its comfort and magical atmosphere, but only for a short stay because of the isolation, difficult access and lack of storage.

The quiet here really stood out, and everyone was so welcoming and friendly. I was genuinely happy to be there, with a beautiful view all around. Leaving was the only downside. Thanks, Ewoud and Morgaine, I can't wait to come back!

We've had such wonderful years at Villa d'Arnaud. It's a lovely mix of beauty, peace, and warmth. Warmest wishes to you, Kerstin and Jörg.