After Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence shone a light on the laidback South of France lifestyle in the early 90s, it became almost impossible to find a simple, totally authentic French village that wasn’t already swarming with holidaymakers to visit. But we’ll let you into a secret. Saint Hilaire-d’Ozilhan is just that. And this traditional, honey-coloured home surrounded by gently swaying trees is the perfect retreat for your French countryside escape. Inside you’ll find a simple but elegantly furnished space, with white walls, exposed wooden beams and sparse but comfortable grey furniture. There’s both a table football and a pool table in the living rooms, plus a neat kitchen with striking chocolate marble countertops. The garden is spectacular, with a pool and jacuzzi, plus gorgeous views of the valley down below. The village is a short walk from your front door, and you'll find a smattering of shops, restaurants, and a very pretty church. Avignon, with its famous pont (that’s bridge, just in case you don’t know the song) is only a twenty-minute ride away, and Peter Mayle territory (aka the hill-top towns of the Luberon) is about an hour’s drive.