Luxury riads for sale Le Lavandou, France

A Moorish villa with 19th century Oriental-style furnishings and 7,000 m² of grounds surrounded by vineyards, 30 minutes from Toulon and 20 minutes from the Hyères beaches. Leaving the hilltop village of Pierrefeu-du-Var, with its breathtaking panoramic views, a main road meanders between a stream and vine-covered valleys. The villa is hidden behind a particularly dense curtain of greenery. Once past the wrought iron gate, an unpaved track leads to the property, lined with dense clumps of bamboo forming a thick protective canopy. This vista extends to the parking area, which is large enough to accommodate three vehicles, including one space under a pergola. The arches of the facade and the square shape of the main section catch the eye, with its dome in the style of a koubba, a typical North African mausoleum consisting of a cubic section topped by a spherical or ogival dome. Built in 1894 by Swiss architect Paul Page in the style of a Moorish villa, the house reveals the oriental dream world sought by its former inhabitant, architect and decorator Frédéric Méchiche. It is extended by a large, shaded terrace. From here, a garden opens out, with a pool in the shape of a basin in the foreground and a gazebo at the back. The ensemble is completed by an annexe converted into guest accommodation. The roughcast lime facades and plaster interior walls are finished in a luminous white. The period roof tiles, semi-circular and glazed in water-green, echo the colour of the pond, creating a harmonious contrast with the softer green of the abundant surrounding foliage.