La Villa Régina

“Bleu, blanc et rouge” go the colours of the French flag, and this is echoed in the very façade of La Villa Régina. The pale stone bleached white from the sun contrasts sharply with deep red brick inserts that frame the Tiffany-blue shuttered windows. Built in the 1860s, this extravagant manor has kept all of its elegance, in keeping with the other refined mansions lining the streets of the Ville d’Hiver, yet offers modern luxury and style inside.

Bleu… From the crystal blue outdoor pool to the deep azures of the nearby ocean, there’s a reason blue comes first. This seaside resort is designed in awe of the beautiful Arcachon Bay that curls round into an almost self-contained lagoon. The sand flats and calm waves create one huge paddling pool of clear Atlantic waters: perfect for all the family.

Blanc… In sunny Arcachon, white abounds. Inside the villa, it is all around from stark white pillars reaching up to period decorative moulding and airy high ceilings, to the pristine white of each studio’s newly renovated kitchenettes and bathrooms. Outside, take a boat trip into the bay and the incongruous Dune of Pilat will stun you with its mountain of white sand reaching up out of the forest like a wave.

Rouge… No visit to the Médoc region would be complete without a taste of the local red wines, with Château Lafitte, Château Margot, and Château Mouton-Rothschild being just a few of the world-famous wines that originate from this fertile region’s vines. With the hiking, kayaking and cycling available here, it’s easy to forget that Bordeaux is just one hour’s drive away, and a great choice for an afternoon’s wine tasting and museum perusing!

Arcachon wears its colours proudly, as it should; with its gorgeous beaches, forests, and architecture, combined with La Villa Régina’s elegant design, this truly is a destination the French can be proud of!