Fodor's Expert Review Villa La Coste

Not only does this vast estate 23 km (14 miles) north of Aix-en-Provence have ultracontemporary, pristine-white guest villas—with touches of wood, concrete, marble, and glass for maximum luminosity—but it also has a luxurious spa and pool, a winery, and a sculpture garden with more than 30 installations by the likes of Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, and Andy Goldsworthy. There's also an on-site gallery, three restaurants (the gastronomic dining room is headed by three-star chef Hélène Darroze), a chapel, and other buildings designed by five of the world's top architects. Oh, and there's a helicopter pad, too, because that's how guests arrive. But you don't have to be a guest to wander the grounds, which are well worth a look.