Beyond Valbonne: Two Riviera Villages That Could Change Your Life

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-16

### Same Countryside, Same Riviera, But Very Different Ways of Living There's a little triangle on the Riviera that I find absolutely fascinating. Valbonne sits in the middle, and then, almost as if someone couldn't decide which direction to take, you have Opio on one side and Roquefort-les-Pins on the other. They're close neighbors, but they are not interchangeable. I've already talked about Valbonne — its village, its restaurants, its market, and that irresistible ability to make you think you might quite happily spend the rest of your life wandering around looking for somewhere to have lunch. So I won't repeat it all here. Instead, let's go a little further. Because once you leave Valbonne behind, the landscape opens up and the choices become rather interesting. Do you go towards Opio? Or do you head towards Roquefort-les-Pins? And, perhaps more importantly, what sort of life are you actually looking for? ### Opio: A Little More Provençal Opio has always struck me as somewhere that doesn't try too hard. And I mean that as a compliment. There are olive groves, country roads, gardens, and villas hidden among the greenery. The landscape feels more rural, but you're still remarkably close to everything that makes this part of the Riviera so convenient. There's also a lovely sense of history here. The olive-growing tradition is still very much part of Opio's identity, and the historic Moulin d'Opio is a reminder that this was agricultural country long before we started talking about property prices and international buyers. Then there's the golf course, tucked into the surrounding countryside. You don't have to be a golfer to appreciate it. In fact, you don't even have to understand golf. I certainly wouldn't let that stand between me and a good lunch. What you do get is an extraordinary amount of greenery and a feeling of space. And that is one of Opio's attractions for buyers. You can have a substantial villa, a garden, a pool, and privacy, while still being close enough to Valbonne for dinner and Sophia Antipolis for work. It feels rural. But not remote. And that distinction matters. ### Roquefort-les-Pins: More Space, More Trees, More Everyday Life Head in the other direction and Roquefort-les-Pins feels different again. It's greener and more residential, with large areas of pine woodland and villas spread across a much wider area. There's less of the traditional Provençal village postcard. Instead, you get something that can be extremely appealing if you're actually planning to live here. - Space. - Gardens. - Pools. - Quiet residential roads. - Local shops. - Schools. - Sports. - A cinema. - Markets. - And a community that exists all year rather than appearing magically in June and disappearing again in September. For families in particular, this can be a very comfortable place to live. You can have the sort of house where children have somewhere to run around, friends can come over, and nobody has to sit on top of one another. Which, having spent enough time with families, I would consider a fairly important luxury. One example is this authentic Provençal bastide in Roquefort-les-Pins, represented by Carlton International. It captures the appeal of looking beyond the coast for a home with character and a more countryside feel. 🏡 Discover the property: Authentic Provençal Bastide ### So Why Choose One Over the Other? This is where it gets interesting. It really comes down to what you want from your daily life. If you're looking for a more traditional Provençal feel, with olive groves and a sense of history, Opio might be your place. If you need more space, modern conveniences, and a year-round community, Roquefort-les-Pins could be the answer. As someone who has spent years helping people find their perfect home on the Riviera, I always say: visit both. Spend a day in each. Have lunch in the village square. Talk to the locals. You'll know pretty quickly which one feels like home. After all, it's not just about the house. It's about the life you'll build there.