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Villa Case Study 1965
Frejus, Var, France
Villa Case Study 1965
Frejus, Var, France
Palm Springs in Provence
Palm-Springs-in-Provence best describes this mid-century modern gem in the sundrenched south of France. Stepping into the all-original 1960s modernist temple near the glamorous Mediterranean port cities of Saint Raphael, St Tropez and Cannes offers guests a delightful trip back in time, into a cool, clean-lined architect’s villa circa 1965—where California living and iconic mid-century modern design are celebrated, interior furnishings are originals, and harmonious renovations add the necessary 21st-century comforts.
Location, location, location… this mid-century modern villa for rent in France has it in spades! An architectural stunner from 1965, the home is set in a famed region along Provence’s Mediterranean coast, where the likes of Brigitte Bardot, Roger Vadim and Mick Jagger once romped. With a vintage Palm Springs vibe, the modernist villa gives off all the retro glamour that dominated the era in both iconic places.
Built in the late 1950s after the original owner’s inspiring trip to California’s glossy desert playground, the residence spreads out geometrically in classic modernist style under swaying Mediterranean palms, tilting pines, and gnarled olive trees. The scenic villa’s lean, angular lines, created by French architect Jean Reitz and restored by Geneva-based B29 Architects, reveal a single-level residence with a wide, flat roof—both architectural features unusual in France at the time.
Generous openings offer views onto the garden and glinting pool, and fill the home with natural light. Boxy patios and porticos stretch along big picture windows and glass sliders, and a covered outdoor dining area overlooks the garden. Classic mid-century details include a central stone hearth, original furnishings and fixtures from the 1950s and 1960s, as well as a wood-clad living room ceiling.
Bright and voluminous, the villa features three bedrooms, a kitchen and dining room with a view, a spirited vintage lounge area that opens outdoors to a dining area and pool deck. An additional two bedrooms can be booked inside the owner’s 1959 Airstream trailer, and bicycles are available upon request. The house is also available for photo shoots.
AROUND
Located on vast wooded grounds, this villa for rent in France is insulated by palm trees, cork oaks, olive groves and pine forest. It's set within an exclusive residential area, Tour de Mare, some 15 minutes from the beach at Saint Raphael, outside the picturesque ancient port of Fréjus on France’s colorful Côte d’Azur.
Fréjus features Roman ruins, a Gothic cathedral with painted cloisters, and one of the largest Gallic amphitheaters dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries, in addition to its famed chapel conceived by artist Jean Cocteau. A small beach is located at Fréjus’s city center, and the coastal town sits equidistant from its glitzier neighbors, Cannes and St. Tropez.
Golfers will find two nearby courses to play, and the villa is ideally situated in proximity to the Massif Esterel for hiking and mountain biking in the vast green parkland dotted with red rocks. Cannes, St Tropez and Nice are all easy trips by car in less than an hour, and the French Riviera’s smaller port towns are worth exploring as well.
LOCATION
Fréjus, France. Nearest airport: Cannes, Nice
BEST TIME TO VISIT: March to October
