Newly constructed in the architecturally renowned, protected domain of Cap Bénat in Provence, this villa is steps from a private beach and uniquely isolated among the pines and aromatic shrubs just meters from the vivid Mediterranean’s cliff-lined shores. Recently completed, the home was designed and built to respect the mid-century architectural origins of its prestigious, gated community, yet is decidedly 21st century, with focus on a minimal environmental footprint.

This newly constructed villa on the shores of the Mediterranean is set above the dramatic Pointe du Pinet in Cap Bénat, a protected architectural enclave developed in the 1960s that presents unspoiled, ultra-private estates steps from the sea. Cap Bénat was the creative project of architects André Lefèvre and Jean Aubert, and the coast remains unspoiled today, managed by a conservation group that prevents the development more typical of southern France. A gated community, it’s wild and woodsy, a domain where innovative, mid-century modern homes designed of local stone, concrete and wood are hidden within the thick maquis shrubs and windswept pines, all overlooking the Mediterranean coastline.

This seafront, architect-designed villa for rent in France was completed in 2021 and offers panoramic views out to the isle of Cros, and a footpath down to the sea within its combination landscaped and wild Mediterranean garden. An outdoor shower is hidden in an idyllic oak and pine stand. The home, with its stone base and lighter, wooden upper story was created to fit in with the existing modernist architecture of the neighborhood’s other homes. Built of local Bormes stone, concrete, and environmentally sound Accoya wood cladding, it’s tucked into the lot artfully and also features solar power and radiant floor heating. There’s a three-car garage (electric charger), mountain bikes and a windsurf board on site, and expansive terraces open in every direction.

Three double bedrooms each feature private baths outfitted with sleek contemporary concrete interiors. An open-plan living area, gourmet kitchen, and living room with a mid-century modern inspired custom-built library fill the first floor, that also features wide terraces and a pergola outside its big, windowed doors. Floor-to-ceiling panes define the raw landscape outside and bring nature indoors. The home’s interior is spacious and light-filled, with flagstone floors, flat wooden ceilings, creative built-ins and pivoting walls of windows that give it a modernist feel. Furnishings and fixtures are designer quality, some created by the home’s architect and others by well-known artists.

AROUND

This villa for rent in France offers lovers of fine architecture and unspoiled nature a unique opportunity to find both of these along an unspoiled stretch of the Mediterranean. Cap Bénat spreads for some 160 hectares and offers absolute calm in one of the most beautiful capes and preserved greenbelts of the French Riviera. The gated area is home to only about 100 exclusive properties, and has three private beaches, a small port, sailing and tennis facilities, and its own small grocery. Ferries to neighboring Mediterranean isles are frequent. The site of Cap Bénat has been protected for over 50 years, and is located near the beautiful medieval village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, its tile rooftops covering a gentle hill in the southeastern French region of the Var.

The village is one of the area’s most charming, dotted with pastel-toned residences and bougainvillea draped stone passageways. Named for the fragrant mimosa flowers that bloom here nearly year-round, Bormes-les-Mimosas and Cap Bénat are a quick drive from Grasse, Provence’s perfume capital, and the picturesque resort village of Sainte Maxime. Restaurants, cafes, and lively boutiques are also abundant in the town of Le Lavandou, about a 15-minute drive away, and more lively, urban areas nearby include St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Marseille.

LOCATION

Cap Bénat, Côte d'Azur, France. Nearest airports: Toulon (30 mins), Marseille (1.5 hours).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: March to May, and September to November