An old, two-story stone farmhouse in idyllic Provence that has been updated over the last two years, this sturdy structure was created to be kid friendly and joyful. Bedrooms are named for school courses, so find your sweet dreams in History, Science, or Geography. 

Yet rest assured that when it comes to meals, you’re free of the dreaded cafeteria, enjoying cuisine created in a spacious, modern kitchen with farm-table dining, both indoors and out.

This recently renovated, 19th-century Provençal farmhouse was created for the holidays but keeps the school year tradition alive via its subject-themed bedrooms and kid-friendly amenity focus. Recess will come easily in the huge garden, with its pool, sweet gurgling fountain, fragrant landscaping, pétanque court for all ages, and outdoor dining and entertainment area equipped with a grill and shaded seating for a dozen. The home’s owners live next door and created this space to be a vacation getaway where parents and kids alike can play and unwind with ease.

Each of the five bedrooms in this villa for rent in France is unique in size and styling. Sports fans will love the bedroom of the same name, designed with kids in mind. It’s laid out like a small camp dormitory, with twin beds and a crib, plus a fun, protected mezzanine overhead. A bathroom with a tub is across the hall. 

The history bedroom will draw those with more age and experience. It’s laid with a double bed and wardrobe, lined with wainscotting and decorated sophisticatedly with gilded frames and antique furnishings, plus offers an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower. 

Science lovers will gravitate downstairs to the home’s largest bedroom with an en-suite bath. It features a queen bed and garden access. Or, find your way to the Geography suite, a double bedroom and bath combination with unique original windows and view to the garden. Finally, the French room is cozy and cool, with panoramic Mediterranean wallpaper on one wall and an adjacent bath with shower.

The home’s communal kitchen and living area is open plan and fully equipped, with a central island and views out to the garden. The room’s hearth is huge, vestiges of its farmhouse kitchen origins, and vintage chic décor along with games and books give the place an easygoing, well lived-in feeling. The garden is ultra-spacious, with an enclosed pool, wide expanses of lawn, a pétanque court and fountain plus the shaded outdoor dining and grilling area.

AROUND

Located near St. Rémy de Provence, this villa for rent in France offers all the pleasures of Provence, with the privacy provided by the generous garden. Daytrips to the Pont du Gard, Arena de Nimes, the Senanque Abbey with its lavender fields, the ancient village of Arles, or the Palace of the Popes are favorites, each within an hour’s drive from the home. 

Nature lovers and those seeking outdoor recreation will find hiking, boating, swimming, plus spelunking nearby, as well as the wildlife abundant Camargue marshlands along the coast and the Alpilles Natural Park with its rugged, scrub-covered outcroppings further inland. 

Nearby iconic villages include St. Rémy de Provence, with its medieval atmosphere and artisanal shops in the narrow, winding streets. The village is a quick 15 minutes from the home and also offers all necessary services such as shops, cafes, restaurants, and pharmacies. Les Baux de Provence is less than a half hour’s drive and was voted one of France’s prettiest villages. Historic Avignon and charming Gordes are easy visits, too, and the buzzing metropolis of Marseille is just over an hour’s drive away.

LOCATION

Chateaurenard, Proche St. Rémy de Provence, France. Nearest airport: Avignon (15 minutes).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to October.