The ideal setup for a crowd seeking the pleasures of a private retreat in Provence with plenty of common spaces for gathering, this collection of pavilions has an exclusive eco-spa feeling to it. Covering a vast domain anchored by a pool and shared pool house, plus an independent living room and kitchen pavilion for festive communal entertaining, this hotel-like property has three two-bedroom cabanas and plenty of sun-dappled outdoor gathering spaces for a vacation that offers the best of both worlds—plenty of socializing and loads of privacy.

This collection of contemporary cabanas in a wild Mediterranean garden is perfect for a group of friends who love to travel together but still welcome some intimate downtime.

Here, nature is never far away, and this villa for rent in Provence is set up with multiple places to gather as group. Chairs and coffee tables surround the pool in clusters, the pool house’s barbecue zone is ideal for entertaining, and the open-air pavilion feels like a private tropical café with its ochre walls, large wooden vases, rattan sectionals, tiki-like bar, and big communal table. Shaded pergolas with simple seating dot the lawn throughout the property, and vine-clad awnings feature dining tables and casual seating areas in the shade. All the pavilions are insulated by greenery and meandering pathways for a lush, eco-resort feeling.

Each of the complex’s six bedrooms comes with a private bathroom and separate WC, and four of the bedrooms are king-sized, with two rooms featuring super-king beds. Each bedroom benefits from its own private terrace space, and all are simply yet elegantly decorated. The home’s communal kitchen and living room pavilion is cool and contemporary, a sleek, window-lined space with plenty of room to stretch out and read, cook, or watch TV. The kitchen has modern, stainless-steel amenities and plenty of space for meal prep, and the pavilion’s dining tables offer a second alfresco dining area to enjoy right outside the kitchen door, the perfect set up for families with dual mealtimes for the adults and kids.

An outdoor shower is available poolside as are lean lounge chairs and parasols. The lot is vast and surprisingly lush, with lawns, manicured shrubs, and plenty of shade trees and flowering plants.

AROUND

Set walking distance from the picturesque hilltop village of Pernes-les-Fontaines, so named for its 41 ancient fountains, this villa for rent in Provence offers a manicured Mediterranean getaway in a coveted corner of the region. Pernes-les-Fontaines features a dedicated fountain-discovery footpath that also takes walkers through the village’s steep, narrow streets, home to postcard-pretty 17th- and 18th-century residences, the ruins of a Chateau dungeon, a fortified, 15th-century gateway, and the village’s original clock tower and covered market.

Nearby, the village of L’Isle sur la Sorgue has gained notoriety for its colorful Sunday antiques and open-air food and crafts market. Each week, the town overflows with treasure hunters who browse the approximately 300 market stalls along the town’s canal-backed streets. Other experiences include Provence’s favorite hilltop towns Gordes, Ménerbes, Bonnieux and Lacoste, the rugged peaks of the Vaucluse region including Mount Ventoux, and plenty of outdoor recreation activities. 

This is the South of France, so no visit would be complete without taking in the many culinary tasting and touring options and sipping the region’s mineraly rosés and other wines. For a more urban experience, Avignon offers historical sites such as its famous bridge and papal palace, museums, restaurants, cafes, and nightlife.

LOCATION

Pernes-les-Fontaines, Provence, France. Nearest airport: Avignon

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to September