La Dolce Vita, a villa rental in the South of France

Sweet Retreat in a Classic Village in the South of France

Generous enough for up to 12 guests to spread out, and ideal for eight to 10, this unusual village house invites you slow down and recharge under arching vaults and classic old stones. Revisited by architect Jean-Marc Mouchet, the property is teeming with classic Southern French charms, inside and out.

Comprised of several buildings, including one 16th-century structure, the house is a standout for its vaults and arches, spiraling stone staircase, fireplace and other unique features. It features a gallery-like art collection of paintings by Benjamin Freudenthal representing the Mille Miglia, a famous automobile race that took place from 1927 to 1957 between Brescia and Rome.

Terraces, patios, covered lounges and a pool are perfect spaces for unwinding, protected behind riad-like walls yet at the heart of a lively village, and the property’s interior décor melds ancient stones with color-infused modern furnishings and play spaces for babyfoot/foosball.

Being at the heart of a village means everything is nearby. Walk to dinner at a local restaurant. Drink a cup of coffee at the market bar. Enjoy an organic breakfast at Envie. Or, do your twice-weekly shopping on the market square only 50 meters away. This proximity contributes to La Dolce Vita.

Layout

Ground floor: Common areas, a vast kitchen with an island and access to the outdoor dining space, a double living room with a modern fireplace, a dining area and a lounge zone/TV room

First floor (2nd story): Four king bedroom suites

Second floor: Children’s dormitory with three single beds

The Loft: Game space with a foosball table and kitchenette with access to the pool, mezzanine with double bed/bath, ideal for young guest

Independent studio poolside: Double bed and bath, pool access

Outdoors: A dining area with a plancha, a shaded lounge area, a 5.24m x 2.4m swimming pool, and an outdoor living room.

Additional features

The home has many stairs and is not suitable for children under six. There are four refrigerators across the property, including one with an icemaker. There is a garage for two vehicles and a single parking space on site.

Around

Set in the traditional potter’s village of Saint Quentin la Poterie five minutes from the scenic town of Uzès, in the southern French region of the Gard, this property is easy walking distance to three bakeries, restaurants and cafes, a butcher, organic market, bar and market square with its twice weekly market. Because of its history as a village of potters/ceramicists, it also has dozens of creative studios, offering pottery classes. It hosts the annual European Terralha ceramics festival, and is home to the Maison de la Terra, with its Museum of Mediterranean Pottery.

The colorful town, its buildings pastel-tinted and some tiled, is located about five minutes' drive northeast of Uzès, set in an ideal environment for hikers and cyclists. The Chemin des Capitelles takes off north of the village, and there are multiple paths for hikers and mountain bikers that lead through the rugged scrubland, known as the Garrigue, that defines the local area. Guides and maps of the area are available in most of the region's pretty villages. Hikers can join canyoneering enthusiasts, canoeists and kayakers in the Gardon gorges nearby, and lower-key gastro-tourists will want to visit the Panery Estate, the region’s largest olive oil manufacturer.

Sightseers should not miss the nearby town of Lussan, designated one of France’s most beautiful villages, a cobbled town of flower-lined streets with a trio of fortress chateaux and an interesting silk production heritage. The Cévennes, Ardèche and Mont Ventoux mountains stretch upwards from the region’s rocky hills, offering loads of outdoor recreation opportunities.

Uzès presents its own distinct charms, with historical buildings, sidewalk cafes, and beautiful crafts shops and galleries.