Le Belvédère de Venasque

A Privileged Perch in Provence

A contemporary stone tower designed to fit in with the Romanesque town it overlooks, this modern retreat offers a commanding view across the rugged landscape. Bathed in light, it is sizeable and sleek, with large glass panes opening onto a pool terrace and landscaped lot, and views across the neighboring Gorges de la Nesque. 

Décor in this villa for rent in Provence is gleaming, architectural and modern, with saturated pops of color, floating staircases, and designer furniture in unique lines joined by ample glass, chrome and steel accents.

A commanding tower home overlooking the rugged landscape of Provence, this modern, blonde stone perch occupies multiple levels, with sweeping views of the dramatic river gorge, the Gorges de la Nesque, and the nearby Roman village of Venasque. It’s one in a series of homes owned and operated by natives of the region, who have created a uniquely contemporary home in a decidedly rugged corner of Provence, a place where land, sky and Mediterranean sun are easily celebrated, and modern architecture and design meld with medieval surroundings.

Designed to blend into its environment, which is dominated by rocky sandstone outcroppings and picturesque hilltop villages, this villa for rent in Provence holds four king-sized bedrooms with adjacent baths, a vast Mediterranean garden, and a spacious terrace and swimming pool. The tower features windows and sliding glass doors on all sides, and is a light-filled, all-new construction. The three ground-floor bedrooms open onto the garden and a fourth upstairs bedroom frames the dramatic river gorge in its windows. 

Bedrooms and bathrooms are furnished with contemporary art and vivid graphic décor. A contemporary kitchen offers a bar-counter workspace with cool stools, and opens out to a shaded alfresco dining area and a glass-enclosed pool deck and view terrace perched above the tree canopy. Bridge-like walkways and stairs create intimate patios, and lounge areas overlook the landscape on all sides of the sturdy tower.

AROUND

A medieval village classified as one of France’s most beautiful, Venasque clings to a cliff in a mountainous region of Provence. The village’s steep lanes wend to a scenic overlook, l’Esplanade, an elevated promenade that soars over the landscape with views for miles. 

This pocket of Provence is known for its vineyards, cherry orchards, and aromatic garrigues, or low-lying, rocky valleys filled with aromatic shrubs. The village of Venasque is a brisk 15-minute walk from Le Belvédère (or a quick drive), and the town’s steep alleyways, ancient church and baptistry, and sturdy fortified tower gates have been celebrated in books, magazines, and travel guides as a must-visit, off-the-beaten-path location. Cafes, restaurants, limited shops, and a weekly market are available. 

A wealth of typical Provençal villages are located an easy drive away. Not to be missed are Pernes-les-Fontaines, with its dozens of fountains, L’Isle sur la Sorgue’s canals and market stalls, and Gordes, Ménerbes, Bonnieux and Lacoste for their charmed hilltop locations, tiled rooftops and lavender-filled landscapes. 

Outdoor recreation in the area includes hiking, cycling, mountain biking, and foraging in the Monts de Vaucluse parklands, and city-seekers will appreciate that Avignon and Carpentras offer most of the goods and services—gastronomy, nightlife, museums and monuments—found in larger cities.

LOCATION

Venasque, Provence, France. Nearest airport: Avignon

BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to September