Le Clos à l'Amandier

Live the Mediterranean Dream

One in a series of properties owned by an enterprising couple with deep roots in this storied French region, this breezy villa for rent in Provence reflects the couple’s stylish approach and talented hand at creating a welcoming home filled with panache and personality. An easy elegance reigns here, where bleached stones, a herb-filled garden, a deliciously lazy pool terrace and low-key yet luxurious furnishings come together as a destination that exudes the myth and magic of the South of France.

We love the easygoing elegance of this bleached stone villa in a fragrant pine grove in Provence. The home’s sweet poolscape is made up of a sun-dappled wooden deck lined with ergonomic chaises, backed by aromatic shrubs and grasses, and an outdoor living room on a stone terrace above the bright water. Wide windows and doors open into the home’s airy interior.

Four bedrooms with en-suite baths accommodate eight, in spaces easygoing and breezy, with simple white or earth-toned linens as decor, and bathrooms in natural stones and earthy tiles. Two bedrooms are set with king beds and one with two singles, and a spiral staircase under the eaves leads to the perfect perch for little ones—a bedroom with two single beds and large private bathroom with a walk-in shower. One bedroom benefits from a pebbled private terrace.

The home’s common areas are equipped for living the Provençal life—open to the outdoors for easygoing barefoot living and open plan within for casual living and dining and gathering. The contemporary kitchen is equipped with updated appliances and a farm table for indoor dining or post-market food prep. The space opens into a modern, clean-lined living and entertainment room, with wide glass doors that look onto flagstone dining terrace with its umbrella-shaded, alfresco mealtime setup and pool beyond.

AROUND

Located near L’Isle sur la Sorgue, Provence’s destination market village, this charming home feels intimate and remote, despite its easy access to nearby villages including Pernes-les-Fontaines, only a 20-minute walk through the pretty Mediterranean landscape or a few minutes’ drive away. 

Pernes-les-Fontaines is named for the 41 ancient fountains the village is home to, all open for visits via a walking tour that leads through the cobbled streets. The fountain footpath leads past 17th- and 18th-century residences, dungeon ruins, and fortified village entries. A bit further away, the weekly antiques and food and craft market in L'Isle sur la Sorgue has become a popular destination for shoppers who come to the canal-lined village to browse more than 300 stalls that fill the streets each Sunday. 

Mount Ventoux, the region’s trademark peak, makes for a great outdoors recreation destination, with hiking and mountain biking favored activities, and the greater Vaucluse region has a wealth of typical Provençal villages to explore, including Gordes, Ménerbes, Bonnieux and Lacoste.

Those seeking a more urban experience can visit Avignon, with its famous ancient bridge and Palace of the Popes.

LOCATION

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

BEST TIME TO VISIT: June to September