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Villa Brune
Lascours, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Villa Brune
Lascours, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
A Gleaming Mediterranean Villa
Spare and sleek with punches of saturated color, this modern villa stands on a classic Provençal hillside near the secluded calanques of Cassis and the aristocratic alleys of Aix. In a nod to the vivid contemporary architecture more typical of Cycladic villas, this vibrant residence offers guests a 21st-century Provence, a Mediterranean getaway of geometric proportions with all the classic trimmings.
Not Pagnol’s proverbial Provence or the village stoop of Grandmère, this whitewashed villa for rent in France offers a new take on the traditional Côte d’Azur area getaway. A bright, architectural residence, the latest development on a family estate, the home was four years in the making and bears the name of two generations of daughters.
The two-story stunner is all new construction, occupying a timeless terraced lot glinting with gnarled olives and aromatic shrubs, the pebbled pétanque pitch a natural addition to the classic, southern French landscape. Featuring generous sun decks, sleek, glass-fronted balconies, an ample upper-level patio lounge and a lean lap pool, the villa is ideal for soaking up the Mediterranean sun in resort style, pastis in hand.
Inside, pops of lemon, navy, sage and sunset merge with generous whitewashed, rectilinear volumes. Cool glass barriers on the stairway and landings keep the home’s designer elements transparent, details such as the one-of-a-kind, vivid yellow steel staircase or the panoramic view from the upper terrace. Bedrooms feature smooth wood built-ins, and the open-concept living and dining room also includes a modular kitchen and access to the pool via wide, sliding glass doors.
AROUND
While this villa for rent in France is decidedly modern, it’s situated in the very region that Marcel Pagnol made famous in his books and lyrical film adaptations. Situated east of vibrant Marseilles (approximately 30 minutes’ drive), between the communities of Aubagne and Auriol, the village of Lascours is tiny and much loved by fans of Pagnol. But the real draw to the area is its landscape. The home is located in the hamlet of Lascours, outside of Roquevaire, at the foot of the craggy Garlaban plateau. A wooded, inland region, the area is wild with shrubs, twisting olives, scrub oaks and Mediterranean garrigue, or the spiny dwarf plants and prickly, arid shrubs characteristic of the region.
Rock climbers will find excellent sport climbing routes up the crags nearby, and hikers will delight in the well-marked trails leading into the peaks above the Huveaune Valley. The Grand Vallon circuit offers views of the Cap Canaille headland, the Baume Source trail offers panoramic vistas to the sea, and a long loop trail leaves from Lascours and climbs up to the summit of le Garlaban.
Using the villa as a base, make sure to explore the nearby towns. Start with Roquevaire, which offers visitors a classic South of France landscape. A river runs through the small community, and the bridges arching over it add to the town’s sleepy local charm. The village’s Saint Vincent chapel is reputedly Provence’s oldest. Then visit Aubagne, home of ceramicists and santon makers; La Ciotat, with its dockyards and gritty, seafaring history; Cassis, its pretty port bobbing with sleek sailboats and its intimate waterfront lined with cafes; sunny, well-heeled Aix-en-Provence with its boutique-lined, flowering, fountain-filled squares; and, of course, the vibrant urban capital of Marseille, abuzz, alive and ultra hip.
LOCATION
Lascours, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. Nearest airport: Marseille
BEST TIME TO VISIT: May to November
