Rent Villa Menerbes France

This is a unique opportunity to stay in an incredible historic house with a swimming pool in the village of Ménerbes, officially classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. On the edge of this perched village, next to a 12^th century church, Villa Menerbes enjoys a truly privileged setting. Gaze at the village church and Luberon landscapes from your swimming pool terrace and admire the views of the belltower from the floor-to-ceiling windows of one of the five bedrooms. This house has been in the same family over four generations across the last 50 years. It was originally a house in ruins but it has been slowly restored under the careful watch of a specialist architect, considering Ménerbes’ historic significance. The result is quite special – Villa Menerbes showcases many original features alongside touches of modern design and artistic décor. The traditional terraces outside are wonderful for relaxing with coffee and a good book or dining al-fresco on warm summer evenings on the south-facing terrace. Rustic steps lead through the olive trees to stone terraces for soaking up the sun with glorious Luberon vistas whilst the swimming pool is absolutely gorgeous – the scenery here is breathtaking. It’s just a 5-minute stroll to the other side of Ménerbes for its steep narrow lanes of restaurants, little shops and Thursday morning market. Soak up the village’s historic beauty and charm, the place that inspired Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’. Gaze out towards vineyards, orchards and forest – try some of the region’s AOC Luberon wine in nearby wineries. Other gems of the Luberon are within easy reach from Gordes and Goult to Rousillon and Bonnieux. Discover the landscapes by walking, cycling, hiking and horse-riding or just make the most of lovely markets and high-end restaurants as you drive from village to village. Then there’s the Sunday morning brocante in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, canoeing and kayaking near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, the summer melons of Cavaillon, the art galleries of St Rémy and the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage sites of Avignon, less than an hour away by car. As mentioned in…

Maison Interiors (250m2)

Main Floor

–    Entrance
–    Living area with doors opening out to south-facing terrace
–    Open-plan kitchen-diner
–    Bedroom with large single bed (120x190cm)
–    Shower room and WC

First Floor

–    Bedroom with queen-size double bed (160x200cm) and en suite bathroom with WC
–    Bedroom with queen-size double bed (160x200cm) and en suite shower room with WC
–    Bedroom with two single beds (90x190cm each), floor to ceiling window overlooking pool and church, and en suite shower room with WC
–    Children’s dorm-style bedroom sleeping four with en suite shower room
–    Separate WC

Outside Grounds (400m2)

–    Private swimming pool (4m x 8m) overlooking church
–    Poolside terrace with deckchairs, stone table and bench
–    South-facing terrace (30m2) with Luberon views
–    North-facing shaded terrace (35m2)
–    Garden and grounds (different levels, low walls and old steps)
–    Private parking (one car)

This village house enjoys an extraordinary location in a residential area next to a 14th century church at the eastern end of the picturesque village of Ménerbes, one of the prettiest villages in the Luberon made especially famous by Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’.

It feels like a privilege to stay in this special setting – as you cool off in your swimming pool you have vistas right over to the church and there are gorgeous views of the belltower from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the twin bedroom. Passing visitors will be envious! There is a car parking space at the house and otherwise you should usually be able to park in front in the church in a public space (bear in mind there are traffic restrictions through the village).

You can stroll to the other side of Ménerbes in around 5 minutes with its lovely cafes, high-end restaurants, galleries and little shops including a bakery and small grocery store. The cobbled lanes are sometimes steep and you can appreciate the most stunning views of surrounding vineyards, forests and orchards as you potter around (and from some restaurant terraces). The Thursday morning market is especially delightful and a great way to stock up on local produce.

This is a fine location for exploring further afield in the Luberon. Other iconic perched villages include Oppède le Vieux (8km), Roussillon (16km), Gordes (11km) and Bonnieux (11km) whilst the market town of Apt (20km) hosts an amazing market on a Saturday morning, the largest in the Luberon. Don’t miss out on other villages slightly off the usual tourist trail such as Goult, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt and Saignon, all within half an hour.

The Luberon is also famed for its wines and there are plenty of opportunities to sample AOC Luberon across the region’s vineyards and wine châteaux. Meanwhile, discover the glorious scenery by following hiking trails, walking paths and cycling routes or admire the landscapes on horseback.

Beyond the Luberon, suggestions for other wonderful days out include L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (19km) for antiques, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (45km) for art galleries, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (19km) for canoeing and kayaking as well as Avignon (42km) for wine-bars, restaurants, markets and its UNESCO World Heritage sites, Le Palais des Papes and Le Pont d’Avignon.