Vence, France
Vence Holiday Rental Villas - Houses Vence
If you choose Vence for your villa holiday rental then you'll find yourself enjoying a slice of French Riviera life in one of the most sought after locations in the world. Set in the stunning department of Alpes-Maritimes in the region of Provence Cote D'Azur, Vence has a reputation as a town loved by artists, actors, writers and celebrities with Henri Matisse and Dufy perhaps being the most famous patrons (and more recently Richard and Judy!).
Set amongst hills of olive trees and citrus fruits, common and holm oaks, Aleppo pines, luxuriant gardens fragrant with rosemary and lavender and many beautiful restaurants, cafes and bistros; not only is it beautiful and glamorous but also you'll find a historical, pretty town full of flowers that still has a village atmosphere - a wonderful area to take a French holiday rental property.
The Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence (Chapel of the Rosary) often referred to as the Matisse Chapel (as he devised the plan for it) or the Vence Chapel is a world famous site well worth a look when you rent a self catering holiday villa in Vence, France. It's a small chapel built for Dominican nuns. It houses a number of Matisse originals and was regarded by Matisse himself as his "masterpiece." While the simple white exterior has drawn mixed reviews from casual observers, many regard it as one of the great religious structures of the 20th century.
Vence is also a big market town with markets every day, the two biggest ones being on Tuesday and Friday mornings. After market there are many cobbled alleyways and squares around the town for pottering with fantastic terrace cafes, bistros and restaurants for some relaxing and people watching! But Vence isn't all about relaxing and meandering, nestled in the hills, it's also the gateway to many walking trails.
Vence was formerly the ancient Roman settlement of Vintium, and subsequently became the bishopric and seigneury of the Villeneuve family. The town has conserved much of its historical heritage. From the Ligurian period you can admire the "Marseillais Columns", the remnants of a Roman triumphal arch. Later on, in the Middle Ages, a defensive wall was built around the town. Many fine remains of this rampart are still standing and can be crossed at the tower-gate of Signadour or the Levis portal (both dating back to the 13th century), the Peyra gate (15th century) or the Brèche gate (18th century).
Weather wise, Vence has an exceptionally mild “micro-climate” enjoying over 200 sunny days a year, mild temperatures throughout the year and well below average rainfall.
Travelling to your Vence holiday rental accommodation: The nearest airport is Nice airport which is 10kms from the centre of Vence. Nice airport welcomes low cost, charter and scheduled services from all over the UK. The TGV takes 6 hours from Paris and it's a thirteen hour car journey from London.