Archive for 'Museums & Galleries in France'

Lavender fields stretching out to the horizon, sun-kissed skin after days at salty beaches, perfectly ripened citrus fruits bursting with flavour – Provence is innately a region of delicious smells and, then, within the region we have the commune of Grasse, considered the perfume capital of the globe. For those who love delicious scents, from handmade soaps by local artisans to perfumes crafted by some of the top perfumers in the world, a visit to the town would certainly be one of the highlights of a vacation in Provence. So, browse our villas in Provence today and then pencil in a visit as you discover all of the wonderful aromas that are offered while exploring the region…

Art and design lovers will likely already have France down as one of the destinations that can best serve their interests. The unimaginable wealth of museums, design stores, vintage shops, galleries, and more across the country means that there will always be something incredible to see or even buy and bring home with you. And if you have a particular interest in pottery, you’re in luck as many different regions and towns of France have famous pottery traditions. Say, for example, if you were to book a villa in Brittany, then you could head to the captivating town of Quimper...

Giverny is a famously idyllic town that is today best-known as the location of Monet’s beautiful and immortalised home and gardens. In addition to this main attraction, the pretty town itself, the surrounding landscapes, and several other museums and destinations associated with various other Impressionist artists who came and worked in Giverny, make it a pretty magical place to spend a day. Many who find a vacation rental in Paris take a day train out to the town and return in the evening but also if you have found a holiday rental in Normandy, the region in which Giverny is located, it is well worth setting aside time to plan a day-trip to this impossibly picturesque corner of the world. 

A few years ago, while attending London Fashion Week, this writer was lucky enough to find enough time to go see the Dior retrospective at the V&A Museum. Having just missed its stint in the brand’s home town of Paris due to the impossible queues there, it was even more thrilling. The museum was open late to accommodate the even greater number of crowds drawn by the exhibition and I milled through line of excited people leading to the entrance. Inside, it was even more than I had imagined: a sprawling, wonderful, multicoloured, powerful tribute to this iconic heritage label that followed from its very origins to where it has come and what it has become today. Many were not quite so fortunate, however, and were not able to get the chance to see the exhibition in any of the cities around the globe in which it temporarily made its home. If you happen to be among this number and you were considering finding a vacation rental in Paris or a holiday rental in France and spending a day exploring the stunning capital, then you should know that you now have a chance to make up for it! This archive of incredible design and more now has a permanent home in the reopened flagship store at the brand’s historic address at 30 Avenue Montaigne. So, no matter when you plan a vacation in France moving forwards, you can come and admire the incredible history of the brand, perhaps do some shopping if that is in your budget, and indulge in some very chic and delicious treats at the new café in the building or go for a full Dior dining experience in the Dior restaurant - all under one roof!

While there is no shortage of incredible fairytale castles in and around France, if you have found a vacation rental in Aquitaine then there is one particular example that is well worth seeking out; a magical gem that is so pretty it made the famous Josephine Baker fall in love with it...

Looking like a dollhouse or a drawing from a storybook, the Château des Milandes was built in 1489 and is a masterpiece of domestic Renaissance architecture in France with exquisite Gothic features, plush interiors, picture-perfect gardens to be explored, and a range of activities to enjoy from bird shows to simulated archaeological digs for kids to sipping a coffee or enjoying lunch on the sunny patio behind the castle. For those who want to soak up the atmosphere and beauty of pre-Revolutionary French life for the impossibly wealthy and titled folk of the land, to temporarily be transported back in time, then this is a definite must-see while on vacation in Aquitaine!