Stéphane Durand
7 luxury homes: our selection of rental agencies in France
Renting in France, that's Plume's choice. Ailleurs chez soi or chez soi ailleurs: you don't have to travel halfway around the world to feel out of place. With a catalog teeming with nuggets, many agencies offer to rent exceptional properties from the Landes to Provence, Corsica, Chamonix and Normandy. Proof of this is our exclusive selection of top-of-the-range, atypical properties, where every detail has been thought through with appropriate service, just like in a luxury hotel.
Weeks off: Iconic by nature
Following the successful launch two years ago of Iconic House, the first collection of French hotel houses, brothers Thibaud Elzière and Robin Michel decided this year to create a guide listing the 52 most beautiful vacation homes for rent in France and on the Isle of Beauty. Among them are the four Iconic House properties, with a fifth due to open this summer in Cap Ferret. The ultra-ergonomic Weeks Off site is based on a curation of exceptional locations, while offering a weekly newsletter featuring the latest favorites.
The choice of pen: La Miette, in Saint-Paul de Vence
"He says no with his head, but he says yes with his heart..." If this poem by Jacques Prévert was part of your childhood, treat yourself to a little piece of heritage by staying for a few nights in this charming Provençal house. You're sure to find inspiration here, as the famous poet spent some time here during his lifetime. Completely restored, this house promises rich moments of conviviality in a small group, as it has only two bedrooms. It's the ideal place to recharge your batteries in the heart of this picturesque village, between the Alps and the Mediterranean.
From €2,500 to €3,500 per week
Homanie: At your service
What if the true definition of a vacation was doing nothing? That's what Marie Treppoz and Sophie Desmazières, two entrepreneurs with a passion for real estate, understood when they founded Homanie in 2021. Help in preparing your stay, personalized welcome by the host and in-home chef: nothing is too good to test and approve of the farniente concept. If you wish, Homanie can also take care of your shopping before you arrive, so that your fridge is full on D-day. In other words: paradise!
Plume's choice: an architect-designed villa in Hossegor
The Landes region of France takes on a Californian accent with this 600m2 long villa. Located near Hossegor, on the edge of the Seignosse golf course, it can accommodate 14 guests in 7 bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. Surrounded by greenery, the heated infinity pool sits majestically on the immense 400m2 wooden terrace.
From €18,750 per week
Take to the skies with Cimalpes
Cimalpes has been selecting the finest properties in the French Alps since 2003. With a portfolio of almost 800 properties, there's plenty to choose from. From Val d'Isère to Chamonix, via Alpe d'Huez and Megève, the professionals working alongside Cimalpes have unrivalled knowledge of each of the 17 destinations, since every member of the agencies lives and works in this idyllic setting: green half the year and snow-covered when the cold comes. Whether you prefer the mountains in winter or summer, there's no time like the present to enjoy a breath of fresh air.
The feather choice: Chalet Hevea, Chamonix
Located in the hamlet of Argentière, 1km from the Grands Montets ski area, this large, uncluttered 200m2 chalet in the heart of nature has 5 bedrooms and can accommodate up to 12 people. The décor is linear and comfortable, with no frills. The little extra? A sauna and a large, totally open, central fireplace, enthroned in the middle of a living room with large bay windows overlooking an immense garden at the end of which nature reclaims its rights, on a hillside sheltering a coniferous forest.
Originally a summer resort when it was founded in the 18th century, situated between the Aiguilles Rouges and Mont Blanc nature reserves, the resort, considered the world capital of mountaineering and skiing in winter, is still as popular as ever in spring and summer.
From €4,270 per week
The Collectionist: a guarantee of trust
The company, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, can pride itself on having been one of the first in France to offer exceptional properties for rent. A meticulous selection of the finest homes around the world, making the site one of the benchmarks for luxury rentals. Le Collectionist's aim is to help its customers discover the cultural heritage of each of their residences, and each destination offers an experience in its own right: from discovering oyster farming in Cap Ferret to an introduction to beekeeping in the Alpilles. Who said vacations were synonymous with rest?
Plume's pick: Villa Impératrice, Deauville
Wooden panels and checkerboard brickwork make up the architecture of this exceptional villa in the purest tradition of Norman style. With six bedrooms and a total surface area of 450m2, this charming (but contemporary) residence boasts an outdoor swimming pool for a relaxing spring break.
From €10,050 to €12,940 per week
The Oasis House: homes for bonding
Camille Personnat and Guillaume Prigent decided to combine their skills to create The Oasis House. With a background in the luxury and hotel industries, on the one hand, and in real estate, on the other, this unusual duo offers companies and individuals alike the chance to rent fully renovated country houses less than two hours from Paris. Their aim? To make our dreams come true: to work in the shade of an oak tree, to brainstorm while listening to the birds sing... In a word: to unwind!
Plume's pick: La Source, in Chalo Saint Mars
Located in the Essonne region, 1H30 south of Paris, La Source is a grand affair, with 28 beds in 15 rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. The simple, uncluttered decor focuses on the natural surroundings. And what better way to make the most of this green setting than to indulge in a session of singing bowls, or a chakra-refocusing yoga class? We promise, you'll be saying Namaste to us once your stay is over.
From 2145€ per night
The Thinking Traveller: Corsican paradise
It was during a trip to Sicily, at the foot of Mount Stromboli, that Rosella and Huw Beaugié had the idea of offering unusual properties for rent throughout the Mediterranean basin. The Thinking Traveller was born in 2002, and boasts some of the finest addresses in Puglia, Greece and Sicily. And where there's the Mediterranean, there's the Isle of Beauty: nearly 19 villas with swimming pools are available throughout Corsica, between scrubland and mountains....but never too far from the sea.
Plume's pick: La Casa di Macine, in Sari-Solenzara
Located halfway between Porto-Vecchio and Aleria, the commune of Sari Solenzara stretches along Corsica's eastern coastline. Perched on a hill, ten minutes from the beach, this villa can accommodate ten people and boasts a charming feature: a huge infinity pool overlooking the maquis. The living room, bathed in light, becomes a refuge in which contemplation becomes the primary activity, as the surrounding landscape is so conducive to relaxation.
From 5940€ per week
Domaines de Chabran: if Provence were told to me
Provençal at heart, architects Alain and Liliana Meylan left the canton of Geneva to live a dream life in the sun. For more than twenty years, they have been building the Chabran estates, renovating impressive old homes to transform them into peaceful havens of meticulous interior design. The couple, who love above all to show their adopted region to their guests, now offer four top-of-the-range houses, spread between Baux-de-Provence and the Alpilles.
Plume's pick: Mas Estillo, Paradou
The song of the cicadas and the scent of rosemary are the only neighbors of this imposing house perched high above Paradou, a small village in the Alpilles region. The huge terrace becomes a life-size playroom where you can enjoy breakfast and the last glimmers of sunshine. With room for 8 guests, the house offers an unparalleled décor, in which one designer piece follows another, although the most beautiful works of art are to be found in the surrounding natural landscape, which can be enjoyed from the infinity pool.
From €16,000 per week and €5,000 per weekend.
