Select A Region
To truly experience the magic of the "City of Lights," rent a luxury apartment in one of Paris' unique neighborhoods, or arrondissements, and enjoy la vraie vie française, or the real French life. Provence West, Ltd. proudly offers vacation rental properties in the most sought-after districts of Paris...the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, 16th and 18th arrondissements.
The first arrondissement is home to the celebrated Louvre museum, the glorious Palais Royal, with its beautiful gardens, and some of the most famous galleries, shopping districts and restaurants in all of Paris. Our selection of luxury apartment rentals in Paris' first arrondissement includes several apartments overlooking the gardens of the Palais Royal, and one newly renovated and refurbished luxury loft apartment near the famous Forum des Halles and the French stock exchange, or "Bourse de Commerce."
With its easy access to the Palais Royal, Louvre and stock exchange, as well as the trendy rue Montorgueil street market and the designer studios and pret-a-porter clothing boutiques, the second arrondissement is rapidly becoming one of Paris' "hippest" districts, where apartments are more spacious and values definitiely more advantageous.
Le Marais, in the fourth arrondissement, is home to many fashionable and prosperous Parisians, and is a neighborhood prized by frequent travelers to Paris, as well as by travelers "in the know" who appreciate Le Marais' convenient location within walking distance to many of Paris' most popular business and tourist centers, including Ile de la Cité, dominated by Notre Dame cathedral.
The fifth arrondissement is recognized as the site of the Sorbonne and the beginning of the Latin Quarter, as well as the former home of some of Paris' most famous writers, including Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce. The rue Mouffetard street market is one of the city's liveliest, and restaurants of every ethnicity can be found along the cobblestone streets winding through this ecclectic and incredibly charming district.
Paris' St. Germaine-des-Prés district, adjacent to the Sorbonne, the Latin Quartier, the Luxembourg Gardens, and once the center of Paris' café society, spans the sixth and seventh arrondissements, on the left bank of the famous Seine river, which bisects the heart of Paris. Visitors to Paris will find incredible shopping, dining and "people-watching" opportunities throughout the typical Parisian neighborhoods of the sixth and seventh arrondissements; the seventh arrondissement is also home to the famous Musée d'Orsay, with its fabulous collection of Impressionist art, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower, which dominates the skyline of this incomparable Paris arrondissement. Provence West., Ltd.'s apartments in the sought after sixth and seventh arrondissements are characterized by luxurious amenities and appointments, as well as charming authentic furnishings and decorative accents.
Just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower lies Paris' 16th arrondissement, favored by Parisians and tourists alike. Each of our apartments in the 16th arrondissment are located in the heart of a true Paris neighborhood, separated from the hustle and bustle of central Paris, and yet easily accessible to the heart of the city by metro. Provence West, Ltd.'s apartments in the 16th arrondissement offer great comfort, modern amenities, and fabulous location.
Montmartre, in Paris' 18th arrondissement, with its artists' lofts, galleries, funky boutiques and ethnic restaurants, is the heart of bohemian Paris...overlooked by the incredible Sacre Coeur basilica, which attracts Christian believers and architecture buffs alike with its soaring domes and unobstructed views of the Parisian skyline. Provence West, Ltd. offers several apartments, ranging from spacious studios to airy three bedroom units, in the Paris neighborhood made famous by the "Moulin Rouge".
No matter where you stay in Paris, you are bound to find the neighborhood to be full of character, convenient for touring the "sites" of the City of Lights, and the perfect "home away from home" for your experiencing this incomparable destination.
Ah, Provence...home to world-famous wineries, rolling olive oil plantations, Roman ruins, lavender fields, and landscapes which inspired many of the famous Impressionist artworks which now grace the halls of the world's most renowned museums and private collections...the setting for Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence...one of the most truly magical locations on earth.
Provence West, Ltd. proudly offers an incredible selection of vacation villas, farmhouses, apartments, village houses and country homes in many of the most sought-after locations in Provence.
Our portfolio includes luxurious villas with private pools and views overlooking the region's vineyards...charming mas, farmhouses nestled betweeen dramatic hills and growing crops, apartments and village houses in the heart of Provence's quaint towns and authentic villages, and country homes surrounded by vineyards and olive plantations. Every villa, farmhouse, apartment, village house and country home we represent offers clients of Provence West, Ltd. the opportunity to experience "la vraie vie française"--the real French life--even if only for a week or two!
Select one of our incredible Provence vacation rentals in the Bouches-du-Rhone region, home to Arles and its incredible Roman amphitheatre, the lovely town of St. Remy-de-Provence and its galleries, restaurants and shops, and the magical Les Baux commune, with its medieval fortress and its famous wineries and olive oil plantations, choose a luxurious villa with views of the Alpilles mountains, a farmhouse set in an almond orchard or surrounded by wild rosemary hedges, an apartment in an ancient bastide at the heart of an olive plantation, or a village home just steps from a lively café and boulangerie.
Or choose an extraordinary vacation rental in the Vaucluse, the heart of Peter Mayle's Provence, with its perched villages, world-renowned vineyards, and the fortified town of Avignon, all overlooked by the incomparable le Mont Ventoux. Provence West offers a vast selection of luxurious villas on private estates, charming farmhouses located in the valleys which are home to famous wine domaines, apartments and townhouses in the heart of Provence's most celebrated villages or on vast agricultural estates, and country homes with views across vineyards and lavendar fields overlooked by the region's highest mountain, le Mont Ventoux, where riders in the Tour de France face their greatest challenges.
And then there's the Languedoc/Gard region...the first Duchy of France... located just across the Rhône river from the Vaucluse and the Bouches du Rhône. Home to the famous Pont du Gard, the amazing medieval village of Uzés, and one of the most extraordinary truffle festivals in Provence, this region has a unique character that is simply not to be missed!
Although synonymous with one of the world's most recognized varietals, Burgundy is famous for so much more than "just" wine! With its rolling hills, ancient chateaux and medieval cathedrals, charming villages and distinctive architecture, art museums and incredible restaurants, the Burgundy region is a popular destination not only for wine lovers, but also for cycling enthusiasts, history buffs, art aficionados and gourmets.
Dijon, the ancient capital of the duchy of Bourgogne, is home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, one of France's finest museums, excellent antiques shops and a wonderful market, Les Halles Centrales, and a major university, as well as the spicy mustard which bears the city's name. Beaune, in the heart of the Côte d'Or wine region, is a beautifully preserved medieval trading and market town, where roofs are graced by brightly colored and intricately patterned tiles so characteristic of Burgundian architectural style.
And then, of course, there are the routes des vins, which meander through the wine country, linking one renowned appellation (and their picturesque vineyards, historic domains and welcoming tasting rooms) to another, luring amateur wine hobbyists and true oenophiles to this beautiful and justifiably famous center of the wine-making world.
From kings to courtesans, châteaux to cathedrals, martyrs to Médicis, and literature to lore, the Loire Valley evokes images of fairy-tale castles, Renaissance art, world-class vineyards and wine estates and endless bike trails, all linked by the beautiful river which meanders through the French "heartland" and gives the valley its name.
The region is rich in history: Diane de Poitiers, the mistress, and Catherine de Médici, the queen, competed over the attentions of Henri II (as well as ownership of our favorite château in the region, at Chenonceaux), Joan of Arc, the "Maid of Orléans," followed her vision from God and liberated the region's capital from the English, Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked just outside Amboise until his death (according to legend, in the arms of King François I) in 1519, and the author of Sleeping Beauty supposedly found his inspiration for the childrens' favorite from the Château d'Ussé.
With its vast array of museums, antiques shops and boutiques, outdoor activities ranging from cycling to hot-air ballooning to golf and horse-back riding, limitless wine-tasting opportunities and gourmet restaurants, it is no wonder why a visit to the Loire Valley appeals to travelers of every age and interest.
Normandy...in the early 21st century, this now idyllic region brings to mind images of verdant pastures, quaint seaports, museums, monuments and martyrs of bygone years, cattle, camembert and Calvados, tapestries, timbers, and water lilies. After all, this is the region where Joan of Arc was buried, where medieval seamstresses painstakingly stitched the intricate Bayeux tapestries, and where Claude Monet painted the landscapes which made him famous.
A few miles away lies the incredible Mont St. Michel, that rocky fortress built in honor of Michael, the Archangel, and protected by the ebb and flow of the mighty Atlantic Ocean. And yet, throughout history, Normandy has been the gateway to Europe; with its broad beaches stretching towards the shores of Great Britain, which in 1066 was seen as the ultimate enemy, and yet in the 20th century and its era of world wars was, with the United States and other allies, joined to create the ultimate liberation force. Normandy has, arguably, been the site of more horrific battles and incredible heroism than perhaps any other border region in France. Whether you choose to visit Normandy to commemorate your ancestors who valiantly fought for their country on the now-tranquil beaches, or to sample the gourmet pleasures of the indescribably creamy cheeses or heart-stoppingly potent apple-based liqueurs, or simply to take in the beautiful history, culture and architecture which characterize this part of France, we know you will take home memories and images which will last a lifetime.
Located just to the west of the better-known Provençal departements of the Bouches du Rhône and Vaucluse, the Languedoc-Roussillon region, which includes the historic walled city of Carcassonne, the ancient Roman settlement of Nîmes, Montpellier, with its famous medical and language schools, and the seaside port city of Toulouse, is characterized by its proximity to Spain, its unique dialect (the langue d'oc) and its prolific wine production.
This varied region is also home to some of the most authentic and thoroughly charming villages in southwest France, including the incredible market town of Uzès, the rugged marshland of the Camargue (France's "cowboy country", and home to, of all things, wild flamingoes and miniature Arabian horses), and beautiful stretches of sandy beaches which offer a more rustic yet no less hedonistic alternative to the coastal resorts of the more famous (and infinitely more expensive) vacation spots along the Côte d'Azur.
With its endless roads winding among vineyards and villages perfect for cycling, hiking or picnicing, ancient amphitheatres, medieval fortresses, museums, galleries, cathedrals and an abundance of really superlative restaurants, the Languedoc is a wonderful vacation destination for first-time French visitors and seasoned Francophiles alike.
The Alsace-Lorraine departement of France, comprising approximately 5,500 square miles of area adjacent to the German border, is, justifiably in our opinion, France's most schizophrenic region...during the past several centuries, residents have changed their citizenship from French to German and back again, more times than we can keep up with, with a brief period of independence from both countries as the Republic of Alsace after World War I.
In the 21st century, Alsace-Lorraine remains French by citizenship, but retains the cultural and historic characteristics of both countries. The architecture, cuisine and language is decidedly Franco-Germanic...buildings feature timbered accents, menus at traditional restaurants are likely to feature traditional French offerings (including the eponymous quiche Lorraine) paired with Gewürztraminer wines, and even the most classically-trained French linguists will have difficulty understanding banter among the locals at the neighborhood bistro/win-bar.
History buffs will find this region to be filled with monuments, museums and battlefields...gourmets will swoon over the specialties du region, including foie gras, choucroute formidable, and tarte aux pommes, and wine lovers will tour, taste and buy the region's most famous vintages as they follow the famed Route des Vins which runs along the Vosges foothills, between the major cities of Strasbourg in the north to Colmar in the south, with more than 60 charming and historic wine villages in between.
Alsace-Lorraine is a perfect destination for traveling in any season...in the spring and summer, hikers and cyclists will find the climate perfect for walking, riding or enjoying a picnic along the Route des Vins...in the fall, wine enthusiasts will revel n in the many village celebrations of the vendange, or wine harvest.,,and in winter, shoppers will find unique treasures at the seasonal Christmas fairs held throughout the region.
We invite you to experience this very European, yet still quintessentially French, region...we know you'll understand why it has been fought over for centuries!
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