Vence - Beautiful Home built into the Ramparts of Medieval Village

Our second stay in this beautiful home in Vence and again more than lived up to our expectations. The house itself is generous with its space, plenty of room for our three teenagers to each find their own space when they wanted to be alone. The kitchen has everything you need to cook full meals with a state of the art induction cooker which heated up in a matter of seconds. The roof terrace is lovely and perfect for watching the sun go down with a glass of wine. Location is also excellent, step out from your front door to a picturesque cobbled street within the old city. You have a choice of boulangeries to pick up your morning croissants within a few minutes walk. Also plenty of restaurants although some are quite expensive which made us grateful for the well equipped kitchen. Vence itself gives the experience of living in a small traditional town in the south of France but with the bright lights of the Cote d'Azur easily accessible for day trips, even without a car. Thank you Maggie and John for a wonderful holiday!

Discovering this gem in Vence was such a win! This villa is in the absolute heart of the old village…winding cobblestone streets with flowers and decorative doors. The shops are a mere feet away but the location allows for peace and quiet. The windows were open to the fresh French Riviera air and the only sounds were the birds and an occasional scooter. Getting to the garage was a little tricky but super convenient once you’ve done it a couple of times. All of the bedrooms has its own bathroom and they are HUGE! This villa can accommodate so many comfortably. The rooftop terrace was a dream. Our host Maggie responded within minutes if I needed anything so I felt so cared for. This home does have multiple levels so prepare yourself for stairs! The house has lots of steps but Vence itself is pretty flat for an old town. Very few staircases just romantic alleyways. Their new stovetop is also a bit tricky but once I figured it out it was wonderful. I loved every minute in Vence and if you’ve dreamed of a quiet medieval village to feel like you’ve stepped back in time this is your chance!

How wonderful to be in a house built into the ramparts of this medieval walled city with winding cobblestone streets, plazas, parks, and restaurants, Musee de Vence, Chapelle de Matisse, and a cathedral with a Chagall mosaic. Accommodations included large en-suite bedrooms with excellent views of the hills. Be sure to enjoy the roof terrace! We also made day trips to St Paul de Vence and Antibes. Don’t miss dinner at Auberge in Vence, just a couple of minutes walk from the house.

Great homebase away from the big city within reach of several wonderful villages either by car, bus and/or train. Easy access to Nice Airport. Most of all wonderful and delightful property manager “Milan” who is friendly and very helpful. Thanks.

Lovely place with ample space. Maggie and Edna were very helpful. Great views from the terrace.

This is the second time time we have visited this particular property, the last being four years ago. The location cannot be faulted with the views and the roof terrace, HOWEVER, there is much that needs to be done for this property that would bring it up to a satisfactory standard as detailed below and appears to have suffered due to lockdown. The kitchen - there is no need for two fridges, the large green one could be removed altogether as it severely limits the accessibility to the cooking area and the cupboards, the kitchen is poorly laid out and designed and needs to be rethought. The array of cooking utensils namely pots and pans needs to be reassessed with saucepans being a requirement as opposed to large pots etc. The kettle is too small for the numbers that could be using the dining area. It would be helpful if old supplies of vinegars, sauces, jams etc could be removed as there is no indication of how long they have been there. The sliding cupboard doors need to be repaired as they do not open very easily. The kitchen was supposed to have been cleaned thoroughly prior to our arrival but we had to clean shelves as they were covered with sticky material. The height of the extractor is far to low at eye level, and the lights did not work. Crockery and cutlery appear to have come from a jumble sale with miss matched items, there was no continuity to this as it would be nice to sit down to dinner with matching items, I realise items get broken from time to time but spare capacity should be built in. The garage door is in need of repairing as the ease of opening is restricted and needs several attempts by two or more people. While there are plenty of bathrooms and toilets their layout is far from ideal, wet rooms with fixed shower facilities would be of more use along with shower heads affixed to the wall. Toilet positions causes tall people to bang their heads. The need for spa baths that large is totally over the top. Bedding, namely sheets and pillowcases are coming to the end of their useful lives, continental quilts need to be supplied with a proper cover, the colour of the sheets have gone from being white to pale yellow, towels as well appear to be all colours and sizes and need to be replaced. Safety is of concern as well as the height of the hand rails needs to be adjusted which is comfortable for everybody. I realise the property is old but the electrical installation needs to be looked at with defective switches.

This was our first visit to Vence and we were pleasantly surprised by the town and area. We stayed in Maggie's beautiful house which is finished and decorated to a very high standard. The bedrooms are spacious and furnished with style and flare. At the top of the house there is a terrace with a wonderful view of the village. The night scenes of terraced houses on the hill opposite were truly lovely to behold when the village lights were turned on. The first evening we witnessed a beautiful harvest moon which was stunning. The informatio n provided about the area and local restaurants was very helpful and accurate. The family thoroughly enjoyed the visit. John and Anne

Perfect location, perfect views, perfect amount of space in the home! Very clean. Great artwork around the house! Anything that you may need is within walking distance! it was wonderful to have fresh bread and croissants every morning! Great communication with Maggie (the homeowner). The property manager was there to greet us upon our arrival. A perk was having a garage as we did rent a car to visit Italy for a day as well as other cities. You will not be disappointed if you choose this place! So much history in the area - an amazing trip!

Perfect means that everything you expect has been done satisfactorily. But Maggie’s place in Vence so far exceeds expectations as to be virtually one of a kind. The home, actually built into the medieval wall of the village, combines historical significance, artistic elegance, and great charm with every modern convenience. The town of Vence too is utterly enchanting and the entire experience was magical. And Maggie’s on-site representative was all that one might ask. The one caveat is that the home is built on three floors so climbing stairs is a must – but though I am somewhat disabled this was a price well worth paying since the place itself is so exceptional. WE RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY AND WITHOUT RESERVATION.

Wir hatten zu fünft (2 Erwachsene und 3 Kinder) eine wunderbare Zeit in dem schönen Haus. Das Haus liegt ruhig und doch nach wenigen Schritten mitten im Leben, die Geschäfte des täglichen Bedarfs und der Markt sind fußläufig gut zu erreichen, ebenso Restaurants und Bistros. Der Blick auf die Berge ist unvergleichlich. Man sollte im Auge behalten, dass es sich um ein sehr altes Haus handelt, das von der Innenausstattung her vor einiger Zeit generalüberholt wurde, jedoch einen gewissen charmanten Charakter hat. Für sehr kleine Kinder ist es aufgrund der Treppen eher schwierig. Für uns war es perfekt, da jeder seinen Rückzugsort finden konnte wenn gewünscht, gleichzeitig gab es genügend Platz im großen Wohn-Esszimmer oder auf der schönen Dachterrasse. Erwähnenswert sind die schönen Gemälde, die jedes Zimmer schmücken, und die Wandgestaltung. Die Strände in der näheren Umgebung waren mit dem Auto gut innerhalb 20-30 Minuten zu erreichen, genau wie zwei große Einkaufszentren. Der Kontakt zur Vermieterin war immer prompt und sehr freundlich und zuvorkommend, ebenso die Betreuung vor Ort; wir haben uns gut aufgehoben gefühlt. We had a wonderful time in this beautiful house. The environment is calm but within a few steps, you can reach grocery stores, the market and nice restaurants. The view on the mountains is unique. You should keep in mind that it is a very old house that has been completely overhauled recently but it has a very charming special character. It might be difficult for very small children because of the stairs. It was perfect for us (2 adults and 3 children) because each of us could retreat in his own room if required, or we had enough space to get together in the vast living room or on the beautiful rooftop terrace. I should mention the beautiful paintings the rooms are decorated with. Within 20-30 minutes, you can reach the beaches as well as 2 big shopping malls. The communication with the landlady was always prompt and very friendly and obliging. The support on our arrival and during our stay was perfect; we were in the best keeping.

Great comms. Accurate description. Nicely decorated. Generously proportioned, easily could be made to sleep more but owner has instead gone for a whole experience. Loved our stay. Thanks Maggie!

Had a wonderful stay in Vence over Easter. Maggies house is ideally located in the centre of the town so we were able to walk out in the evenings and enjoy the town. Also enjoyed some early evening drinks on the terrace with wonderful views of the mountains and distant views of the sea. House was well equipped with all we needed and had plenty of character and space.

HAd a wonderful holiday in Vence. Our accommodation was in a great location and was a really comfortable stay - highly recommend

Folks were very responsive. Everything's within walking distance.

My daughter and I scored BIG when we found Maggie's house on VRBO. We stayed two weeks in this lovely gracious home. We felt very spoiled. The house itself warrants a review all of its own! The spacious rooms, the big windows with views in every direction, nice and cool even in mid August. Seriously best street in town. And it seemed everything in the house was set up just make your stay easy and classy. I loved this house! But the town of Vence has its own category. So much to do, so easy to get around and everyone so friendly. We walked through the plazas daily and after a couple of times the shopowners were saying Bonjour! The food choices were stellar. We cooked at home a number of times after a stroll through town with a basket on your arm to visit to the butcher, the cheese dealer and a few wine shops. Not only that but there was a farmer's market most mornings with fabulous treats. And on busy days when we did not want to cook, we just stopped at our favorite café(s) in the town center. Could not get tired of this lifestyle. Vence itself is so close to everything. We did day trips to Nice, Monaco, Eze, Antibes, etc. all so close with their own charms. We swam in the sea every day and sometimes in the Vence pool (luck us). We had pastis in the evenings with the locals and met the dawn with croissants from just down the stairs and around the corner. My daughter and I felt very safe, very spoiled and very happy. It was a fabulous vacation. We dream of the day we will come back to Vence.

This is a beautiful house on the prettiest street in Vence. It is literally built into the old walls. The terrace on the top floor has a great view of the surrounding mountains and always had a cool breeze. The town of old Vence has numerous restaurants which made walking for dinner very convenient. The house was well equipped and a great spot from which to explore everything the south of France has to offer. A charming vacation spot!

We loved Maggie's house in Vence. A real home from home- two minutes walk from the delightful old town, yet in a very secluded and quiet spot. The bedrooms are big and comfortable and those at the back have a stunning view of the hills at the back of Vence. As does the roof terrace which is breathtaking. It is equipped with everything you need and has the huge benefit of a large garage in the basement. Booking the house was a smooth and efficient process. Maggie went our of her way to make it all work and our RV with Milan to collect the keys went without a hitch. Vence itself is a very attractive and interesting town without being overwhelmed by tourism. It's a great base for walking in the hills or driving around that part of the coast. Perfect for us, as it would be for many other visitors.

Friends we were traveling with had been to Vence before and wanted to visit it again before going on to Sardinia and Corsica. We were delighted to be on the prettiest little street in the old town yet had our own easily accessible garage beneath the house itself. During the week we visited several of the neighbouring towns and villages and a couple of trips along the coast but looked forward to getting back to Vence and the house. Bedrooms were all very large with en suites, stayed cool and were quiet. Did some cooking in the small kitchen area on the few nights we ate in or rather on the rooftop terrace which overlooked the valley and hills. Maggie and John were very helpful as was their “man on the Spot” – Milan. Our time here was the highlight of this trip!

Lovely quirky house in a beautiful setting. Lots of space for everyone. Wonderful terrace where we spent a lot of time eating food from the market just round the corner, drinking excellent wine and watching the sun go down ( and some mornings watching the sun come up) looking across the hills to the far distance. Vence is a beautiful town where you can spend a lot of time just enjoying the old buildings and the peace - the only big decision every day was the choice of coffee stop. Plenty of things to enjoy in Vence but with the bonus of lots of beautiful villages nearby and easy access to the sea. A great holiday choice.

We spent a fantastic week in Maggie's townhouse. It really is in the prettiest street in Vence in our view (and also very quiet), the location couldn't be better for stepping out into the old town, which is completely charming. It genuinely is a picture-postcard location; we bought some postcards to send home and were able to circle the house on the views of Vence and say 'we're staying here'! At the same time you have the convenience of a huge garage, which is easily big enough to drive in with our roof box attached, and which is located in the basement of the house in effect so gives direct access to the hall room. We spent most of our time in the house on the lovely roof terrace; it really is a work of art and has a fantastic view. Every bedroom has a bathroom, and the kitchen has everything we needed. Thanks Maggie for your help and advice, I very much hope we can stay again when we are visiting the area.

This house is in an excellent location in historic Vence. The accommodation is superb with very spacious bedrooms, all ensuite (and all immaculate) The views from the rooftop terrace are second to none and worth going up all the stairs for (which we did at least 3 or 4 times every day!) The front door opens onto a beautiful street literally minutes away from cafes and restaurants, which was one of the main selling points for us. No having to drive home after dinner! Vence is very relaxed and we really enjoyed the laid back vibe on our holiday. Maggie and John were very friendly and easy to deal with and did their utmost to provide us with all the information we would need. We would definitely return to Vence, and to this property in particular.

We stayed in the historic town of Vence for a week. The house was perfectly situated in the old part of the town, within the 14th century city walls, nestled nicely on a picturesque street. Bedrooms are of ample size, each with it's own bathroom. Kitchen and sitting rooms (with dining area) are on the ground floor. There is a lovely deck at the top of the house with beautiful views of the surrounding hills. The rear facing bedrooms also have beautiful views of the hills. The town itself is oozing character, with town squares, a wide array of bistro's, markets etc. The local town council keep Vence very clean making it an idyllic vacation spot. It is also perfectly situated for visits to Nice (20 mins by car), Cannes and Monaco. One day we even went for pizza, in Italy. The Italian border is only approx 40 mins drive, so we had lunch in Italy and dinner in France. There is parking at the house for your vehicle and Nice airport is approx 15 mins away. Maggie and John are sooo lucky to have this perfect hideaway. We travelled as a family of four with 2 teenage guests, there was plenty of room at the house for all of us, and we are very happy we had the opportunity to experience Vence for ourselves. We LOVED it so much we would definitely go back again. Thanks Maggie and John.

We are back from France… I just wanted to tell you that we absolutely enjoyed our stay in your amazing flat in Vence… Being a trained chef, I had a tremendous pleasure with your fantastic cooking range… The produce from our family's favorite local merchants, as well as our obligatory pilgrimage to the market in San Remo, associated to your amazing kitchen made for some great provencal meals…Everything in season was prepared in some way or another! Morrilles, asperges, artichauds violets… amazing cotes de veau and carre d’agneau de chez "La Boucherie de Vence” in the center market next to my old friends at the “Au Poivre D’Ane"… The young man took over from his father and is so enthusiastic about his produce! It was nice to have the upper veranda for evening vistas on the Baous to decompress at the end of the evening. Two generations of my family lived in Vence so we know the area well. Great roads for cycling and fantastic hiking trails. We appreciated the access with the garage!! We had a large car and the space was simply great! Mr. Milan was fantastic! I forgot my rain coat in the house (and it was predicting rain in Paris…)… He immediately came to the rescue and drove (above the speed limit…I am sure) to the airport to deliver my coat. He deserves praise!! Hope I am not forgetting anything… Great location, great accommodations… What more could you ask for… In summary, we thank you for sharing your home with us and we will not hesitate to return if you have it available in the future…

Thank you so much for a most wonderful week at your home in Vence! The villa was perfect for our two families. We loved how convenient it was to everything in Vence. We finally figured the oven out and had a perfect Christmas meal at home! The internet worked in a few rooms and my college sons were VERY happy that there's was one of them! Vence is an amazing little town and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our visit there. We went to St. Paul Vence, Eze Village, Monaco and Nice, Cannes and Antibes and STILL had loads of time in Vence. Maggie and John were extremely easy to deal with and helped anytime we needed it. Milan was delightful and also very helpful. The neighbor that is a doctor, whose name I have forgotten, allowed our friends to park their car there, which was very helpful. All in all it was a fabulous, gorgeous vacation and I would love to rent the villa again for longer some day! We left an oven thermometer for you...and your guests who may like to cook. My chef husband did just fine there and having all of the shops so close....was a bonus. We ate a meal at the Lavender Restaurant that was fabulous, went to the Christmas market and saw a little concert of rock music at the theater there! I just cannot thank you enough for having the right place, in the right town for us!

Our family of five stayed in this home for four weeks. The owners were very helpful during the booking of the home and payment arrangements. They answered many questions we had before the trip and even some while we were there. The home was very well kept and the village is precious. There are many shops and fresh food items just a brief walk away from the front door. Everyone in Vence were very welcoming. We feel that our children were able to experience what living in a medieval village truly means! I would recommend the home to anyone wanting to be away from the busier tourist areas. The home also provided more than enough room for our family! This was the hardest vacation to leave!

"Back to the Future" is what we felt when our time was over. This beautiful home and this wonderful village will take you back into time to a more peaceful time and place. I can't add anything else to what's already been posted, other then it's all very true. This is a wonderful house and it's location could not be ANY better. Literally steps away from the many bakers, cafes, restaurants, outdoor markets yet it felt so quiet and remote. If you're staying in Vence, or anywhere in the Nice area, this is the home to book. We could not have been happier.

My husband, two friends and I rented John's home for 8 days. We were all so impressed with everything about his home! It was definitely the nicest place and location I have EVER rented from VRBO. From the minute we arrived Milan was there helping us with directions and then introduced us to the home. He was so friendly and kind, he even brought us a huge bouquet of flowers from his garden on the third day! The home was immaculate, well equipped and the absolutely the most perfect location you could ever hope for! On a scale of 1 – 10 it was a 20! The view from all the terrace and living room was without compare. The kitchen was well stocked with utensils and pans to prepare our meals, and all the bedrooms were so comfortable. The walkway at the front door is something out of a painting with cobblestone, narrow walkway and flowers. An huge plus was the private, secure garage located right under us (parking is impossible in most French cities!) I highly recommend this home, it is very spacious and would be very comfortable for up to 8 people. There is very good public transportation to Vence from Nice, but it might be a little difficult without a rental car as it is a small town and you will want to explore the countryside. We had a rental car and drove to Antibes, Cannes, Monaco, Italy and the Alps. Driving in France was easy as it is right sided as in US, and we became expert at roundabouts!

This home is everything as described and more. We were two families totalling eight people and this home accommodated us easily. The bedrooms are huge, the beds are comfortable, the location quiet (I got to like the hourly church bells), the appointments modern and the home is comfortable and spotless. The location inside the Medieval Town walls enchants you every time you step out the door and anything you need or want is only steps away including the best restaurant we found in France – La Litote. The caretakers were away when we visited in November but when we ran into electrical problems and contacted them, they made arrangements immediately at distance to deal with the issues and were very gracious. Cons: the washer/dryer needs better instructions and the internet doesn’t work (which could be good!). Vence is charming and the affordable and timely bus/train system eliminated the need for car rental in the Cote d’Azur (if you want a bus, you must flag it down!!!). Many thanks to John and Maggie for their advice and sharing their beautiful home.

We just passed a wonderful and memorable honeymoon for the past 2 weeks in this charming and lovely home in Vence. The owners were a pleasure to deal with and accomandated our travel schedule in a very flexible way. Their local contact was easy to work with and speaks fluent English. However, the best thing is this house! It is large, comfortable, fully equiped for true living "a la Francaise". The house is AMAZING. The VRBO description does not begin to do it justice, but it is very fair and accurate in its description. It is way roomier than you can imagine. You walk out the front door into a place so charming, I almost felt like I was on a movie set. The local shop owners along Rue de les Marches treated us like locals, the resturants were excellant and Henry's Bar was the perfect way to end an evening. Everything is just a few minutes away by foot. Finally, with the roomy and convienent parking garage, rent a car and Vence is the perfect central location for exploring all of Southern France. Day trips to the Gorges de Verdon, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, Eze, La Turbie are easy. A quick overnight jaunt to Provence is also easy or even a day trip to Aix is not far. YOU MUST STAY HERE!!!

Wir hatten zu fünft (2 Erwachsene und 3 Kinder) eine wunderbare Zeit in dem schönen Haus. Das Haus liegt ruhig und doch nach wenigen Schritten mitten im Leben, die Geschäfte des täglichen Bedarfs und der Markt sind fußläufig gut zu erreichen, ebenso Restaurants und Bistros. Der Blick auf die Berge ist unvergleichlich.Man sollte im Auge behalten, dass es sich um ein sehr altes Haus handelt, das von der Innenausstattung her vor einiger Zeit generalüberholt wurde, jedoch einen gewissen charmanten Charakter hat. Für sehr kleine Kinder ist es aufgrund der Treppen eher schwierig. Für uns war es perfekt, da jeder seinen Rückzugsort finden konnte wenn gewünscht, gleichzeitig gab es genügend Platz im großen Wohn-Esszimmer oder auf der schönen Dachterrasse. Erwähnenswert sind die schönen Gemälde, die jedes Zimmer schmücken, und die Wandgestaltung. Die Strände in der näheren Umgebung waren mit dem Auto gut innerhalb 20-30 Minuten zu erreichen, genau wie zwei große Einkaufszentren. Der Kontakt zur Vermieterin war immer prompt und sehr freundlich und zuvorkommend, ebenso die Betreuung vor Ort; wir haben uns gut aufgehoben gefühlt. We had a wonderful time in this beautiful house.The environment is calm but within a few steps, you can reach grocery stores, the market and nice restaurants. The view on the mountains is unique.You should keep in mind that it is a very old house that has been completely overhauled recently but it has a very charming special character.It might be difficult for very small children because of the stairs.It was perfect for us (2 adults and 3 children) because each of us could retreat in his own room if required, or we had enough space to get together in the vast living room or on the beautiful rooftop terrace.I should mention the beautiful paintings the rooms are decorated with.Within 20-30 minutes, you can reach the beaches as well as 2 big shopping malls.The communication with the landlady was always prompt and very friendly and obliging. The support on our arrival and during our stay was perfect; we were in the best keeping.