VILLA SOUVENANCE

The morning begins with warm croissants from the village, the afternoon with sun on the terrace, and the evening around a table full of fresh market produce, rosé, and a view of the sea. In Villa Souvenance, you feel as if you have always been there.

TEXT: INE VAN DE LAAR
PHOTOGRAPHY: NOPOINT STUDIO'S

Some places are made for overnight stays, and others are made for collecting memories. Villa Souvenance undoubtedly belongs to the latter category. As soon as the gate closes behind you and the sea begins to glisten in the background, the pace changes. No one looks at the clock anymore. The day unfolds by itself; between the pool, the terrace, a walk to the beach, and the question of what's going on the barbecue tonight.

BEING TOGETHER WITHOUT HASTE

In Saint-Aygulf, on the south coast of France, this spacious villa is tucked away in a place where everything is nearby. With views of the harbor, the bay of Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, and the Mediterranean Sea, Villa Souvenance is a house that invites you to live together as you most like to do on vacation: leisurely dining, spending a lot of time outdoors, and, above all, being in no hurry. And there is plenty of space for that. In the large garden, everyone naturally finds their own vacation rhythm, from a refreshing dip in the pool to a relaxing game of petanque, table tennis, or a game on the grass. While one seeks shade under the pergola, another reads a bit longer on a lounger by the water.

This is precisely why the villa is so suitable for all kinds of groups: families with multiple generations, groups of friends and several families vacationing together.

HOUSE FULL OF MEMORIES

What makes this villa extra special is the personal story behind it. For Inez Luiten, assistant general manager in Saint-Aygulf, Villa Souvenance is more than a beautiful place by the sea. It is a house full of memories, where she also used to gather with her family to celebrate vacations.

Inez: 'You still feel that. Not in nostalgia, but in the natural warmth of the house. As if it was made for all generations at once. For children running around the pool with wet hair, and for grandparents who find just the right spot of shade under the pergola.'

'BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER'

BRINGING TOGETHER

During the day you can walk to the beach or the village

for an ice cream, a coffee, or a basket full of fresh market produce. Later in the day, life shifts back to the villa. Someone slices a ripe tomato, someone else chills rosé, fresh fish or a piece of meat sizzles on the barbecue, and above the table, the sky slowly turns soft pink. At such times, Villa Souvenance does exactly what a good vacation destination should do: bring everyone together without any effort. One sets the long table, another prepares one last drink in the pool house, children jump into the water once more, and somewhere laughter can be heard from the pétanque court.

For those traveling with a slightly smaller group, there is also Villa Pâquerette. This villa is just as atmospheric and comfortable, with the same Mediterranean charm, but somewhat more intimate in design. There, too, the beach, conviviality, and long evenings are never far away. Whether you come with friends, family, or both, in these villas it’s all about the wonderful feeling that summer is far from over.