The owner works in film, and it shows. With dramatic cathedral ceilings and an open kitchen that calls up the harmonious grids of Le Corbusier, this villa in Vendée is a mix of rusticity and modernism. 

It’s where a medieval-style dining table harmonizes with furniture by Herman Miller, Breuer and Eames in a grand, loft-style living room. It’s where a suspended staircase, designed by the Dutch architect Daya Bakker, carries you upstairs, into four of the home’s seven bedrooms, each offering countryside views.

Gite Oprieur is surrounded by 200m2 of terraces in the heart of the western French countryside, with a heated swimming pool and plenty of outdoor lounge areas. Ideally situated between land and sea, this design villa is a rustic French dream.

This design villa in Vendée has three large bedrooms, each with private bathrooms, on the ground floor, with four smaller bedrooms on the mezzanine floor. The mezzanine also offers a “chill-out” area – bring your summer read.

Natural materials anchor each room, seamlessly blending the house with its outdoor living area, which is equipped with a private indoor swimming pool that is heated year-round and surrounded by 150 m2 of terraces.

Perfect for families, the entertainment and technology menus are full of delights. Jump into the swimming pool or project a movie. Play a ping-ping or badminton game, or enjoy one of nature’s finest analog activities: watching the sunset.

VENDEE'S DELIGHTS

The countryside home has no neighbors in sight, but is near Les Sables d'Olonne, and 20 minutes from the beaches. The village of Nieul-de-Dolent is 4km away for all amenities. 

Western France is a region steeped in entertainment, nature, and leisure. In the Pays des Achards, start with a hike. Kids will find fun at many nearby theme parks: Puy du Fou, Atlantique wake-park, or Château de Talmont to name a few.

Sports lovers will be in choice paradise, as the region offers tree climbing, wake-boarding, surfing, golf, sailing, tennis, horse riding and parachuting.

For gourmands, take a short drive to Les Sables d'Olonne, and order an oyster tasting with market products at the Les Halles aux Sables d’Olonne, followed by a glass of wine at L'Etiquette, with its stunning view of the Port des Sables. 

A perfect day might end with a stroll through the modernized fishing village of La Chaume. Other scenic walks are Île d'Yeu or Nantes.

LOCATION

Nieul-le-Dolent, Vendée, France. Nearest airport: Nantes (1 hour away)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year-round