La Maison du Frene

The walled village of Vence, just fifteen minutes from Nice airport.

All the rooms at La Maison du Frene are eye catching and lovingly designed, inspired by and featuring pieces from owner Thierry’s extensive private collection of pop art. Bright, bold colours predominate, Warholesque prints adorn the walls, and every room is tastefully designed and unique from the rest. The aptly named Pop Art room boasts views of Matisse’s Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence, which also inspired the light, expansive feel of the Chapel Suite.

Breakfast at La Maison du Frene is a simply prepared homemade affair, and afternoon tea is also complimentarily offered. The hotel’s very own library boasts an extensive array of art books to complement the décor, which guests are welcome to browse at their leisure.

Art lovers will adore Vence, and not just for the pop art which fills the hotel itself. The Vence Museum of Modern Art is just across the road, and just outside the village is the Fondation Maeght, which is home to a wide variety of paintings and vast sculptures. The Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence, a small Dominican chapel on the hill above the town, was devised by the great artist Henri Matisse, who considered it his masterpiece. Its simple white exterior houses several Matisse originals, and he also created three vast murals and beautiful, abstract stained glass windows.