Many of us know Hyannis Port, Massachusetts as the favorite vacation spot of President John F. Kennedy and his family. And while the idyllic Cape Cod village looms large in the family’s history, it wasn’t the only place that left a mark on the young JFK.
In fact, during the years that his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, served as the ambassador to Great Britain, JFK spent his summers in the South of France, in a century-old mansion known as Villa Valbonne. It was there that he learned to swim in the property’s 65-meter marble pool and frolicked with his siblings amid the sprawling grounds.
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Today the historic residence is as grand as ever—and now that it’s available to book via the short-term rental platform Onefinestay, travelers finally have access.
Situated on more than 100 wooded acres between the towns of Valbonne and Mougins, the nine-room villa sets the stage with a dramatic long driveway, lined with shapely hedges and mature cypress trees. Inside, the décor seems from another era: glittering chandeliers, sumptuous tapestries, floral wallpaper, and heavy drapery.
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But what truly sets the property apart are its lush gardens—all climbing vines, fragrant olive trees, and vibrant bougainvillea—designed by prominent French architect Jacques Couëlle (whose nickname, “the architect of billionaires,” tells you everything).
The villa is striking distance from the glitzy waterfront of Cannes, but with on-property amenities including a tennis court, vegetable garden, olive grove, and the aforementioned marble swimming pool, we don’t see much reason to wander far.
