FAIRE Residency

Close-up of weathered wooden door with iron handle and latch.
A cozy bedroom with a bed that has crumpled white and brown linens, a large white pillow, and a decorative black and white pillow. There's a wooden headboard and a small corner table holding a mug and a spoon. The wall behind the bed has a large framed artwork and a small mirror, with a tapestry on the adjacent wall.
A large glass bottle sitting on the ground beneath an olive tree at dusk.

Designed as a sanctuary for creatives looking to recharge, find inspiration, and nourish their creativity in Ménerbes, one of the most beautiful villages in France.

The residency is a spacious one-bedroom apartment located in the historic Saint-Blaise quarter (patron saint of hemp carders), on the first floor of a property formerly known as La Maison de Zorro — a place rich in cultural heritage and once home to several renowned artists. This is a space steeped in historical and spiritual significance, with a remarkable 12th-century chapel (now our residency atelier) at its heart. 

FAIRE editor in chief, Ruth Ribeaucourt, has lovingly restored the apartment using artisanal techniques and natural paints and materials. It has been thoughtfully furnished with found antique treasures, art and books, creating a pied à terre that feels safe, warm, and deeply nurturing — a creative cocoon filled with beautiful, cherished pieces sourced from the region and the FAIRE creative family.

Book your stay with us

  • I have just spent the dreamiest of weeks at the Faire Residency. Aside from being in a stunning region of France, your Residency itself is a truly unique cocoon of inspiring beauty where I feel very lucky to have spent a few days. I never ceased to be amazed by the countless treasures you have hunted down, which fill every corner of this space and make it so warm and inviting. The apartment has everything one could wish for, and more, like that incredible weathered blue wall on the building across the street I looked forward to seeing when I opened the shutters every morning... I would go back in a heartbeat… I am now back home full of new creative ideas, inspiration and enthusiasm, no doubt in big part thanks to your Residency and to you, the loveliest of hosts ever!

    - Marie Rodrigue

  • “I was lucky enough to stay at Faire residency for a couple of nights while on a photoshoot mission and couldn’t have dreamt of a more beautiful place to come back to. What a feast for the creative eye! What a place to create or to wind down. You can see Ruth has put her heart and soul in it and it’s equally as beautiful as it is comfortable. Not to mention waking up to the beautiful view of Menerbes roofs and sky, amazing. Right in the village, ready for nice walks, it’s the perfect spot to stay in too. Highly recommend!”

    —Karen Hilmersson

  • Ruth has created the most beautiful, cosy and inspired space. It's full of considered corners, lush textures and dreamy light. It's a place where you immediately feel welcomed to sink into, and can truly feel at home in, no matter how long your stay. 

    -Lean Timms

  • “It is with great pleasure that I write to share my recent experiences staying in one of my most memorable stays Faire Residency. I was fortunate to stay for just over a week last April 2026 at this eclectic and wondrous home belonging to one of the most creative women I know Ruth Rubincourt. Faire Residency, set within the quaint, historical and charming  village of Menerbes, went beyond all expectations as the restorative, calming, relaxing and atmospheric haven it is. With an historical church in view across the road, sunlight that perpetrates the magic found within this interior space, antiques that add a presence of profound beauty and decorated in a style of casual elegance; I longed to return each night after busy days exploring the quintessential Provincial villages that can be found nearby. This is a home that from the minute you walk in you feel instantly ‘at home’ and where Ruth’s artistic magic resonates throughout each room.  I cannot recommend enough staying at Faire Residency where you too will be forever grateful for this opportunity to experience not only a thoughtfully considered home but one of sheer joy that Faire Residnecy is”. 

    -Kim Hocking

Inside the Residency

  • A cozy bed with gray and white bedding, two pillows, a vintage-style headboard, a small side table with a mug, and framed artwork on the wall in a warmly lit room.

    Bedroom

    The Residency has a Louis XVI original double bed (90cm x 180cm) with ample wardrobe space. Washed linen bed linen and piqué comforters.

  • A cozy living room corner with a cream sofa, decorative pillows, a side table stacked with magazines, a patterned lampshade, a wooden ladder, and a textured wall with an irregularly shaped niche containing a decorative object.

    Living room and dining room

    Filled with contemporary and vintage art and antiques treasures that owner Ruth Ribeaucourt has found at the French brocante this space is designed as a creative cocoon, enveloped in the history, patterns and textures of Provence.

    A 19th-century vineyard harvest table ‘table de vendange’ seats 4 comfortably and is situated beside the large windows so you can create/work or simply enjoy an apero overlooking the 18th century Chapelle St Blaise.

    A 3-seater sofa is upholstered in linen with handmade cushions created by local designer Si un mas m'était conté from 18th and 19th century Indiennes fabrics.

    A large book shelf runs along the length of the wall and is laden down with all of our favourite interior design and art books as well as our favourite magazines including FAIRE, World of Interiors and Blumenhaus.

    For those who need to check in with emails or want to curl up on the sofa and stream a great movie at the end of the day with a glass of wine - we have Fibre wifi.

  • A cozy rustic kitchen with wooden beams, an open window with sunlight coming in, and vintage furniture, including a glass-front cabinet, a corner cupboard with a striped curtain, and a large vase with dried flowers.

    Kitchen

    Our kitchen is fully equipped with a SMEG oven and induction plates. A fridge (with a small freezer compartment) and a dishwasher.

    We believe in sourcing beautiful things for everyday life so all dishes are antique and vintage or handmade where possible.

Village of Menerbes

  • Sunset over an ancient stone building with ivy and pink flowers, with a fountain in the foreground.

    In the heart of Menerbes

    The apartment is situated in the village of Menerbes, which is proud to be listed among ‘The Most Beautiful Villages of France,’ and boasts an incredible artistic heritage.

    There is the 18th-century residence of Dora Maar, the renowned photographer and muse of Picasso, who spent every summer here until her passing in 1997.

    On Rue Saint Barbe, the American artist Jane Eakin has bequeathed her house and collections to the village and it is open on appointment.

    Overlooking the village is Le Castellet, a 16th-century castle once owned by painter Nicolas de Staël. You’ll also find the 16th-century Saint-Luc Church, built on the grounds of a priory and now classified as a historical monument, and the 13th-century Saint-Hilaire Abbey, a well-preserved medieval gem and former Carmelite convent nestled among cherry orchards, vineyards, and olive trees. 

  • Old blue stucco building with two black wooden windows, one on each floor, with peeling paint and a weathered appearance, casting shadows on the wall.

    Walking distance from amenities

    Our apartment is situated in a street that was once the commercial hub of Menerbes in the 17th and 18th-century.

    Today there are several artist ateliers and art galleries in the street.

    On our street you will find the village boulangerie (bakery) and within a short stroll you have a great small epicerie, a newsagents and tabac, and several wonderful restaurants and shops including a small local post office.

    Menerbes is situated a 10 minute car drive from Coustellet which hosts a phenomenal Sunday farmers market (April-Dec) and it is also an important commercial hub with several large supermarkets (Lidl & Super U), great organic stores (Naturellement Paysan, MyBioShop, BioCoop) and of course bakeries, restaurants, a dry cleaners, a post office, a pharmacy, bike rental stores - you name it and it probably has it!

  • Interior of a rustic room with a wooden table, four metal chairs, a vase of flowers, and various decorative items and paintings on the fireplace mantel.

    Getting here

    The nearest airport is Marseille (1hr 20 mins drive) and the nearest train station is Cavaillon (30 mins drive) or Avignon TGV (1hr 15 mins drive).

    There is a bus from Cavaillon to Menerbes which drops you about 5 mins walking from the apartment. Ligne Zou numéro 18 (Cavaillon-Apt) and you stop at ‘l’école de Ménerbes’.

    An alternative option is to fly to Paris and then take the TGV train to Avignon TGV (3 hours direct).

What is included

Amenities:

60 m2 one-bedroom, self-catering apartment with studio space. 

  • Kitchen / Dining room: SMEG electric oven. Dishwasher. Fridge with small freezer component. Plentiful vintage and antique plates, glassware, cutlery and serveware. The antique dining table seats four and there is a linen 3-seater sofa. Books and magazines from FAIRE friends and family.

  • Bathroom with W/C has an electric radiator and a shower. A hairdryer is provided.

  • The bedroom has one double bed (90cm x 180cm) with ample wardrobe space. Washed linen bedlinen.

  • Reversible heating/air-conditioning in both bedroom and living spaces.

  • Fibre Wi-Fi throughout the apartment

  • Note there is no washing machine in the apartment but there is a fold-up clothes dryer for when you wish to dry hand-washed clothes/towels etc. There is a laundrette in Coustellet, which is an 8-minute drive.

Additional services on request:

  • Networking services: connecting you to key local artists and craftspeople, materials and resources.

  • Creative mentoring and professional development.

  • Personalised one-on-one photography workshop: from food and table styling - to creative storytelling - to portrait photography to product photography. Workshops can be tailored to your needs and skill level.

  • Bespoke travel design upon request. Should you need an itinerary to include artist atelier and home visits/private brocante appointments/textile and antique sourcing.

Email me for information on pricing
Vintage living room with a fireplace, covered with decorative pillows, framed artwork, and pottery on the mantel, with a wooden table and chair in the foreground.

Costs

Low Season: 1 October - 31 March

€875 per week. €150 p.d (3-day minimum stay).

High Season: 1 April - 30 September

€1200 per week. €190 p.d (3-day minimum stay).

Additional 10% cleaning and linens charge

Each stay includes a one-hour Zoom call with Ruth Ribeaucourt ahead of your residency or visit. This call is an opportunity to plan your trip in detail — to discuss material sourcing, identify key local artists and craftspeople to connect with, discover regional festivals, and learn about the best weekly markets and off-the-beaten-track addresses.

  • We book the FAIRE residency via direct email and not through a third party.

    Please email ruth@fairepress.com with your dates, a little information on what you’re hoping to use your time at the Residency for (a creative retreat / dedicated time to work on a specific creative project or maybe you simply need to recharge your creative batteries) and we’ll reply with availability and prices.

  • Payment is made up front at time of booking.

    If cancellation is made within 90 days of date then you will receive a 70% refund (you will be fully refunded for the Cleaning/linens charge and the taxe de sejour).

    If cancellation is made less than 30 days prior to your booking then your payment is non-refundable.

  • A security deposit of 1,500 euro is required to be pre-paid. Refunded in full if there are no damages.

  • Q: If I’m not an artist can I still book a stay?

    A: Absolutely - the residency has been created as a soft place to land for all. Please drop me a line and let me know a little about your plans and what you dream of doing during your stay and we can work it out

    Q: Do I need a car to get around?

    A: Technically once you get to Menerbes (either by bus/taxi) then you have everything on site in terms of groceries / bread / restaurants and there is a bus stop 5 mins walking which connects you to key cities and train stations.

    Q: Check in and check out times

    A: Normally check-in will be at 4pm and check-out is 11am but if the residency is free the day before we can be a little more flexible.

  • We are obliged to charge a 10% cleaning (and laundry) fee

    Wifi / Heating / Air conditioning / Electricity / Water charges are included in the cost.

  • Low Season:

    1 October - 31 March

    High Season:

    1 April - 30 September

A rustic wooden dining table with four weathered metal chairs, set near a sliding glass door with sunlight streaming in, and some bowls and plates on the table.

Terms & Conditions

FAIRE Residency Kickstarter campaign pledge contest

  • Every Kickstarter backer who pledges €100 or more to the FAIRE Issue 14 Kickstarter campaign will automatically receive one entry into the prize draw.

  • The prize consists of a seven-night self-catering stay for up to two adults at the FAIRE Residency in Ménerbes, Provence, France.

  • The prize does not include flights, travel to and from the residency, airport transfers, meals, beverages, travel insurance, visas, personal expenses, local transport, or any other costs not expressly stated.

  • The winner will be selected at random within 30 days of the successful completion of the Kickstarter campaign and contacted via the email address associated with their Kickstarter account.

  • If the winner does not respond within 14 days, FAIRE reserves the right to select an alternative winner.

  • The residency stay must be booked and completed within 12 months of the winner being notified.

  • Stay dates are subject to availability and must be agreed in advance with FAIRE. The residency may not be booked during peak periods, selected holidays, or dates reserved for exhibitions, workshops, or other FAIRE events.

  • The prize is non-transferable, non-exchangeable and cannot be redeemed for cash or credit.

  • The winner must comply with the standard terms and conditions of the FAIRE Residency, including any house rules, occupancy limits and security requirements.

  • The winner is responsible for arranging appropriate travel and medical insurance.

  • FAIRE reserves the right to substitute the prize with an alternative of equal value should circumstances beyond its control make the original prize unavailable.

  • By entering the prize draw, participants agree that their first name, surname initial and country of residence may be announced if they are selected as the winner.

  • By backing the Kickstarter campaign, participants agree to these terms and conditions.

  • FAIRE reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions if necessary due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.