
Carolyn Grote founded the company in 1992. She lived in Europe as
a young single woman and later met her husband there. Carolyn’s
first trip back with her family was a journey of exploration. She
looked for a way to feel “at home” abroad while only
staying a short while. Renting was the answer. But in 1990, finding
a good, reliable and charming rental accommodation was a challenge.
With a BA in French Literature and an MBA in Marketing, Carolyn
used her extensive knowledge of France and her marketing expertise
to create an agency that focused on helping clients find just
the right French rental for their vacation. As the business grew
she expanded to Italy. Ville et Village now offers
both country and city rentals in both countries. Each year, Carolyn
travels to France and Italy inspecting rental properties to add
to our selection. And of course, she and her staff take their own
vacations in the very same properties clients book.
Ville et Village also works with a few small local agencies that offer
a special expertise. These are agencies we know well and that provide
excellent services. We visit these agencies just as we do our properties,
so clients get the benefit of our personal recommendations. These
selections are available in our
printed catalogs
only.