Property Rentals - France

 

BASTIDE LES AMIS

 

With it’s back to the infamous Mistral and nestled amongst tall cypress trees and verdant pastures, lies the elegant Bastide Les Amis alongside one of France’s most picturesque perched villages, Menerbes.

 

Designed in true Provencal tradition, decorated by experienced interior designers and immacutely furnished, the Bastide comprises two houses, which can be rented separately or together.

 

Privately owned, the property is a 150m stroll along the Rue St Esteve which is a tiny road coming from the medieval village of Menerbes. The village has a bakery, butchery, mini-market and three restaurants. A cliff top bar gives spectacular views of the Luberon valley towards Mont Ventoux. While Menerbes is postcard perfect, you’ll not be able to buy a t-shirt with its name scribbled on and limited souvenirs are available. Although the village was made famous by Peter Mayle’s Book A Year In Provence, tourists visit sparingly, compared to the more commercial towns and villages nearby.

 

Menerbes is situated 17km from the A4 Autoroute between Marseilles (90km away) and Avignon (39km). The locals proudly call the area the Golden Triangle – slap bang between the Grand and Petit Luberon and the Ventoux mountain ranges. Major tourist and market towns in the area are Gordes (12km), Roussillion (10km); Bonneiux (8km); Lacoste (6km); Apt (25km); Oppede le Vieux (5km); St Remy-de-Provence (35km) and Isle sur le Sorgue (22km).

 

 

‘MAISON BLANC’

 

 

 

 

Faithfully restored Maison Blanc has two bedrooms en-suite plus an additional mezzanine room with queen-size day bed. The main bedroom is upstairs on a mezzanine level and opens up on to a picture-book terrace overlooking the lush terraced garden. Also on this level is the en-suite bathroom. 

Downstairs are an intimate lounge (with open fireplace), large dining / living room with open plan kitchen opening up on to the back terrace. The kitchen is a real “Cook’s kitchen”, with an AGA stove and all the necessary requisites for a great meal. The other en-suite bedroom is downstairs and looks out on to the back terraced garden. The toilet is separate to the bathroom.

The Big Room is a large relaxation area off the kitchen. With a panoramic view of the valley in the front and the garden in the back, this room boasts comfortable couches, a large stone fire place; a large table; reading materials and is the perfect place to kick back and chill out. There is a plug in point for your iPod or access to a large library of music housed on the hard drive.

Decor is traditional Provencal French with elegant and functional furniture and fittings.

An arched door looks out onto a pretty patio with lovely planted pots with views of the valley beyond.

The cottage is ideal for two adult couples or a four/five person family.

The house has all the mod cons: Plasma TVs with satellite channels, wi-fi internet, Cook’s kitchen’, washing machine, dish washer and tumble dryer.

An outdoor barbeque is within easy reach of the kitchen and the main outdoor entertainment area. There is ample off-street parking for four cars.

This beautiful property has four terraced levels. The first level with the house has a paved rear patio with a wood barbeque off the kitchen. On the second level, is a swimming pool with chaise loungers for relaxing,  an outdoor dining area and a gas barbeque. The third level has many secluded spots with breathtaking views of the valley.The top level is a grove of olive and fruit trees affording wonderful privacy.

 

 

‘MAISON OLIVE’

 

 

 

 

Maison Olive is similar to Maison Blanc with an open living/dining area that opens onto a back patio as well as a side garden. Immaculately restored, it has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, the bedroom upstairs being en-suite. It will comfortably accommodate 6 people. Décor is traditional Provencal French with elegant and functional furniture and fittings.

Like its sister house, it has all the mod cons: Plasma TVs with satellite channels, wi-fi internet, micro-wave, oven top, ‘smeg’ stove, fridge, washing machine, dish washer and tumble dryer.

Outside the main living room, huge oak trees dominate the lower garden level. Ideal for powering up the barbeque or relaxing with a cocktail and enjoying the views over the valley. The rest of the garden is shared where the second level has a large swimming pool, complete with lounger chairs. On the third and the top levels is a grove of olive and fruit trees – perfect for that lazy afternoon away from it all.

There is ample off-street parking for four cars in the shared parking area. The front door is 25m from the parking.

 

Please note that from July to September, it is only possible to rent both properties - 10 persons.

 

 

 

 MENERBES

 

So much has been written about Provence and its villages that it’s tempting to list what you’re NOT going to experience in Menerbes. You’re not going to find hordes of tourists tramping up and down the tiny cobbled streets peering into your windows, nor are you able to buy a T-Shirt with Menerbes printed on it. Traffic is very limited for residents only due to the narrowness of the roads and almost no parking whatsoever save a largish car park on the edge of the village.

There are no fast-food shops and only one tiny fruit and vegetable store. One butcher and a baker make up the food shopping complement.Market day is on a Thursday and well worth a visit. (It’s at the public parking area, close to the bouledrome). Menerbes is famous for its beauty and the fact that Picasso’s lover Dora Maar lived there for 42 years. Her residence has been restored to it former grandeur.The village churches are worth a visit, as well as the small truffle museum and wine-tasting centre. 

However, it’s the view and the atmosphere which make Menerbes one of the most special places in Provence. Look one way and you look over the Luberon valley and glance over your shoulder the other way to the majestic Mont Ventoux. The valleys are covered with spaghetti-like threads of farm roads weaving patterns through the vineyards, cherry tree groves, irisis, lavender and poppy fields. Menerbes has three restaurants ranging from mid-priced traditional fare to cheap and cheerful to a spectacular terrace / bar. 

With a population of 900, you’ll leave Menerbes wanting to become resident no 901.

 

 

 

 

 

THE MENERBES AREA

Food is Family

Family is Life

Life is Everything”

 

Menerbes could not be more perfect as a base for exploring the heart of Provence.

 

Our favourites:

 

Abbaye du Senanque outside Gordes is a 12th century abbey set amid lavender fields. This is the classic Provencal picture and you are able to tour the working abbey. Suggest you go to www.abbayesenanque.fr for the opening hours as they can vary from season to season.

Gordes is a fascinating village clinging to the side of a mountain filled with atmosphere, shops and tiny restaurants. It can get quite crowded so go early. It’s market day is a great occasion.

Isle-sur-Sorgue is a village full of antique and bric-a-brac shops where you can pick up a real souvenir of Provence. On Sunday mornings this is the quintessential Provencal market with the streets lined with stalls selling mainly bric-a-brac and local produce. Antique shops line the river bank. Our – and many other locals – favourite is to buy a delicious poulet roti (roast chicken) with roast potatoes and onions along with a baguette for Sunday evening. Lunch along the Sorgue river with its seven water wheels. Paradise.

Aix (Aix-en-Provence) is a lovely city of art and artists, fountains and thoroughfares, universities and youngsters, as well as having ancient roots going back to the second century BC. It’s main street the Avenue de Mirabeau is world famous with its trees and the majestic fountain at its heart. Slip away from the avenue into the narrow streets of the ancient city. Lunch at Les Deux Garcons – a 17th century restaurant famous for its steak tartare is a must. Aix is famous for its museums, particularly the Cezanne Studio.

Avignon is the 11th Century home of the Catholic Popes. A vibrant old city lies within its walls dominated by the Palais de Papes and the Notre Dame cathedral. The many town squares have a vibrant art bias along with many restaurants. The perfect small city to wander around – and the shopping is not bad either. Take the little white tourist train for a city orientation tour (leaves from the Palais des Papes)

Les Baux de Provence is a spectacular old fortress village on a hill, dating back to Roman times. It can get very busy but it really worth a visit – especially for the many art and pottery shops.

St Remy de Provence is a picturesque, busy town with a good choice of restaurants and hotels. The road between St. Remy and Cavaillon is arrow-straight and lined by plane trees – like French roads are portrayed in films. This is where Nostradamus and van Gogh lived, and where Princess Caroline of Monaco now lives. The St Remy market on a Wednesday morning is a must! The narrow cobbled streets are lined with art studios and food shops. Enjoy lunch at one of the Town Square restaurants and soak up the atmosphere with the many buskers playing traditional French music.

Paradoux is a tiny village only 10km from St Remy. If you find that the crowds in St Remy market are too much, take a slow drive to Bistro Jean Paul, a Provencal restaurant literally dripping with atmosphere and characters. The food is five-star Michelin without the price. Jean Paul is a charming host until later in the day when he has a habit of becoming ‘over-refreshed’. Bookings are essential.

 

 

Other places of interest:

 

Cassis and the calanques are deep narrow inlets, like mini-fjords, that cut into the cliffs between Cassis and Marseilles. The colour of the water is spectacular and some calanques have tiny harbours or beaches at the ends, and rock climbers scaling the walls along the sides. You can’t drive to calanques – you either hike or take a boat trip from Cassis harbour.

The Camargue Region and St Maries de Mare is unlike anywhere else here. Made famous by Roy Campbell with his poem “the horses of the Camargue” it’s a nature reserve of birds, black bulls and white horses, as well as rice paddies and salt plains. Fascinating to visit for its different culture (very Spanish) but watch out for the gypsies and their light fingered nature.

The French Riviera is a day-trip away.

St Tropez is 1.5 hours; Cannes is 2 hours, Nice and Monte Carlo 2.5 hours. Take the autoroute – fast and safe. Remember to take change for the the tolls!

The Gorges du Verdon is a spectacular canyon up to 700 m deep and 21 km long – compact, wild and beautiful. From Castellane to the village of Rougons, the Verdon river flows clear and swift, the road follows along the banks.

Marseilles is an hour away via the A8. Marseilles is France’s second city. It’s a very lively place with wonderful seafood.

Lacoste is the home of the Marquis de Sade’s castle which is worth a look – steep climb.

Fontaine de Vaucluse is where a deep spring feeds the Sorgue river. ‘Fontaine’ means ‘fountain’ and Vaucluse is the name of the department (state) you are in. It’s said that all the rainfall that comes off the mountains feeds into this mysterious spring, which is over 1000 feet deep (but the bottom has never been reached). Fontaine de Vaucluse is the name of the village as well. It’s best to visit during the week – at weekends it is impossibly crowded. There are places on the Sorgue where you can hire a canoe or kayak and drift down the river- someone will pick you up and take you back to your car.

Mont Ventoux. This is the mountain that looks snow-capped year-round, but is in fact topped with white shale. In the winter it does have snow and some people go skiing and tobogganing there, though runs are short. You can drive to the top and enjoy stunning views to the Mediterranean and over to the Alps. It can be cold at the top even in summer. Extremely fit people cycle to the top – it is one of the most notorious stages of the Tour de France cycle race. Plan to take the whole day for this trip.

Arles was a major Roman city and the surviving sites, such as the arena and the theatre, are unique in that they are integrated into the houses and buildings of the town, rather than sitting apart as they do in places such as Orange. Arles is also where van Gogh had one of his most productive periods.

 

 

RATES - 2010

 

Rates quoted are for a week – Saturday (16h00) to Saturday (10h00).

All rates in Euros.

Rates for 2010 - on request (lovonne@orange.fr)

 

 

 

 

 

Booking conditions:

 

  • A 25% deposit is required within 7 days of booking
  • Balance paid 10 weeks prior to occupancy
  • The properties will be fully serviced prior to your occupation. Cleaning and servicing is done on a Saturday at changeover. There will be no further service with regard to cleaning, linen etc during your stay, unless requested (additional charge) or if you’re staying more than one week when it will be done on the Saturday morning
  • All food to be provided by occupier
  • Arrival is after 16h00 or by prior arrangement
  • Departure is by 10h00 or by prior arrangement

          FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: lovonne@orange.fr

 

 

Important note:

 

We advise you to have full travel and all risks insurance. The owners and their rental agent accept no responsibility for accidents of any nature occurring within the boundaries of the property or use of any facilities and equipment. Use of the property and its equipment, including the swimming pool is entirely at your own risk. Both properties have alarms.

 

 

 

GETTING THERE

 

 

By Air:

 

The nearest airports are: 

  • Marseilles (60 minutes)
  • Avignon (30 minutes)
  • Nimes (60 minutes)

 Car hire is available at all there airports. A car is essential for touring and there is a total absence of public transport in the area.

  

By Rail:

 

The nearest railway stations are:

 

  • Cavaillon (20 minutes) – SNCF, the French railway system. Slow but sure. Relatively inexpensive but will stop at all stations. This train can be caught from Aix-en-Provence.
  • Avignon (30 minutes) – TGV, the fast French railway system. Clean, relatively inexpensive and punctual. A great way to see the countryside.

 

Car hire is available from both railway stations.

  

By Road:

 

Menerbes is situated 17km from the A4 Autoroute between Marseilles (90km away) and Avignon (39km). Toll cost from Menerbes is E14.

Take the A4 Autoroute and turn off at Cavaillon (Exit 26). Drive through the town in the direction of the “Gare SNCF’ [railway station]. At the station the road makes you turn left and then turn right under the railway bridge. Go straight along this road in the direction of ‘Robion’.

Robion is 10 km away. Stay on this road and after approx 4km you will see a road which veers off to the right – Menerbes. Follow this road and the Menerbes signs until you see the village above you.

There are two roads very close to each other on the left hand side. Take the left hand one which winds along the hill for about 800m and then the signs direct you a hard right to Menerbes.

 

Welcome to Bastide LesAmis!

 

 

 

 

  • Blog Roll

    • 2 Oceans Vibe - what the kids are reading!
    • Bastide Les Amis - the ultimate property rental in France
    • Crikey - what they don’t publish in Oz
    • Croaky - For all the latest behind the scenes info on healthcare in Australia and beyond
    • Noseweek - news you’re not supposed to know
    • Times Blogs - Down The Track, the best cricket there is

  • Other Links



    • Interior design, staging for sale, polishing up your décor:
    Goto Beach Stone Interiors to see our portfolio. Represented in Chatham (Cape Cod, USA); Cape Town (South Africa); Melbourne (Australia); Menerbes (France)