Spacious, light, 18th century demeure, restored with taste, and furnished with fine furniture and many original works of art, 2000m² of lawned park, courtyard and patios, 90m² pool, pool house with table tennis table. Edge of wine producing village, walk to croissant or cafe, 30 mins Mediterranean.

The owners bought this property just over a year ago and have poured their hearts and taste into it. The outside has been renovated under the control and with the guidance of the architects from the special French department for the protection of historic houses and monuments. An architect/ interior designer friend helped them plan and decorate the interior, the underlying motif is to emphasize the original features where possible (beams, terra cotta tiles, marble fireplaces) and to enhance with a warm and light Provencal style of interior finish. The whole is embellished with fine old French furniture, rich furnishings and many paintings.

But this is also very much a family home and is not available for August when the owner, and his family and friends are at home.

This is a very special holiday rental.

Now to a more detailed description.......

The property sits on a gentle but terraced slope and hence there are entries and outside areas at two levels. You enter the large courtyard through iron gates and at one end of the courtyard is the very imposing facade of Le Manoir.

From the courtyard there are stone stairs curving up to the higher level and the gardens and pool.

Accommodation

Through the fine dark wood front door and you are in a 20m² hall with a stone staircase curving up in the centre and doors leading into bedrooms, one of 20m² with twin beds and an ensuite shower room with wc and hand basin, the other of 15m² with a single bed. There is a door off the hall leading into a garage with automatic doors to the street that can house up to 4 cars.

First Floor

Up the stairs to the first floor and you are in a second 20m² hall with on one side the dining room with its red terra cotta tommette tiles, sideboard and dining table capable of extending and seating 14. On the day we visited the owner said that he had had sixteen sitting down to dinner the night before. The dining room has large windows on two sides, thus is a bright and light room.

Across the hall and you are in the kitchen. This has fitted units an attractive dark wood kitchen table, fridge/freeze, small separate freeze, halogen hob, cooker, dish washer, washing machine - there is a spin dryer in the garage. It is fully equipped for large groups. the kitchen has a window over the courtyard and a glazed door leading out onto a patio and the lawned gardens and pool.

Off the kitchen is the 60m² living room with exposed and waxed wooden beams and enough comfortable seating for an army. There are also low tables a writing desk etc. This room has three French windows leading out onto the patio and gardens. At one end of the living room is a short corridor with a wc on the left, dressing room on the right and then, on the left, a large bathroom with bath, shower cubicle and hand basin , next on the left, a 12m² bedroom with single bed and on the right a 20m² double bedded room.

Second Floor

Back to the hall (which can also be accessed from the living room) and up the stone stairs to the next floor. Here once again we are in a light 20m² hall.

On the right is a large 30m² bedroom with three single beds This is a good room for children.

On the left is a dounble bedded room of 20m². There is a shower room with shower, wc and handbasin off the hall.

Off the hall there is also a family room simply but comfortably furnished with television(French terrestrial channels only), cd player, books English and French and some board games.

Off this room is a 30m² double bedded room and a large narrow dressing room.

Outside

From the kitchen or living room you walk out onto a large patio full equipped for Mediterranean style outside living. There are also two movable barbecues.

The patio sits in and leads onto the lawns with a few trees dotted about giving occassional shade.

At the end of the garden is a magnificent pool house with barbecue and small summer kitchen (sink and fridge), the 90m² pool with its terracotta tiled surround, more lounging furniture and great tranquillity - if it is too tranquil there is a table tennis table in the pool house!!.

All in all there are 2000m² of outside areas.

Bedding is included in the price, towels can be hired at 5 euros per person for a set.