Water Lily House

Water Lily House is set within its own twenty acre estate ensuring you feel totally immersed in the beauty, peace and privacy of your surroundings. Whether strolling around the renowned stunning formal gardens or basking by one of its two swimming pools, it is the perfect place to unwind. It has all the charm of a secluded paradise yet is a short drive from all the best that Provence has to offer. The main house is a beautiful old Mas decorated in keeping with the charm and character of the local Provencal area. The kitchen is brand new yet with a rustic feel and has a large La Cornue cooker and leads through to a traditional and intimate dining room.  For relaxing indoors there is a formal drawing room with fireplace and an air conditioned informal sitting room. All the ground floor rooms look out to the sensational gardens. The terrace is the perfect place to sit and soak up the view and the large outdoor dining table is protected from the midday sun by large and leafy trees. The owner has recently converted an outbuilding into a simply stunning indoor dining area where you can feast with family and friends in beautiful surroundings. There are currently 10 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. The magnificent gardens at Water Lily House are famous throughout the gardening world for their outstanding beauty and originality. It has inspired gardeners the world over. The garden is divided into separate areas each with its special atmosphere. Within the formal landscaped gardens are two swimming pools. The main swimming pool is situated within The African Garden where you can enjoy doing lengths overlooked by the lifelike giraffe and elephants. The adjoining Pool House continues the African themed décor and has its own kitchen with sink, fridge/ freezer, microwave and dishwasher. There is a large built in Weber BBQ and outdoor dining area for days when you don’t want to leave the pool. There is also a bathroom and wonderful outdoor shower making sure the whole area is completely self-sufficient to the main house. The tennis court is at the front of the house and can be reached from the African Garden swimming pool through a lavender pathway. The tennis court has an inbuilt basketball net and two inbuilt football nets so it can be a great football pitch. There are also floodlights for those who want to avoid the heat of the day and play in the evening. Water Lily House is perfect getaway whether you are a big family or a group gathering, there is something here for everyone! Although there are ten bedrooms we recommend not more than 16 adults and 2 children. Two of the bedrooms (an attic dormitory and a small single room) are only suitable for children. Features: House Interior (max. pax: 16 adults + 2 children) Ground Floor On the ground floor there is a drawing room with extensive library containing a wide selection of books in both French and English. There is also an upright piano and fireplace. The drawing room leads through to a large bright hallway which has a large fireplace. The hallway goes through to a brand new kitchen which has a La Cornue range cooker with two ovens. Other appliances include a Quooker boiling hot water tap, two dishwashers, large fridge freezer, microwave, toaster and a Nespresso machine. The adjoining dining room with fireplace is a cosy room with a circular oak dining table large enough to seat ten and the perfect setting for cooler nights when one wants to enjoy eating inside. Next to the dining room is an informal sitting room with large comfortable sofas and air conditioning. There is an 85 inch 4k HD flat screen television with French television channels, English satellite channels and Netflix as well as a Blu-Ray DVD player within a cabinet on the wall. The sitting room is split level with stairs leading up to a reading nook – an area perfect for children to enjoy. As well as a large selection of children’s books there is also a trunk containing toys and games. All the ground floor rooms open out onto a stunning terrace that overlook the formal gardens. There is a large marble table on the terrace that is perfectly situated for dining outside as can eat admiring the beauty of the gardens whilst the magnificent plane trees provide much needed shade in the warmer months. All the ground floor rooms also benefit from a state of the art Sonos music system which can be easily used from any android or smartphone. Throughout the house there is wireless internet. The owner has recently converted an outbuilding into a simply stunning indoor dining area, featuring Sonos speakers, where you can feast with family and friends in beautiful surroundings.This is situated just next to the main house. First floor There are three double bedrooms, one twin bedroom and one single bedroom. The master bedroom suite has a king sized bed, air-conditioning and an ensuite bathroom (with bath and separate shower) and a large dressing room. Next to the master bedroom are a twin bedroom and a double bedroom (with queen sized bed and air-conditioning) which share an ensuite bathroom (with bath) and separate WC. Next to these bedrooms is a door leading through to a family suite of large double bedroom (with a king sized bed and air-conditioning) with adjoining single room which has both a cot bed and large single bed in  – these rooms share an ensuite bathroom (with shower) and would be perfect for a family. There is also a utility room on this floor that comes with separate washing machine and tumble drier, clothes horse and sink. Second Floor On the second floor there is a large double bedroom suite with a king sized bed, air-conditioning and ensuite bathroom (with bath and separate shower) and walk in wardrobe. Next to this bedroom is a twin bedroom and then a separate attic dormitory with air-conditioning and four single beds. These bedrooms share a hallway bathroom (with shower). All bedrooms come with hairdryers and dressing gowns. Bathroom toiletries are also supplied. Garden Bedrooms 1 double bedroom and one twin bedroom each with ensuite shower rooms and air conditioning (these bedrooms are perfect for couples who want a little more privacy as each one is totally separate to the main house and within the beautiful gardens) Outside Grounds These include a wonderful children’s playground and play area in the vast grounds, including a sandpit, large sunken trampoline and beautiful wooden playhouses. In addition to this there is an outdoor ping-pong table, badminton, cricket and croquet sets that can be easily set up at in the far field. The garden also now features a beautiful in-built barbecue just by the main house. Location: Water Lily House is ideally situated to profit from all the very best Provence has to offer. Located just ten minutes from the beautiful St. Rémy-de-Provence and within half an hour’s reach of the towns of Avignon, Arles, and L’isle sur-la-Sorgue, to name but a few. There is a wealth of cultural and historical attractions within an easy drive. In Arles, you can see the Roman ruins, the Museum of Arles and Provence or go to the lively Saturday market. In Avignon, there is the Palais des Papes, an important medieval gothic building, boasting one of the largest gothic fortresses in Europe. You can take a leisurely boat ride on the canals that pass through L’isle sur-la-Sorgue, a small but vibrant town, particularly visited for its many antique shops and where you can see working water wheels throughout. Alternatively, you may wish to sample local wines and visit Château Romanin in St. Rémy where you can enjoy a tour of their vineyards and see their cellars. Leisure activities around the area include horseback riding tours in Egalières, or avid golfers can tee off from either the Servanes or Pont Royal courses nearby. For those feeling more adventurous, hire a bike for the day and choose a challenging long distance mountain bike trail. Whether an easy or vigorous route, cycling is one of the best ways to experience the breath-taking vistas of the Provencal countryside. For family days out with the children, there are a variety of adventures to choose from. Rent a canoe in Avignon and view its historic buildings from the river Rhône, or take the steam train of Cévennes from Anduze to Saint-Jean-du-Gard, passing through the typical landscapes of the region or spend the day at the Zoo in La Barben, where you can see a huge variety of creatures: elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, wolves and yaks. Water Lily House is just outside of Noves, a beautiful small town which has two chemists, a supermarket and fine local bakery meaning you are just a short four minute drive from picking up your fresh croissants in the morning. Terms & Conditions: Security deposit? €3000 paid to the owner and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection. Arrival time? After 5.00 p.m. Departure time? Before 9:30 a.m. Energy costs included? Yes. Heating costs included? Yes. End of stay cleaning included? Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Linen & towels included? Yes. Pets welcome? Not allowed. Smoking Allowed? Outside only. Pool heating charge? No. Changeover day? Saturday in July, August and Xmas/NY. Short breaks are Friday to Monday (3 nights) or Monday – Friday (4 nights) approximately April to end-June and September. Flexible changeover days during all other periods. Other Ts and Cs? A non-refundable 50% deposit is required to confirm the booking (or full payment if booking within 12 weeks of departure). Minimum stay? 7 nights in July and August. 3 or 4 nights during all other periods. 3 nights are available on request only approximately April to end-June and September - please enquire for availability and pricing.