Bastide Var

Set in a little hamlet surrounded by woodland, just minutes from the beautiful Lac de Saint-Cassien, this fine family home is a wonderful place to relax in lovely surroundings. Bastide Var offers both character and comfort with traditional features alongside modern amenities. The traditional Provençal house has wood-beamed ceilings and a grand stone fireplace in the welcoming lounge, five sensitively restored bedrooms and three modern bathrooms. The owners are experienced in knowing what guests are longing for in their holiday home and you won’t be disappointed. You’ll receive a particularly warm welcome from the house manager, a former hotelier, who can organise all sorts of services you may wish for from a chef to babysitting and much more. One of the most striking aspects of this homely bastide is the superb summer kitchen which as been brilliantly equipped with everything you may need, including a wine-fridge, hob, barbecue and pizza oven. Feast al-fresco on warm afternoons, drinking Provençal rosé as kids play on the little swings and slide in the pretty garden, surrounded by the summer scent of lavender. The large swimming pool is a delight in the summer or you can watch on from the sun-loungers and outdoor lounge. Whether staying with family or friends, the outdoor space is an ideal rural sanctuary for all generations. You can hire bikes just up the road where you will also find a bakery, pharmacy and a couple of places to eat. You are also perfectly positioned to drive to the nine perched villages Pays de Fayence, the nearest being just 5km away with a delightful weekly market and charming artisan craft studios. Others include medieval Callian with its flower filled lanes, picturesque Fayence with some wonderful cafes and restaurants and incredible Seillans, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. The surrounding region also offers walking paths through forests of oak and pine trees, discovering river gorges and all sorts of wildlife plus the magnificent Lac de Cassien, just minutes away, with its lakeside beaches, summer watersports and endless trails for hiking, biking and horse-riding. As well as this wonderful natural scenery, you can also reach the beaches of the French Riviera within half an hour. Swim in the Mediterranean, take boat trips out to beautiful islands or soak up the glitz and glamour of the Côte d’Azur in nearby Cannes. The Var in southern France really does have it all! Features: Villa Interior Ground Floor (entrance via steps) - Open-plan living room with fireplace - Open-plan dining area with table for up to 8 guests - Kitchen, well-equipped including dishwasher, oven, American fridge-freezer with ice-machine and microwave First Floor - Double bedroom with en suite bathroom with bath and WC - Double bedroom - Triple bedroom with bunkbeds and single bed - Bathroom with shower and WC Second Floor (via steep stairs) - Double bedroom with en suite bathroom with walk-in shower and WC - Triple bedroom with three single beds Outside Grounds - Swimming pool (12mx6m, depth: approximately 1m-2.2m) with pool safety alarm. Open approximately June to end-September (other dates on request) - Summer kitchen with oven, ceramic hob, dishwasher and wine-fridge - Charcoal BBQ - Weber Gas BBQ - Pizza oven - Covered al-fresco dining area - Sun loungers (x8) - Al-fresco lounge area - Garden with children’s play area - Boules court - Laundry room - Private parking Facilities - Wi-Fi - Heating - Smart TV (international channels via SKY) - DVD player - DVD library (all ages) - CD player - Log fire - Boules Location: Bastide Var is set in a small hamlet just a short drive from a beautiful French village in the Var department. Just over 1km away you will find a bakery, pharmacy, a couple of places to eat and a little further away there is a large supermarket. There’s also a place where you can hire bikes just down the road. Within a five to ten-minute drive you will reach a beautiful French hilltop village, one of the nine perched villages of the Pays de Fayence. Wander around and discover the village’s historic charm with narrow lanes, pretty fountains and studios creating artisan crafts. Visit on a Tuesday morning to experience the weekly market and throughout the year there are all sorts of events and festivities organised by the townhall.  Other stunning perched villages include Callian (6km) with its medieval castle and flower filled alleyways, fortified Seillans (15km), one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and Mons (23km), one of the Var’s highest villages, an incredibly picturesque place for lunch with a view of the sea and mountains. Fayence (9km) is also a short distance away with its many restaurants and cafes as well as a morning market on a Tuesday and Saturday. The landscapes of oak and pine forests offer wonderful opportunities for hiking, passing incredible scenery such as waterfalls, stone bridges and the Siagne river with its gorges where you’ll find locals splashing around to cool off from the summer sun. There’s also rock-climbing, fishing and bird-watching opportunities here, not to mention cycling trails including off-road paths through the woodland. There are further walking trails around the magnificent Lac de Saint-Cassien, just a five-minute drive away (or 2-3km hike) as well as fishing, watersports and lovely spots for a lakeside picnic. The lake offers rowing, canoes and kayaks, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing and pedaloes as well as an aquatic park with giant inflatables at nearby Okwide Plage. Other activities here include mountain biking, buggy tours and horse-riding treks. Golf-lovers have a choice of many courses in the area, including the prestigious Terre Blanche Golf Resort around a ten-minute drive away. For a true adrenaline fuelled experience you can book a flight excursion at the well-known gliding centre in Fayence or head further inland to the Verdon Gorge with its incredible canoeing and white-water rafting. Another great aspect of the Var department is your proximity to the sea with the French Riviera just over half an hour away. Visit Théoule-sur-Mer (31km), Cannes (34km) and Antibes (44km) or take a boat excursion out to the Île Sainte-Marguerite for a wonderful day out. The beautiful beaches and the glitz and glamour of the Côte d’Azur awaits you! Terms & Conditions: ? £425 paid via bank transfer to the owner before arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection. 5.00 p.m. 10.00 a.m. Yes. Yes. On request only and with prior agreement with the owner. Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events are on request only and subject to prior arrangement with the owner and additional charges. Saturday. The weekly rental rate includes 5 hours cleaning each Saturday (be that either your day of departure or mid-stay). If any extra cleaning is required, it will be charged at €25 per hour, deducted from the security deposit. 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. Not allowed. Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, personal belongings, public liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. 7 nights. Yes. French Visitors Tax payable to Property Manager at the time of balance payment (typically costs €1-€10 per adult per night - please enquire if exact amount is required). The pool is open approximately June to end-September (other dates are on request). Please note cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.