Bastide Des Maures

In the beautiful foothills of the Massif des Maures, this welcoming bastide is a delightful family home near hilltop Grimaud, set in a gorgeous garden overlooking woodland and vineyards, yet only 20km from the allure of Saint-Tropez. Bastide Des Maures sleeps up to 13 guests (10 adults plus 3 children) across its six inviting bedrooms and attractive living spaces. Across the ground floor you can kick back and relax in the air-conditioned lounge with two sets of French windows opening out to the spacious garden. The kitchen is brilliantly equipped and leads through to a wood-beamed dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows sliding open. Across both floors and in a separate annexe, there are six air-conditioned bedrooms, five of which are en-suite doubles (some can be converted into twins) plus a children’s triple bedroom with a bunk-bed. Families are warmly received here with toys, board games and table tennis alongside the vast amount of outdoor space for garden games across the lawns. Indeed, across the 1.5 acre of glorious grounds you will discover ample room for lazing in the sun or sipping a glass of Côtes de Provence overlooking the pine trees and forested hills beyond. The swimming pool can be heated on request (at an extra charge outside July/August) and there is a superb poolside pergola with a summer kitchen for idyllic al-fresco dining. Imagine spending warm summer evenings with loved ones chatting by the outdoor lounge with clear starry skies above you. Flower-filled Grimaud is merely 8km away, a traditional hilltop village full of character with restaurants, charming shops, art galleries and a wonderful Thursday morning market. There are more atmospheric markets down in Port Grimaud including a weekly night market in the height of the summer, such a lovely way to spend the evening alongside Port Grimaud’s cafes, restaurants and canals. Of course, the allure of Saint-Tropez also awaits whether you wish to embrace its glitz and glamour or simply potter around the cobbled lanes of its enchanting old quarter. The iconic beach clubs of Plage de Pampelonne are just a little further or stay closer to home for sandy shores and seasonal watersports at Plage de Grimaud or Plage de Cogolin. Spend time coming across other hillside villages with stunning views of the French Riviera such as Gassin and Ramatuelle or venture further into the hinterland for hiking, mountain biking, canoeing along the Argens River, the rural market town of Lorgues and some of the Var’s finest wine châteaux and restaurants. Features: House Interiors (320m2) Ground Floor/Garden Level (some steps)    - Living room with doors opening to garden - Dining area with sliding doors opening to terrace and garden     - Kitchen, well-equipped including oven, hob, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, toaster, kettle, blender, Nespresso machine. Door leads to garden - Laundry room - Bedroom with double bed (can be split into twin) and en-suite shower room Upper Floor - Main entrance from driveway     - Master bedroom with double bed and en-suite bathroom - Bedroom with double bed and en-suite bathroom - Bedroom with double bed (can be split into twin) and en-suite shower room - Triple bedroom with bunk-beds Annexe - Bedroom with double bed (can be split into twin) and en-suite shower room Outside Grounds (1.5 acres) - Swimming pool (13x6m, depth: 1-2.5m) open approximately May to October. Can be heated on request - Poolside terrace with sun beds and parasols  - Pergola overlooking pool with outdoor kitchen, barbecue and al-fresco dining/lounge area - Large lawn for ball sports - Parking Facilities - Wi-Fi - Air-conditioning (lounge and bedrooms) - Heating - Fireplace - Apple TV - Toys and children’s books/DVDs - Board games - Table tennis - Safe - Hairdryers - Ironing facilities - Washing machine and dryer Location: In the Var department of southern France, Bastide Des Maures is in the foothills of the Maures hills, surrounded by beautiful landscapes of woodland and vineyards, close to hilltop Grimaud and only 20km from the glamour of Saint-Tropez. This is a rural setting with just a small handful of houses close by (including the attached house next door) and a car is definitely needed. Toulon Hyères Airport (53km) is just over an hour away (Nice and Marseille Airports are also worth considering) whilst TGV train services from Paris to Nice stop at Les Arcs-Draguignan (39km) and/or Saint-Raphaël Valescure (45km). The nearest village is hilltop Grimaud (8km) where you can soak up the medieval character of its pretty flower-filled lanes with art galleries, delightful little shops and some excellent restaurants. In the summer months look out for concerts and festivities taking place by the ruins of the 11th century castle. Driving further down towards the coast, you will soon reach Port Grimaud (13km), a relatively modern network of canals with pastel-coloured houses in the style of an old Provençal town. It is especially atmospheric in the summer months with canalside restaurants and night markets taking place. Plage de Grimaud (14km) is a wonderful sandy beach for swimming, sun bathing and seasonal watersports.     The village of Cogolin (10km) is also nearby, home to narrow lanes with restaurants, pipe-making shops and a twice-weekly market alongside a 14th century former clocktower. There are a couple of useful supermarkets in Cogolin’s outskirts and you can drive down to the coast by Port Cogolin (14km) with its attractive marina and beach alongside summer watersports. There are gorgeous views towards Saint-Tropez from Plage de Cogolin. Saint-Tropez (20km) is a must-visit during your time here – it’s a 20km drive or you could avoid the summer traffic and take a ferry from Port Grimaud. As well as experiencing the former fishing village’s glitzy vibe, potter around its enchanting old quarter and visit the bustling twice-weekly market at Place des Lices. The iconic shores of Pampelonne Beach (24km) and its famous beach clubs are just south of the town or you may prefer the quieter beaches near La Croix Valmer (19km), a paradise for walkers and nature lovers with picturesque spots such as Plage de Sylvabelle (20km) and Plage de Gigaro (22km). Of course, there are fantastic hiking opportunities through the Massif des Maures alongside mountain biking and cycling. Admire other picture-perfect villages such as Gassin (17km) and Ramatuelle (21km), both with stunning views of the Mediterranean coastline below, or venture further inland to discover the natural beauty of La Garde-Freinet (14km). You could even venture as far as Vidauban (33km) and beyond for vineyards, wine châteaux and canoeing/kayaking along the Argens River. The Tuesday morning market in Lorgues (44km), around an hour away, is one of the largest in the Var department and could perhaps be combined with a trip to one of the pretty Var villages in the area. Terms & Conditions: ? €1000 charged to client’s credit card as a pre-authorisation at least 2 weeks prior to arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection. 4.00 p.m. 9.30 a.m. Yes. Yes, changed on Saturdays for stays longer than one week. Not allowed. Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events are not allowed. Air-conditioning is featured in all bedrooms and in the living room only. This house sleeps 10 guests (plus 3 additional children) across six bedrooms. Please see the “Features” tab for details on the layout. Cot and high chair can be provided free of charge, on request. Saturday. All other changeover days on request. Yes. 2 hours of midweek cleaning is also included daily. 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. No. 7 nights. All other durations on request. Yes. Pool heating is optional. If required, there is an extra charge of €400 per week (in May, June, September and October), payable to the owner via Property Manager - this is non-refundable and needs to be arranged and paid in advance. There is no charge in July/August. Please note that like all heated pools, pool heating and water temperature are reliant on weather and outside temperatures. French Visitors Tax payable locally in cash (typically costs €1-€10 per adult per night - please enquire if exact amount is required). Yes. The pool is open approximately May to October. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.