Maison D’Orient

The Provençal vistas from Maison d’Orient’s al-fresco dining terrace are idyllic, looking out towards the gorgeous garden, swimming pool and distant Les Alpilles. It’s also wonderful being only 3km from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a charming historic town known for its artistic ambience. Follow the driveway past the olive trees and you are immediately greeted with the sight of the salt-water swimming pool and picture-perfect garden which is filled with the summer aromas and colours of Provence. Choose to relax on the poolside terrace, seek shade beneath the pretty pergola or find a hidden spot in the garden to the side of the villa. The pièce de résistance is surely the al-fresco dining terrace, reached via sliding windows from the lounge and kitchen, where you can sit back and gaze at those dreamy mountain views. Indeed, the floor-to-ceiling windows of the open-plan living and dining space frame these vistas perfectly, bringing the outside in at any time of year. Across this room, expect contemporary furnishings and paintings created by the talented owner, alongside objets d’art from their worldwide travels. Each of the three bedrooms, all with queen or king-sized doubles, benefits from a private bath or shower room whilst underfloor cooling is another welcome feature of this beautiful villa. Soak up the ambience of artistic Saint-Rémy-de-Provence within a 10-minute drive, home to galleries, museums, atmospheric café terraces, bistros and high-end restaurants. Follow Van-Gogh’s famous footsteps around the town and head off early for the bustling Wednesday morning market which attracts visitors from across the region. Other highlights of Les Alpilles region include Eygalières and Maussane as well as Les Baux-de-Provence, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, not to mention the endless landscapes of olive groves, forests and gentle mountains, ideal for walking, cycling, horse-riding and rock-climbing. You are also within easy reach of the perched villages and incredible scenery of the Luberon – Van Gogh’s beloved Gordes and Peter Mayes’ Ménerbes are both within a 45-minute drive. Visit Avignon and its UNESCO World Heritage sites, learn all about Roman history in Nîmes and sip coffee on an iconic café terrace at Place du Forum in Arles. Then there’s the antiques and waterways of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the canoeing and kayaking opportunities around Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and the wild horses and pink flamingos of the Camargue, all such varied and magnificent parts of Provence. Features: Maison Interiors (200m2) -    Open-plan lounge with fireplace and dining area. Doors slide open to al-fresco dining terrace -    Open-plan kitchen, well-equipped including dishwasher, two fridges, freezer, microwave, induction hob and steam oven. Doors slide open to al-fresco dining terrace -    Guest WC -    Laundry room/cellar -    Separate bathroom with bath, Italian shower, two sinks and WC (please note the jacuzzi in this room is closed off) Bedrooms -    Master bedroom with double bed (180x200cm) and bathroom with bath, Italian shower, two sinks and WC -    Bedroom with double bed (160x200cm) and shower room with Italian shower, sink and WC -    Bedroom with double bed (160x200cm) and independent shower room with Italian shower, sink and WC Outside Grounds (2000m) -    Salt-water swimming pool (9.5x4.5m) with safety alarm -    Poolside terrace and covered pergola -    Pool house -    Barbecue -    South-facing terrace with view -    Garden (some steps) with artificial lawn -    North terrace -    Small meadow at rear of villa -    Parking port (3 cars) at front of villa -    Electric gate Facilities -    Wi-Fi -    Underfloor cooling system -    TV -    Hairdryers -    Mosquito nets on all windows -    Washing machine and dryer -    Iron and ironing board Location: Maison d’Orient is located in the Bouches-du-Rhone department of southern France, 20km south of Avignon and 3km from historic Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. If arriving by train, Avignon TGV is easily reached whilst you have a choice of Avignon, Nîmes and Marseille Airports if flying, all within 30 to 60 minutes by car. The villa is set in a semi-residential area just north-east of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and it is under a 10-minute drive to its old quarter. As well as its charming historic centre with art galleries, pretty shops, café terraces and inviting restaurants, the town is also home to several useful amenities including a couple of good-sized supermarkets in Saint-Rémy’s outskirts. Head off early to visit Saint-Rémy’s bustling market on a Wednesday morning which showcases the best artisan products and seasonal food from the region – look out for lavender scented soaps and creams, hand-made pottery, flowers, local cheeses, olives, fresh vegetables and so much fruit including an abundance of strawberries, cherries and melons depending on the time of year. Spend the day exploring the idyllic villages and beautiful landscapes of Les Alpilles, coming across endless olive groves, forests and gentle mountains. Potter around picturesque Eygalières (13km) where a small handful of A-list celebrities have purchased homes, enjoy lunch out in Maussane-les-Alpilles (17km), famous for its olive oil, and admire the incredible scenery from hilltop Les Baux-de-Provence (14km) and its château, one of France’s classified ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. Further afield, drive to the Luberon with its perched villages, vineyards and forests or venture to Arles (30km), so loved by Van Gogh and also the gateway to the wild Camargue. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (30km) is another fine day out, especially on a Sunday morning with its famous brocante, whilst there are wonderful canoeing and kayaking opportunities along the Sorgue River from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (36km). Food, wine and history lovers should visit Avignon (20km) with its markets, restaurants, wine-bars and UNESCO World Heritage sites, or continue further north towards the vineyards of the Rhône valley around Châteauneuf-du-Pape (40km). Terms & Conditions: ? €1000 charged to client’s credit card as a pre-authorisation one month before arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection. 4.00 p.m. 10.00 a.m. Yes. Yes. Not allowed. Please note that published rates are only valid for the current year. Any bookings for subsequent years will be on request only and correct rates will be confirmed at the time of booking. Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events are not allowed. Saturday. All other changeover days on request. 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. Outside only. Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for civil liability as well as cancellations, personal belongings, public liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. A copy of this policy may be requested by the owner before arrival. 7 nights. All other durations on request. French Visitors Tax included. Yes, changed once for stays over 14 nights. 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.