Villa Manon

Location: French Countryside
Provence, Apt

Size: 5+ bedrooms

Sleeps: 10
Metro:
Floor: (no elevator)
Pool: Yes
Amenities: Cable TV, DVD, Hi Speed Internet, printer,fax, Washer/dryer, Pool, BBQ, Complimentary Weekly Cleaning, Complimentary Departure Cleaning Included

Located five minutes from the market town of Apt in the Luberon National Park and within the Vaucluse region of Provence, "Villa Manon" offers 5 bedrooms; 4 bathrooms; three powder rooms; library/computer room; television/music room; enormous open-plan kitchen, dining, lounge room with large open fireplace. The house sleeps 10 -11 people.

“Villa Manon” nestles comfortably on a gentle hillside, amid lavender fields and cherry orchards, overlooking the market town of Apt, a town reknown for its weekly Saturday market where farmers, artists, wine growers, cheese makers and merchants of all kinds ply their wares. Apt features an array of cafés, galleries and restaurants hidden down narrow streets and winding alleys.

“Villa Manon”, a Provençal ‘Mas’ more than 200 years old was, until 1995, a working farm. It has been sympathetically and lovingly restored in traditional Provençal style. Surrounded by stone terraces on three sides with a vine covered shade trellis, the property includes a large, heated and fully enclosed swimming pool.... all nestled in flourishing landscaped gardens. An area of 1.6 acres surrounds the house keeping it wonderfully secluded and quiet.

The terraces surrounding the house are ideal for outdoor dining, sunbaking and admiring the stunning views. To the north is the Vaucluse mountain range dominated by the distinctive white-capped Mt. Ventoux. Below you look over the town and surroundings of Apt and to the east the ruined hilltop fortress at Saignon. The sunsets must be seen to be believed, as are the sunrises ... well worth interrupting a morning sleep in!

Ground floor:
Inside “Villa Manon” first impressions are striking. The 20 meter long (65’) open-plan living, dining and kitchen area is bathed in light with windows on all four sides. Provençal wood and plaster ceilings, ‘tree-trunk’ beams and broad expanses of terracotta tiled floor combine to create an immediate feeling of warmth and comfort. A large fireplace at one end is surrounded by deliciously comfortable sofas and armchairs.

The kitchen area itself has been designed and equipped by people who adore to cook – and where better to do that than in Provence! Extensive granite work surfaces, large appliances including a double ‘Paul Bocuse’ oven range and an American refrigerator. Double sinks, dishwasher, microwave....oyster shuckers, fois gras slicers and champagne buckets....necessities for an indulgent holiday!

The open-plan format of the main room means that cooks are not excluded from sharing a glass or three with the rest of the party ... and on the other hand ... the rest of the party can participate in the preparations! The dining area very comfortably seats twelve. There is also a powder room on this level.

At the ‘east end’ of the main room a small flight of steps leads down to the library/computer room where a desktop computer gives broadband wifi internet access. At the ‘west end’ of the main room behind the curving staircase, is an airy lounge with comfortable leather sofa and armchairs, an eclectic range of antiques, flat-screen TV and music system. A VCR, stereo, a DVD player and library of videos, DVDs, CDs and cassettes complete the home entertainment center.

Four glass-paned doors in the north and south walls of the main room provide access to the outdoor terraces and dining areas.

The house is centrally heated by an environmentally friendly geothermal system for the cooler months and logs are supplied for the open fireplace for those cosy evenings with a good book and a drop of red!

First floor:
Two staircases, one at each end of the main room, lead upstairs to the five bedrooms, four bath and/or shower rooms and two additional powder rooms. Two of the bedrooms have en-suite shower rooms; the other three bedrooms share one shower room and one bath/shower room.

Each of the bedrooms are light, comfortable and offer valley and mountain views. Each bedroom is decorated with period furniture, modern beds, bedside tables with reading lights and generous storage space. There are three bedrooms with queen (160cm) beds, one bedroom with twin (90cm) beds which can also be joined to create one king (180cm), and the fifth bedroom has a single bed with a trundle which lifts to create twin beds. The library/computer room has a convertible double sofa should anyone snore and/or feel like retreating!

Exterior:
Given the lie of the land, one side of “Villa Manon” has a lower level which houses a large laundry room with two washing machines, dryer, sink and additional refrigerator. There is undercover parking for three vehicles (another 4+ can park outside) and storage for the 6 bicycles which are there for the guests’ enjoyment. There is an outdoor clothes line for those who love the feel and smell of freshly laundered clothes.

Around the house the gardens have been landscaped and are thriving thanks to the eco-friendly drip-watering system and weekly visits of the gardener who tends all with loving care. The 10m x 5m heated swimming pool is fenced in and has a safety-roller cover which also serves to keep the water warmer. It is tended weekly by a local pool company and is open from May through September. The pool area is furnished with comfortable loungers, wrought iron beds and sun umbrellas.

The terraces are furnished with wonderful iron dining tables and chairs, a gas barbecue, more sun loungers, side tables and armchairs. There are several shade areas on the terraces, so a choice of ‘tanning’ or ‘not’! A double hammock, strung in the ‘Secret Garden’ offers a retreat for book reading or a quiet snooze in the cool shade of tall trees.

General area:
Apt, a town of 12,000 inhabitants, is a 5 minute drive down the hill, while the charm and character of the perched, medieval villages such as Bonnieux, Lacoste, Menerbes, Roussillon and the famous antique market town of L’Isle sur la Sorgue, are all within 30 minutes drive. Those who enjoy rock climbing can be in Buoux, well known to climbers and hill walkers, in less than 15 minutes by car. For those who enjoy a gentler walk or bicycle ride, the entire surrounds are well worth exploring.

Restaurants to suit every budget are scattered about the countryside and the regions vineyards produce plenty of excellent wine. The nearest airports are Marseille and Avignon. The nearest major train station is in Avignon.

“Villa Manon” rents weekly from Saturday to Saturday. The rates are quoted in US Dollars and include all household and pool linens, a mid-week 4-hour house cleaning service and all utilities except telephone usage. Should you be staying two weeks or longer, a Saturday house clean and linen change are included.