Provence Farmhouse

Description

The Provence Farmhouse is approximately a five minute car drive from the village. It is quite secluded, but not isolated. The aspect from the two main terraces is of unblemished forest land, with mountains in the distance. The access lane from the village is very quiet. In fact, the house cannot be seen from a car on this lane, making it a truly idyllic retreat.

It was built over 300 years ago and stands in over two and a half acres of land. The owners have renovated and modernised the property making it a very comfortable and stylish home, but still very much in keeping with the style of the property. Everything is of a very high quality, even down to the beautiful bed linen they provide. The house is well sheltered from the mistral and yet always has a gentle breeze. It has its own micro-climate and there are many olive trees on the terraces. The mature age of the trees is indicative of the mild winters so this house is also a perfect choice for a winter break to unwind and get away from all the hustle and bustle of life!

The Provence Farmhouse is actually two properties. The main house sleeps has four bedrooms and sleeps eight and the separate two bedroom cottage sleeps four. If you are a smaller group and do not need the additional annexe cottage it may be possible to rent either this or the main house separately for a reduced rate so please ask us about this. In the high season which is between May and September both have to be rented together, however. Please note the price guide indicates the price for when both properties are rented together.

The house itself is on three levels.

The Ground Floor

The ground floor consists of one large lounge, with a great deal of sitting space. The original, large open fire-place is at one end (there are a number of electric heaters if needed in winter). There is a colour TV and video connected to satellite allowing access to all UK terrestrial stations as well as countless channels from all over Europe. There is also a dvd player with dvds. At the other end there is a dining table and eight chairs.

The entire ground floor has been recently renovated to include a complete renewal of the kitchen as well as the addition of an outdoor summer kitchen and boule court. The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need to self cater.

Building the summer kitchen was the equivalent of adding a new small house to the property! The structure is set on a terrace at one side of the house; it contains a sitting area with a large fireplace for Spring or Autumn evenings – ideal for a pre-dinner drink. Adjacent to this is the barbecue/ dining area with a large antique marble table seating twelve people. The barbecue is gas-fired, which greatly simplifies the preparation for cooking. For those traditionalists who prefer charcoal there is a second built in barbecue, with its own chimney, by the side of the kitchen door.

On one side of the barbecue there is a fridge and a second dishwasher; on the other two storage cupboards and an old stone sink with two bowls. There is integral lighting so you can enjoy a long summer’s evening sitting outside. At either end there is a speaker connected to the sound system in the house (there are a further pair of speakers in the inside kitchen).

On the house side of the summer kitchen structure there is a utility-room with washing machine and dryer, as well as a third fridge/freezer which is used for ice cream, water, beer and wine freeing, up the other two fridges for food. On the far side there is a boule court. There are several sets of boules in the store room at the back of the summer kitchen. The late afternoon and early evening are the ideal time to play as the sun gradually sets. The views from that terrace are some of the best on the property; the long wide wall on one side of the court is perfect to put down your glass.

The First Floor

On the first floor you’ll find three of the four bed-rooms. Two of these are double-bedded, the third is a twin. One of the double-bedded rooms has a door opening onto a sun balcony, and has its own bathroom en suite which has been added to the house. It has both a bath-tub and a separate large shower- it is an antique reclaimed bath, found locally and then had re-enameled with a basin to match. When you lounge in the bath you will see the wonderful blue sky on both sides of the bathroom!

The first floor also has a separate WC, and a bathroom next to it. Adjacent to the bedroom over-looking the swimming pool is a further bathroom again, with an old French bath and separate shower. An entrance door and staircase from here lead straight down to the swimming pool without going through the house.

The fourth bed-room is on its own under the roof of the house, it is twin-bedded but quite large enough for two adults. Each bed-room has its own cupboard space with original wooden doors.

The Separate Cottage

The cottage is about 25 yards (or two olive terraces) up the slope from the main house, and can sleep four. It was built by the previous owners for use by their teenage children.

It consists of a sitting room (opening onto a fully fitted kitchen), one bedroom with a double bed, one bedroom with two single beds plus a shower/WC which was totally re-done last year.

The cottage has its own satellite dish giving coverage of some 37 channels ranging from MTV to CNN.

Linen and towels are provided; the linen is either beautiful cotton or lovely French linen.

The running of the property is co-ordinated by friendly, fluent English speakers who live locally and who are on hand should you experience any problem. If you would like additional cleaning during your stay we can arrange this at additional cost.

Please note the pool is unguarded.

Seillans is a small, quite unspoilt eleventh century village nestling in the foot-hills of the Haut-Var. It is, however, very accessible to the coast and Nice Airport: about 45/50 minutes drive from the airport if you take the quick A8 route, perhaps 15 minutes longer if you choose to come via Grasse. The coast is some 35 minutes away at Frejus (ideal for anyone bringing their own car down on the train), it takes 35 – 40 minutes to get to Cannes.

The village has a population of 1,600 people, with high, winding medieval streets. There is a good variety of restaurants. A small cluster of shops include a pharmacy, a butcher, a boulangerie, a small cafe bar (The Bar Charlot) and a news agent and tobacconist with all the international papers. A medium-sized, but very well-stocked supermarket is at the bottom of Seillans hill. A branch of the Credit Agricole opens two afternoons a week. However, there is a 24- hour cash machine outside the post office opposite the bank.

Twenty minutes to one side of Seillans brings you to Bargemon, about 10 minutes the other way takes you to Fayence which is rather larger than Seillans and supports a morning market on three days a week. There is another supermarket at Fayence, at the bottom of the hill, and one of the best boulangeries in the Haut Var, La Gourmadine.

“Foodies” will have a wonderful time in the area as there are no end of good to excellent restaurants within easy reach of the house. There are two very good vineyards five minutes drive away: the prize-winning Val D’Iris and Domaine des Selves, who will happily fill your 5 litre plastic containers with its best rose.

We have a number of recreational facilities around our village. There are three good tennis courts, with a small bar; you can reserve a court in advance. Fayence has a world-famous glider school, the thermals are quite special. The little airport has an excellent “good value” restaurant.

Apart from the nearness of the coast there is a most beautiful inland lake 15 minutes away, the Lac de St. Cassien. It is about 5 miles long with exceptional clear-water bathing; you can choose your own secluded beach in the pine trees. Boats and pedalos are easily hired but the area is so spacious that there seemed lots of space on a hot July Sunday last year when we were there.

A fantastic golf complex, Terre Blanche, is situated between us and the lake, it has two 18 -hole courses. The five star hotel there is in the Four Seasons chain, its restaurant is Michelin starred; with a wonderful setting looking up at some of the perched villages it’s a great place to have cocktails. Another nearby golf course is at Le Muy, about 20/25 minutes from the house.