Maison Olive

In the heart of the Luberon Valley in Provence, with its back to the infamous Mistral and nestled amongst tall cypress trees and verdant pastures, lies the elegant Bastide Les Amis alongside one of France's most picturesque ‘perched' villages, Menerbes.

The Bastide has a beautifully decorated and immaculately furnished villa, Maison Olive, which is available for rental the whole year round including part of the year with its sister Maison Blanc. Designed in true Provençal tradition, immaculately restored, beautifully decorated and immaculately furnished, Maison Olive sleeps 6, offering 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with an additional separate toilet.

With an open living/dining area that opens on to a back patio as well as a side garden, the property offers lots of enjoyable living space.

Décor is traditional Provencal French with elegant and functional furniture and fittings as well as an emphasis on the wood hues which are so prevalent in the area.

The house offers all the mod cons: Plasma TV with satellite channels, wi-fi internet, micro-wave, oven top, ‘Smeg' stove, fridge, washing machine, dish washer and tumble dryer. There is a wood burning fireplace in the lounge.

Outside the main living area is "Erica's Tree" - a beautiful old Olive tree. Huge oak trees dominate the lower garden level. Ideal for powering up the barbeque or relaxing with a cocktail and enjoying the views over the valley.

The rest of the garden is shared where the second level has a large swimming pool, complete with lounger chairs. On the third and the top levels is a grove of olive and fruit trees - perfect for that lazy afternoon away from it all.

Features

• 3 bedrooms sleeping up to 6 people, 2 doubles and a twin
• Living area with dining
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Two bathrooms and a separate toilet
• Large grounds
• Pool with a pool house dining and kitchen area
• Laundry facilities
• Village location
• Parking for up to 4 cars in a shared parking area

Inclusions

• Linen and towels
• Plasma TV with satellite channels
• Wi-fi internet

Slideshow

Enjoy this slideshow introduction to Maison Olive

Video

Enjoy this video introduction to Maison Olive and picture yourself in Provence.

Rental rates 

(Tariff quoted in Australian dollars**)

• 29 Oct 2011 - 2 March 2012 = $1,305
• Christmas/New Year 2011 = $1,720
• 3 March 2012 - 7 April 2012 = $1,580
• 7 April 2012 - 5 May 2012 = $1,925
• 5 May 2012 - 7 July 2012 = $2,020
• 7 July 2012 - 1 September 2012 = $5,215 (combined with sister property, Maison Blanc as a 10-sleeper)
• 1 September 2012 - 6 October 2012 = $2,060
• 6 October 2012 - 3 November 2012 = $1,720
• 3 November 2012 - 2 March 2013 = $1,305
• Christmas/New Year 2012/13 = $1,720

Booking arrangements

• 10% deposit on booking
• Saturday arrivals only
• Balance plus security deposit due 10 weeks prior to arrival
• Full rental contract provided
• Fee provides for cleaning and linen.

** Please note - all rates are quoted at source in Euros. The prices quoted above in Australian $ are those at the time of writing (November 2011). On enquiry current pricing (as per currency exchange) will be quoted.

Location

Privately owned, the property is just a 150m stroll along the Rue St Esteve, a narrow road leading from the medieval village of Menerbes. The village has a bakery, butchery, mini-market and three restaurants. A cliff-top bar affords spectacular views of the Luberon Valley towards Mont Ventoux.

While Menerbes is picture-postcard perfect, you won't be able to buy a t-shirt with its name scribbled across it and limited souvenirs are available. Although made famous by Peter Mayle's book, A Year in Provence, tourists visit sparingly compared to the more commercial towns and villages nearby.Your cottage has a full suite of guide books and maps. Please enjoy them and use them.

Menerbes could not be more perfect as a base for exploring the heart of Provence.

There are many stunning day trips which you can take as an easy drive. Suggested day trips (just a few!) include:

• Gordes - a fascinating village clinging to the side of a mountain filled with atmosphere, shops and tiny restaurants
• Isle-sur-Sorgue (the Venice of France) - a village full of antique and bric-a-brac shops where you can pick up a real souvenir of Provence 
• Aix (Aix-en-Provence) - a lovely city of art and artists, fountains and thoroughfares, universities and youngsters, as well as having ancient roots going back to the second century BC. Its main street, the Avenue de Mirabeau is world famous with its trees and the majestic fountain at its heart. 
• Avignon - the 11th Century home of the Catholic Popes. A vibrant old city lies within its walls dominated by the Palais de Papes and the Notre Dame cathedral
• Les Baux de Provence is a spectacular old fortress village on a hill, dating back to Roman times.
• St Remy de Provence - a picturesque, busy town with a good choice of restaurants and hotels. The road between St. Remy and Cavaillon is arrow-straight and lined by plane trees - like French roads are portrayed in films. This is where Nostradamus and van Gogh lived, and where Princess Caroline of Monaco now has a house. The St Remy market on a Wednesday morning is a must!  

Menerbes is situated 17km from the A4 Autoroute between Marseilles (90km away) and Avignon (39km). The locals proudly call the area the Golden Triangle - lying between the Grand and Petit Luberon and the Ventoux mountain ranges. Major tourist and market towns in the area include Gordes (12km), Roussillion (10km), Bonnieux (8km), Lacoste (6km), Louramin (14km), Apt (25km), Oppède-le-vieux (5km), St Rémy-de-Provence (35km) and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (22km), Avignon (42km) and Aix-en-Provence (60km).