Douceur Estivale

In the countryside, on the edge of one of the most picturesque villages in Les Alpilles, Eygalières, lies this stone traditional house with its own pastoral paradise.

Its glorious three hectares of grounds are there to entice you into a variety of delights, where pool, terraces, play area and tennis court are to be discovered tucked away behind little hedges, trees, olive groves and sentinels of cypress which provide shelter from those warm breezes yet still allow the gaze to wander towards the hills. Lawns meander throughout, revealing beds of roses, lavenders and flowers guaranteed to satisfy the senses.

The south facing terrace behind the house is dotted with shrubs and agapanthus with an ancient plane tree providing a shady spot for mid-morning coffee. The house itself is a wonderfully peaceful place to retreat to, comfortably yet simply furnished. The vaulted white stone ceilings of the living room and hall are spectacular and contrast well with the traditional wooden roof beams and lovely fireplaces in some of the other rooms. There’s a cinema room with comfy sofas for the children to retreat to when they are tired of exploring the enclosed outside space.

When you are ready to venture further afield, there is so much to do in this area of vineyards, idyllic villages, world-renowned towns and summer wildflowers of Les Alpilles Natural Park and beyond. The local village is beautiful, featuring charming restaurants and cafes and is even the home to a couple of A-list celebrities who have come here to escape the paparazzi further south.

Spend time in lovely Eygalières, then head south to Les Baux-de-Provence, one of France’s acclaimed ‘plus beaux villages’. Nearby St-Rémy-de-Provence is renowned for the artists who sell their work in the village galleries as well as being famous for its many eating places from pretty cafes to Michelin starred establishments, perfect for that special evening out. Foodies will also love the town’s famous Wednesday morning market where you can try out and buy a variety of regional food.

The historic city of Arles is an unforgettable stepping stone into the wild countryside, beaches, iconic white horses and pink flamingos of La Camargue. So many activities can be found here, ranging from riding, trekking and quad biking to jeep tours across this fascinating terrain.