Pass the 500-year old oak tree as you approach Villa Grand Gordes via its long driveway. This setting is extraordinary, on a hilltop surrounded by dense forest, fruit trees and fields of lavender so typical of the Luberon. For guests seeking solitude, the views from the swimming pool are glorious. Yet you are only a 10-minute drive from the famous hilltop village of Gordes.

Villa Grand Gordes exudes character and charm with a rich history – this beautiful bastide was built on the foundations of a building that once belonged to Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. Be enchanted by the Provençal stone walls, central round tower and rose-clad doorways. Be mesmerised by the far-reaching Luberon landscapes – you can even see as far as Mont Sainte-Victoire on a clear day.

Villa Grand Gordes sleeps up to 15 guests across its eight bedrooms, most with private bathrooms, scattered across the wings of the house. The bastide’s décor is elegant - it is a genuine home so very well appointed with everything you may need. There is so much space to spread out whether reading in the grand living area, relaxing in the TV lounge, working out in the fitness room or creating Provençal feasts in the professionally equipped kitchen with its Lacanche range. Many of the living spaces open out to terraces to make the most of the stunning scenery.

The extensive grounds are home to truffle oaks, almond and fruit trees, lavender and vistas of the surrounding forest. There’s table tennis and boules to keep all ages entertained alongside the summer infinity swimming pool. Truly embrace the serenity of this location in one of Provence’s most beautiful regions.

There are of course some wonderful walks straight from the estate. Photogenic Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is only 5km to the south, especially idyllic in the summer months when the lavender is at its best. The tiny village of Murs is less than a 10-minute drive away, home to a delightful épicerie selling regional produce, whilst Van Gogh’s beloved Gordes, one of France’s official ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, is 5km by car. Visit on a Tuesday morning to experience Gordes’ atmospheric market.  

If you feel like exploring further, consider the antique stores and riverside café terraces of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Avignon and the huge Saturday morning market in historic Apt. Not to mention so many other Luberon gems from the cherry orchards of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, the vineyards of Ménerbes and the red-hued houses of Roussillon across this incredible part of Provence.

•  You’ll need a car to stay here, as the villa is reached via a track and isn’t accessible by public transport.