Maison Benettin

Maison Benettin is a luxurious eight-bedroom home located in a pretty medieval village. Surrounded by woodlands and a mountainous landscape, it is hard to imagine a more perfect location for exploring Provence.

The house is set in the heart of the village but as you drive through the gates into the grounds you will find yourself in a serene, landscaped garden. With shade-giving trees, fragrant lavender shrubs and beds of flowers and herbs everywhere you look, the grounds are a lovely sight to be greeted by as you arrive for your holiday.

The home is built in traditional local stone and has typical French style shutters. Indoors there are open-fireplaces and exposed stone work, complimented by modern interior design. The floor to ceiling windows allow the warm light and vibrant colours from the garden to pour in to the villa, creating a relaxing environment.

There are two living areas for when your party wants to come together in the evening,  one with comfy sofas around a fireplace and one with an open-plan layout and large sofas with a home cinema screen perfect for watching a film in the evening. Next to the living spaces there is a fully-fitted kitchen and a dining table, though if the weather is good you may choose to make use of the summer kitchen and dining spaces in the garden.

Whether you are travelling with your extended family or a group of friends, the villa has plenty of space to accommodate up to 16 guests. Five of the bedrooms are located within the main villa and have access to an en-suite or private bathroom. There are another three bedrooms which are accessed from the garden, including two with their own kitchenettes. These external rooms are great for providing a little privacy from the main group, maybe for grandparents or couples.

You are sure to spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying the fantastic garden where you will find a private, heated pool for a refreshing dip. The large garden also has lots of different zones for dining and relaxing, including cosy covered terraces. If you are feeling active then why not try your hand at table tennis or boules or head to the house’s well-equipped gym.

When you wish to pick up some pastries for breakfast then the local village is just outside the garden gates! This quaint medieval village may be small but it has everything you could need close by. It is a lovely place to wander around and there is even a museum, Roman ruins and 13th century castle towers to see here. There are also some nice craft shops and a good selection of restaurants.

Another place you can visit nearby is Saint-Remy de Provence, which is only 13.5km from the villa. This is a bustling place which centres around a busy marketplace and town squares lined with cafes and restaurants. The town is a great place to visit if you are a history-lover as it has been inhabited since Roman times. Today the town is a mix of Renaissance and 18th-century buildings and has a charming old town which is a scenic spot for dinner.

The town also has a long connection with artists and today you can purchase handicrafts and art works in artisan shops and at market stalls. Famously, the artist Vincent Van Gogh spent time in Saint-Remy de Provence. If you are interested in Van Gogh’s artwork or just his fascinating life story, then you can visit the rooms he lived and painted in at the in Saint-Paul-de-Mausole monastery.

The large city of Arles is 17km away by car or why not visit the former Papal city of Avignon for the day, it is just 37km away and should not be missed!