An inspiration for artists over the centuries and a hub for foodies, Provence is a wonderful place to visit for your summer break. With the sandy beaches of the coast to one side and staggering mountainous countryside to the other, Provence is an area which has it all. Maison De La Lavande is a great base for exploring this rich and diverse region and lies in a rural setting just 11km away from the city of Aix-en-Provence.
On your way to the villa, you will pass the Sainte Victoire Mountain and a dense woodland which spans 80 hectares. Though you are close to the city, your surroundings offer places to relax, so that you can truly unwind and focus on making memories with your loved ones. As you approach the house, you will see the pretty, pastel-hued farmhouse with shuttered windows, overlooking a green and leafy garden.
The home is spread out over two floors and is packed with original features such as open-fireplaces, ceiling beams and terracotta floor tiles. The décor is modern, but in-keeping with the traditional feel of the house. The soft furnishings, art work and shelves lined with books all give a welcoming feel to the villa and give it a real lived-in feel, rather than that of a sparse holiday letting.
The heart of the home is the living room where sofas and armchairs are gathered around a cosy fireplace for those holidaying in the winter months. This is a lovely space for curling up with a good book or watching a film together in the evenings. Just next door is the fully-fitted country style kitchen. The sage coloured units are brimming with all of the gadgets, crockery and appliances you need for preparing breakfast for your group, unless you would prefer to take a complete break and book a private chef for your trip! Your meals can be taken in the dining space which opens out on to the patio, or at one of the many outdoor tables.
There are four bedrooms available at Maison De La Lavande, meaning the house can sleep up to eight guests. Two of the rooms are on the ground floor and two are on the first floor. Each of the rooms is uniquely decorated with their own colour palettes, though all of them have comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms and views over the grounds.
If the weather is fine, you may wish to spend much of your time outdoors. The garden here is one of the selling points of the house and is a vast space filled with towering trees, lawns and beds filled with flowers. Dotted around the garden there are various dining spaces, outdoor sofas and sun loungers for you to relax on. The garden also offers a covered al-fresco living space and a fantastic private swimming pool where you can swim and take in the country views.
Just a short walk away from the home, guests will find themselves in an expansive and ancient forest which is the ideal spot for a shaded afternoon walk or picnic. You also have the Etoile Mountain range close by for those who like a challenging climb or a lengthy hike. If you prefer something a little less taxing, you could pay a visit to one of the many family-owned vineyards and wineries which produce the region’s delicious wines. As well as exploring Provence’s interior, guests can visit the coastline with ease as the nearest beaches are close to Marseilles, around 38km away by car.
When it comes to shopping and sightseeing, you could visit smaller villages such as Puyricard which is just 6km away or spend your days soaking in the art and culture of Aix-en-Provence, a gorgeous city which is an 11km drive away.
