Description:

This farmhouse has been elegantly renovated to offer a serene and comfortable home for a wonderful holiday in the beautiful Bouches du Rhône region of Provence. It is ideally located within its own walled park, just a walk to the center of Fontvieille, famous as the site of the mill of the author Alphonse Daudet. The village also has its own weekly outdoor market, a great selection of shops and even a Relais & Chateau restaurant! It is minutes from the perched city of Les Baux and its famous restaurants, the renowned Abbaye of Montmajour and the beautiful city of Arles.

This property is located in a quiet area among other beautiful estates which were once the chateau, the mill and (ours) the farmhouse of the original cChateau. Once inside the walls, the grounds are quite lovely with a large patio, a fountain in front and a sitting area under the trees. Around the back of the house, past the pool is a flower garden, another fountain and some massive rocks all making for several lovely spots to sit and enjoy the setting. The main entry into the house is through the beautiful double living rooms. The ground floor has vaulted ceilings, exposed stone walls, antiques, two stone fireplaces and comfortable seating in three salons. The furnishings are wonderful with gold-trimmed mirrors, ornate chandeliers, a few beautiful antique tables and comfortable sofas and chairs. All this is in a color scheme of persimmon and beige with matching drapes. The ground floor is L-shaped with the dining room around the corner with a beautiful rectangular wooden table, comfortable chairs and another fireplace. Past the dining room is one last smaller salon with comfortable seating and the television nicely hidden in an armoire.

The kitchen is reached off the main rooms with entry through a small pantry. The kitchen has one wall built into the rock face, and a low entry which requires ducking your head! This is a reminder that this was originally a quarry. The pleasant and bright kitchen has been totally renovated and has all new appliances including a beautiful rectangular sink, a large stainless steel refrigerator and a big new stove with griddle! This is an excellent kitchen for those who like to cook, but meals can also be prepared by the house manager for an extra fee.

From the living rooms, a stairway with stone steps leads to the second floor and a very large bedroom with king bed and ensuite bathroom with bathtub, sink and shower.This is a beautiful room with fireplace and dresssing room. Off this room is the famous Cocteau room, a small office, decorated by the poet and designer when he was a guest at the house. Continuing upstairs to the third floor, there are 2 very pretty bedrooms. Both are tastefully decorated in bright provencal colors --- both with king beds. These rooms share a bathroom with bathtub, shower over, sink and toilet.

Next to the dining room is another stairway which leads up to the last bedroom in the main house. This room is on the second floor and has a queen bed and ensuite, large bathroom with a triangular bathtub, sink, bidet, toilet and fireplace!


Going around the side of the house there is a separate entrance by the pool that has an additional salon with comfortable seating and a television. A stone stairway lead up to two pretty bedrooms one with a queen bed and the other with 3 singles. Both of these rooms have a clever bathroom set up. They each have a pretty sink in the room and a shower stall tucked behind a screen with rain head, and a toilet in separate room with a half swinging door. This is actually quite well done and pretty.

Continuing around the outside is one last door leading to the studio. Its ground floor has a small kitchen and a sitting area. A wooden stairway leads to small, pretty room with double bed and ensuite shower, sink and toilet. Each of the bedrooms in the house is decorated in a different color scheme, has fine linens, and beautiful curtains.

The pool has an outdoor eating area. This is an elegant and comfortable home.

Location Information:

500m to Fontvieille, most facilities. 11km NE of Arles. all facilities. 18km SW of Avignon, all facilities.

Client Comments:

It's a wonderful home and the grounds are well maintained and very private.
-Linda V., Los Gatos, CA
We rate it 5 out of 5! We loved, the pool, the kitchen and the equipment, Sylvie (the housekeeper).... the whole house!
-Peter Z., Orinda, CA