The Provence Farmhouse

Rooms

All five bedrooms and three bathrooms are located on the first floor. The master (kingsize) bedroom has high wooden-beamed ceilings and windows on two sides, making it feel bright and spacious. This room has the only ensuite and it’s nicely renovated with a lovely claw-foot tub, plenty of space and (quite small) double sinks.

Three more bedrooms have windows opening to views of the pond. The first room directly next to the master has a large super king bed that can be split into generous singles. The next room has a queen bed, and the one after that (recently renovated) also has a king bed. The fifth and final bedroom is across the hall with a sweet antique double bed and views of the vineyards.

Two bathrooms are shared by these four bedrooms: one at the top of the stairs (also newly renovated) has a walk-in shower and separate toilet. A second bathroom is in original condition and has both shower and tub and its own toilet. There's also a guest toilet on the ground floor.

Features include:

• Bluetooth sound system
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Fan
• Fireplace
• Hairdryer
• Pool towels
• Radio
• Satellite TV
• Toiletries
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The kitchen is well equipped, with a large fridge (including an ice-maker), dishwasher and plenty of pans and utensils for cooking. The hob has 6 gas rings, and there's also a blender and mixer, making cooking easy for a larger party. The equipment is not top of the range but perfectly functional – and particularly useful for a more relaxed approach to meals such as assembling salads or prepping for a barbecue. And if coffee is critical component for your morning, you're in clover: there's a Nespresso machine, a French press and an Italian espresso maker to choose from.

Basics (coffee, tea, spices, oil) are supplied on arrival and several large supermarkets are 15 mins away by car (Apt or Coustellet). The small grocery shop in Bonnieux village (15 mins' walk) is useful for essentials, and there's an excellent butcher selling house-made cold cuts and local cheeses, plus several casual cafes and bistros for easy meals, as well as a great pizzeria. Goult (10 mins' drive) has a great bakery, and there are fantastic outdoor weekly markets here, including an epic one in Apt every Saturday.

Feel like a fancy meal? A professional caterer can be arranged. Or book a table at the Michelin-starred Ju restaurant in Bonnieux, which offers a great value three-course set menu at lunch. Other worthwhile options in the village itself include Les Eydins, La Coquillade and La Capelongue; La Bastide (1 Michelin star) and La Table des Amis (2 stars) are within an 8-minute drive of the house.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Chef on request
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Oven
• Shopping service
• Toaster

Activities

• At the farmhouse, swim in the pool, play the piano, explore the vineyards and lake
  
• Of the many pretty local villages, we love L’isle sur la Sorgue, the 'antiques capital' of France with myriad shops and markets to browse; and charming Ménerbes, of A Year in Provence fame
  
• Go wine tasting with Hollywood connections: Chateau La Canorgue (3 mins' walk) is where Ridley Scott's A Good Year was filmed, while the director's own beautiful Mas des Infermières in Oppède (20 mins' drive) has his memorabilia on display
  
• Hike through the Lubéron Natural Park which surrounds you: gorgeous woodlands, safe tracks of varying difficulty, and 35 species of wildlife to spot (details from Bonnieux tourist office)
  
• Hire an e-bike in Bonnieux and follow a local cycle trail: one passes the nearby Roman bridge Pont Julien - popular for picnics
  
• Or visit Château La Coste (40 mins), a 200ha winery with Roman origins, boasting an art museum, an outdoor contemporary sculpture walk and multiple restaurants
  
• Aix-en-Provence and Avignon (both an hour's drive) are packed with history, charm, museums, shops and restaurants: well worth a day trip

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Wine tasting

Kids

With lots of grassy spaces to run around and a swimming pool in full view of the terrace, this house is ideal for slightly older kids and teenagers. But the lack of a pool fence (it has an alarm instead) makes it a bit more difficult with smaller children and toddlers.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Only one bedroom of the five is equipped with single beds, but it is conveniently located next door to the master suite.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1hr-1hr15m
• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Provence Farmhouse is located just outside Bonnieux, a gem of a Provençal village, in a 8-hectare natural park, in the heart of the Luberon.

By Air:
It’s a 1 hour and 10 minutes drive from Marseille Provence Airport and 2.5 hours drive from Nice Cote d’Azur Airport.

By Car:
A car is essential when visiting this part of the world, most will hire a car to explore the area.

By Train:
It’s a one hour drive from Avignon TGV station, which has fast trains going to Paris.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.