To know Provence and the French Riviera is to love it. Lavender fields. Rolling hills. Wild and twisting roads. Delicious, earthy food. And it’s never far removed from the Mediterranean coastline of the chic and wealthy … although in France you don’t need to be wealthy to be chic. Provence offers the lifestyle you didn’t know you wanted, but do.
The romantic estate spans nearly 240 hectares in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region. (Groupe Mercure)
This country estate – on 238 hectares or 588 acres – has not just one bastide (country home) but two, plus caretaker’s accommodations, an old restored chapel, working farm fields that are rented out for income and woods maintained by professional foresters so that you don’t need to. It’s a real estate opportunity waiting to be appreciated, perhaps for a life change, a business venture or both.
The well-kept property, which includes two bastides, showcases a quieter life that is tied to nature yet close enough to culture found in Nice, Marseille and even Genoa, Italy. (Groupe Mercure)
Set in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region, between the medieval village of Montmeyan and Verdon Gorge (the Grand Canyon of France) and near the famous lavender fields that bloom purple every June and July, this property has great tourism potential. But as in the best-selling book, “A Year in Provence,” it showcases a quieter life that is tied to nature yet close enough to culture found in Nice, Marseille and even Genoa, Italy.
The largest of the two homes was built in the 12th century and later expanded to its current 939 square meters (more than 10,000 square feet), containing 13 guest rooms. (Groupe Mercure)
The largest of the two homes was built in the 12th century and later expanded to its current 939 square meters (more than 10,000 square feet), containing 13 guest rooms. Two of those lodgings have been adapted for people with reduced mobility.
Charming reception areas in the three-story structure include a remarkable vaulted room with space for entertaining. (Groupe Mercure)
Charming reception areas in the three-story structure include a remarkable vaulted room large enough to accommodate 150 for meetings, weddings, wine tastings, dinners or whatever the event requires. Outdoor terraces provide more scenic entertainment spaces.
The vaulted room is large enough to accommodate 150 for meetings, weddings, wine tastings, dinners or whatever the event requires. (Groupe Mercure)
The more recently constructed second home has been designed as a private dwelling that can be divided into two houses, each with a living room, dining room, kitchen, four bedrooms and bathrooms. An outdoor patio connects the two dwelling spaces and provides a space to relax that is open to the sun. Nearby is a swimming pool.
An outdoor patio connects the two dwelling spaces and provides a space to relax that is open to the sun. (Groupe Mercure)
As author Peter Mayle explained in “A Year in Provence,” he had been dreaming about a move to the South of France for a while but somehow couldn’t collect the energy to do it.
“In the end, it had happened quickly – almost impulsively – because of the house. We saw it one afternoon and had mentally moved in by dinner.”
Close to the property is the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region, between the medieval village of Montmeyan and Verdon Gorge (pictured), a natural wonder some consider the Grand Canyon of France.
Groupe Mercure holds the listing agent. The asking price is 5.9 million euros or about US $6.662 million.
