Holiday
Villa, Provence - Villa Romantique
Villa Romantique is a stunning and very spacious stone-built holiday
villa in Provence with its own magnificent Roman-style colonnaded
circular swimming pool, superbly located on a hilltop, and giving
you the most wonderful panoramic views. It basks in the sunshine
and the very special light of this Provence/Languedoc region and
is set in a delightful mature garden amidst the intoxicating fragrances
of oleander, wisteria and lavender and among pine, olive and palm
trees.
Just 1 mile from the historic twin towns of Beaucaire and Tarascon,
you are very centrally located in the circle created by beautiful
Avignon, St Remy de Provence, Arles, Nimes, Uzés and the
Pont du Gard, and conveniently no more than 12 miles (20 kms) from
each and yet only about 45 minutes drive to the Mediterranean.
Description
of villa, pool and garden
Villa
Romantique was built around an old circular stone tower with windows
certainly dating from 1820.
Our villa in Provence has been completely renovated with immense
style and an abundance of love and care to provide very appealing,
elegant and welcoming accommodation. It combines great charm, many
original Provençal features and pretty and decorative touches,
with modern-day comforts. Important characteristics for holiday
villas in Provence.
The approach to Villa Romantique is up a steep and winding private
lane that leads to just a few other Provence villas set amongst
pine and olive trees. You enter the grounds through big decorative
wrought iron gates which are electronically controlled, thus ensuring
privacy and a feeling of exclusivity. Our Provence villa is in a
commanding hilltop position - private but not isolated - and very
importantly, you are not overlooked nor are you overlooking any
other homes. The garden is surrounded by a high wall giving you
peace and privacy. These are desirable and rare features for holiday
villas in Provence.
Because of the layout, design and features, this gloriously spacious
and fascinating 6-bedroomed villa in Provence accommodates 2 to
12 people in great style and comfort. It is just as perfect for
2 as it is for 12 or with the optional 'La Petite Villa Romantique',
up to a maximum of 16 people. Please note that there are substantial
discounts for lower occupancy so that to be fair, smaller groups
pay less - there is a table further down which shows a sliding scale
of prices for the time you want to go and for the number in your
party. Prices are from as little as £152.50 per person per
week (i.e. £22 per person per day, and even in the peak summer
season, from as little as £39 per person per day !).
Click
here to view prices/dates/occupancy
tables
There
are very few villas in Provence which give you such spacious living
accommodation. Our villa in Provence has accommodation which comprises:
• Impressive flag-stone Entrance Hall/Sitting Room, 33 ft x 14 ft
(10 m x 4.25 m) with large stone feature fireplace. Double doors
leading to
• Baronial-style Dining Room for 2 to 12 with white washed beams.
This room goes through to a
• Circular Lounge with white washed beams and massive Provençal
stone fireplace, giving a room 38 ft x 16 ft (12 m x 5 m) in total.
There is French TV (6 channels), Satellite TV (English BBC channels,
etc.), DVD player, CD/Radio/Cassette player
• The
villa has Wi-Fi enabled ADSL, and this is free to all visitors should
you wish to bring your lap-top computer with you
• Large comprehensively equipped Kitchen (twin sinks, 4-ring gas
hob, electric oven with automatic timer, microwave, dishwasher,
large fridge and freezer, electric kettle, toaster, cafetière,
blender etc.) 15 ft x 11 ft 6" (4.5 m x 3.5 m). A charming
feature is the original and beautifully decorated antique oven (no
longer in use !)
• 6 Bedrooms - all are doubles and/or twins
No. 1: very large main bedroom 22 ft x 11 ft 6" (6.6 m x 3.5
m) with super-king-size bed which can be divided to make twin -
3 ft 3" wide beds (1 m) if preferred
No. 2: spacious circular double bedroom 18 ft in diameter (5.5 m)
with four poster double bed
Nos. 3 & 4: 2 bedrooms (both doubles which can be divided to
make twins if preferred) with traditional Provençal sloping
ceilings and low beams
Nos. 5 & 6: 2 ground-floor bedrooms (1 double and 1 double which
can be divided to make twins if preferred).
[Ground-floor bedroom 5 has its own large ground-floor 'blue' bathroom
with twin wash hand basins, large corner bath with shower facility,
and a separate toilet] - see floor plans
[Ground-floor
bedroom 6 has its own ensuite shower room/WC, its own sitting/study
area and direct access to a private terrace area]
• 5 Bath/Shower rooms (all newly fitted)
• 5 Toilets (all newly fitted) (Shower/washroom/toilet No. 3 on
the first floor has a sloping ceiling)
• Laundry room ( washing machine, ironing board and iron )
• Circular Roof Terrace (accessed by internal staircase up from
1st floor landing) with truly spectacular panoramic views
• Large raised ground-floor Terrace looking over the garden and
the landscape, perfect for relaxing and dining, with seating for
12 or more, around an inviting old farmhouse table 11 ft 6"
long (3.5 m) - an excellent setting for long lazy lunches and those
dinners that go on late into the warm nights and filled with enjoyable
conversation
• Beautiful circular Swimming Pool built in the style of a Roman
colonnaded arena - and charmingly illuminated at night for that
enchanting midnight dip. The pool is over 26 feet ( 8 metres ) in
diameter giving a surface area of 550 sq. feet ( over 50 sq. metres
) with semi-circular steps down into the pool for easy entry and
exit
• Poolside Sunbathing Terrace with sun loungers, drinks trolley
etc.
• Shaded Poolside Lounge - a perfect relaxing and reading area furnished
with a big comfy sofa, matching arm chairs, drinks/magazine table
and CD/Radio/Cassette player
• Fully fitted poolside Summer Kitchen, with 4-ring gas hob, twin
sinks, full-size cool drinks fridge & ice cabinet and stone
table for al fresco poolside meals
• Traditional stone-built poolside Barbecue with stone chimney and
serving area
• Ornamental Pond Garden with a well-stocked picturesque pond, dry-stone
grotto and little bridge and with a further stone table for dining
under the trees
• The villa is set in a mature high walled garden of 1850 sq. metres
(approximately 20,000 sq. feet) in the natural style of the region
with low ornamental dry-stone walls. A wealth of shrubs & trees
provide natural shade and tranquility in the heat of the summer,
and throughout the year you will enjoy the relaxing setting of all
the different outdoor areas with plenty of space to find your own
sunny or shady area as you desire
• Parking for 5 or 6 cars with covered shaded parking for 2
• Boules area for playing the traditional and absorbing French game
of Petanque (boules provided)
• Central Heating for the cooler winter nights (if you should ever
need it)
The
house, terraces and pool give you far-reaching panoramic views across
the magnificent Rhone valley stretching for over 40 miles (65 kms)
towards chic & fashionable St Remy de Provence, birthplace of
the 16th century astrologer Nostradamus; to the 11th century village
& ruined medieval citadel of Les Baux de Provence perched high
on a wild mountain-top escarpment & voted one of the most beautiful
village in France; Mont St Victoire; Mont Ventoux; the Luberon -
made famous by Peter Mayle's book 'A Year in Provence'; and to the
south towards the romantic Camargue (now a Nature Reserve) with
its waterways & marshes, pink flamingos, black bulls and cowboys
on cream horses.
Villa Romantique is bright and airy, painted white throughout and
furnished in a charming & colourful antique Provençal
style. It faces south and enjoys the full benefit of the quality
of light and the delicious warmth for which this region is justly
renowned all year round.
Optional
Extra Accommodation at Villa Romantique - 'La Petite Villa Romantique'
If you require extra, separate accommodation at Villa Romantique
we have now completed a total restoration of our 'La Petite Villa
Romantique' which can be rented as additional accommodation for
£490 per week all-inclusive. 'La Petite Villa Romantique'
is a charming 1-bedroomed single-storey house which accommodates
1, 2 or 3 people, or a couple with 2 children.
'La
Petite Villa Romantique' has it's own 'petite' private garden and
is tucked away in the corner of the large garden of Villa Romantique.
It is not overlooked by the main villa - or by any other properties.
It cannot be rented separately - it can only be rented with the
villa.
'La Petite Villa Romantique' is perfect for an older couple who
may wish to have peace and quiet, separate from, but near to the
main villa; or for a couple who like privacy; or for a romantic
couple who want to be away from the main house; or for a family
of 3 (or possibly 4, as there is a sofa-bed, and a baby-cot is available
- which is normally folded and stored out of the way in the wardrobe)
; or to accommodate staff who travel with the family - for instance
a nanny, chauffeur, secretary or personal assistant etc. where you
need them to be nearby, but like them to have separate accommodation.
• There
is a spacious living room (and the sofa converts to a double-width
sofa-bed - thus creating 2 separate sleeping rooms at night, if
required ). There is a dining area and an equipped kitchen corner
(with a sink, two-ring electric hob, fridge/freezer, washing machine,
microwave oven, cafetiere, toaster ,electric kettle , utensils etc.)
The double bedroom has a large double-bed which can be separated
to make twin beds, if preferred. There is a spacious shower-room
with a large shower cubicle, washbasin and WC. Our 'Petite Villa
Romantique ' is charmingly furnished and decorated in an authentic
Provencal style with beautiful tapestries adorning the walls. Both
the living room and bedroom have glazed double-doors opening directly
out on to the shaded sun-terrace with a further table and chairs
- ideal for al-fresco meals and drinks - and it's own secluded and
totally private 'petite' garden.
• The
price for 'La Petite Villa Romantique' is £490 per week all-inclusive.
Please note that you don't have to rent 'La Petite Villa Romantique'
if you don't need it. It is available as an optional extra. Please
note that as 'La Petite Villa' is within the grounds of Villa Romantique
we will never let 'La Petite Villa' as a separate booking - so if
you don't wish to rent it, rest assured that it will remain empty
and won't be occupied by any other visitors whilst you are in residence.
Top
Superb
Location of our Villa in Provence
Villa
Romantique is just 1 mile (1.5 km) out of the historic medieval
town of Beaucaire, with its imposing 12th century ruined castle
perched high on a rock overlooking the majestic river Rhône.
There is a delightful river marina crammed with colourful boats
of all shapes and sizes which is bordered with restaurants and bars
full of character. Alongside the marina the square is shaded by
the typical spreading plane trees (platanes) so loved in village
and town squares throughout this region.
Beaucaire was such an important market place in France throughout
the Middle Ages that prices struck here for commodities such as
wine and cheese, metals and timber, fruit and meat, leather and
silk, pots and pans became the norm throughout France. Its Medieval
Fairs attracted buyers and sellers from all over Europe and Asia
and there are countless ancient buildings which bear witness to
Beaucaire's great past. The town is steeped in history and still
today there are regular markets, fairs, festivals and celebrations
commemorating bygone days and traditions.
Beaucaire looks across the Rhône to its equally lovely neighbour
Tarascon with the marvellous Good King Rene's castle, one of the
best preserved medieval fortresses in the whole of France; its partly
fortified old town, the 17th century Town Hall and grand 19th century
theatre - originally a 16th century abbey.
Top
Fascinating
places to visit
Villa
Romantique is ideally placed for visiting all of central and western
(Roman) Provence, the Luberon, the Camargue, the Gard region of
Languedoc-Rousillon and the uncrowded part of the Mediterranean.
While at our holiday villa in Provence, you should try to give yourselves
enough time here to experience just a few of the wonderful sites
in this fascinating part of the South of France.
I list some suggestions here
• The beautiful walled city of Avignon - a UNESCO World Heritage
Site - the medieval city of Popes - the biggest gothic palace in
the world and the legendary bridge made famous by the song known
to every child 'Sur le Pont, d'Avignon'
• St Remy de Provence and the impressive Greco-Roman archaeological
site of Glanum, and the beautiful retreat where Van Gogh spent a
prolific year inspired by the luminosity of the light in this region
• 11th century Les Baux de Provence dominating the Provence landscape
• The Roman centre of Arles described by Constantine as 'the little
Rome in Gaul' and once the Roman capital for all of Spain, France
and Britain. The great obelisk, the theatre, the amphitheatre arena
and the Cloisters of St Trophime are not to be missed
• Nimes with its impressive Roman arena. The beautiful Roman 'Jardin
Des Fontaines' which it has been said inspired the gardens at Versailles,
and the 'Maison Carreé' much like the Parthenon in Athens
• Pont du Gard-a World Heritage Site, the incredible triple height
bridge built by the Romans, one of the finest and most grand pieces
of architecture antiquity has bequeathed to us. The aqueduct level
delivered pure water to the Roman baths and fountains at Nimes for
over 200 years
• Uzés, a delightfully restored medieval town, the seat of
the Dukes of Uzés (the first Dukes of France ) for over a
thousand years with its lovely cathedral with its tall tower unique
in France and similar to the Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Aix en Provence, a city of art and culture, home of Cezanne and
the city of a hundred fountains
• The Luberon - Gordes, Menerbes, Bonnieux and Roussillon
• Marseille with its picturesque old port and beautiful church high
up on the hill overlooking the city (go up on the little 'street
train touristique'), the Mediterranean, and the fortress island
, Isle d'If - home of Alexander Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo
• Montpelier, elegant and classical, rather like a Paris of the
South
• Orange, the great Imperial Roman theatre - yet another UNESCO
World Heritage site
• The Camargue - calm and mysterious - try to take a Land Rover
safari or a boat trip through the lagoons and waterways
• Aigues-Mortes, a beautifully preserved town completely enclosed
by ramparts. The French kingdom's first Mediterranean port and the
departure point for the Orient and the Crusades
• St. Maries de la Mer - like Mediterranean seaside resorts were
70 years ago - quiet and gentle with unspoilt and uncrowded beaches
And
my suggestions for fascinating and beautiful places for you to enjoy,
and all close to our villa in Provence, could go on and on.
There are hundreds of excellent restaurants in the area to choose
from and most are very inexpensive. I give a list of recommendations
in the villa and you will certainly have great fun discovering your
own favourites. For all your shopping there is a very large supermarket
just over 1/2 mile (1km)
Whatever you choose to do, Villa Romantique is such a special villa
in Provence in such an enchanting setting that you might find it
difficult to tear yourselves away from this little piece of paradise.
I have to say that there have been literally thousands of ordinary
villas in Provence with pools built during the past 40 years to
the same general 'box' pattern and they are all much the same as
each other. Most of these Provence villas are on 'lotissements'
- areas of land allocated for housing estates - and erected recently
by property developers and builders. So many other villas in Provence
have just been put up on any odd spare piece of land that has happened
to come up for sale. Unfortunately, most of them are completely
soulless and lacking in that traditional and so-appealing ambiance
that an older Provence villa has.
On the other hand, Villa Romantique is for those of you who are
searching for a holiday villa in Provence which is very different,
very special and very private. Full of mature character and true
Provencal atmosphere, yet still at a sensible price.
We adore our villa in Provence and although we live in London, my
family and I love to stay here as often as we possibly can when
it is not let. We just adore our beloved Provence villa and enjoy
the time we spend here more than anywhere else in the world. We
believe you will be relaxed and uplifted by your holiday at Villa
Romantique. For us, this is as close to perfection as you can get.
At the bottom of this page you can click to see a full set of photographs
of the interior and exterior of our villa in Provence, our private
pool and the wonderful views you will enjoy.
Top
Click
here to view prices/dates/occupancy
tables
Call
us now for availability and to book. Tony Cremer-Price Tel. 07836
291791
If
calling from outside the UK dial +44 7836 291791
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