the towns of Vaison-la-Romaine and Grignan, in France’s Vaucluse department
Location
The property lies in a picturesque village that is tucked away in the north-west of France’s Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, between the Cévennes hills and Mont Ventoux mountain. It is nestled among vineyards and fields of lavender. The medieval village in which the house stands is a stopover of the Côtes du Rhône wine trail and the region’s lavender trail. It is perched upon a hill in an enchanting corner of France that straddles the country's breathtaking Drôme and Vaucluse departments. The renovated house is located on the village’s church square, near the ruins of a fortress. The church, a true emblem of the quaint village, is crowned with a bell tower adorned with fine wrought ironwork. A lion-head fountain is also a token of this charming village. A high-speed train station in the city of Avignon is only an hour’s drive away. From this station, you can reach Paris in less than three hours by rail. There is also a train station in the town of Orange, 30 minutes away by car. And you can get to Marseille international airport in under one hour and a half by road too.
Description
The house
The ground floor
A carriage entrance gate leads into an open-sided shelter and a gravelled courtyard dotted with shrubs along its edges. This secret enclosed haven is spacious enough for a lap pool, shower and outdoor kitchen to have recently been built in it. From this courtyard, a door leads into an entrance hall. On the left, there is a stone staircase that takes you to the different levels. On the right, there is a double-size lounge with a fireplace of brickwork and plastered stone. A window and a glazed door, which both face the street, bathe this large lounge in natural light. A floor of polished concrete adds a modern touch to this room with exposed beams running across its ceiling. A pair of passageways lead into a fitted kitchen filled with natural light from a south-facing window and from a glazed door that leads out onto a narrow street.
The first floor
You reach the first floor via a stone staircase that climbs up with half-turns and several flights. Its wrought-iron balustrade adds to its understated refinement and brings out the white and cream tones of its steps. The landing connects to a linen room on the left. It also connects to two bedrooms, each of which has its own shower room and lavatory. The floors are mostly terracotta-tiled. Exposed beams runs across the ceilings. And a fireplace of black marble and brickwork stands in one of the bedrooms. This same landing connects to a passageway that leads to a 60m² terrace with a concrete floor and a wrought-iron balustrade.
The second floor
The staircase continues up to the second floor, which has two bedrooms. One bedroom has a terracotta-tiled floor and the other one has a floor of polished concrete. They have sloping roof ceilings and white walls. Each bedroom has its own shower room with a lavatory.
The outhouse
In the courtyard, there is an outhouse with a 10m² bicycle storeroom, a utility room and a 35m² studio apartment with a mezzanine. You reach the studio apartment via a flight of stairs. The outhouse is crowned with a roof of barrel tiles. Its walls are coated with rendering and its windows are rectangular. The studio apartment, which has air conditioning, faces south and leads out via French windows onto the large terrace that is level with the house’s first floor. This terrace offers a clear view of the valley.
The courtyard
The courtyard is enclosed with stone walls, including elevations of the two buildings. It offers a 65m² floor area and forms a link between the main house and the studio apartment. On its north side, it has a lap pool with stone edging and a soil strip of low shrubs and climbing plants along one side of it, as well as a changing room with a shower and lavatory and a well-developed outdoor kitchen. The courtyard is gravelled and shaded by a tree planted at the edge of the terrace. Tables and chairs could easily be placed out here. Facing both south and north, this courtyard enjoys an optimal level of sunshine throughout the day.
Our opinion
This splendid gem of stone architecture, tucked away in a quaint village in France’s beautiful Vaucluse department, has gone through countless years of local church bells setting the slow pace of life here. This enchanting backdrop, steeped in history, creates an ideal lifestyle for you, away from bustle and inside a masterfully renovated house. Its location, just north-west of Mont Ventoux mountain, makes it the perfect gateway to stunning natural surroundings that will delight lovers of hiking. Yet anyone simply seeking a relaxed rural lifestyle will be thrilled in this picturesque corner of France. The impressive renovation project on the home has showcased its old features, underlining its charm, character and discreet palette of colours. The dwelling is laid out around an inner courtyard that creates continuity of stone and light between the interior and exterior. More than just a home, this village property embodies a certain way of life rooted in nature and well-preserved built heritage. In this lifestyle, you savour each moment of existence.
630 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 597838
| Land registry surface area | 250 m² |
| Main building floor area | 185 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 4 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 100 m² |
| including refurbished area | 45 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.