A Moorish villa with 19th century Oriental-style furnishings and 7,000 m² of grounds
surrounded by vineyards, 30 minutes from Toulon and 20 minutes from the Hyères beaches
surrounded by vineyards, 30 minutes from Toulon and 20 minutes from the Hyères beaches
Pierrefeu-du-Var,
VAR
provence-cote-dazur
83390
FR
Location
In south-eastern France, not far from the Mediterranean coast to the east of Toulon, the property lies at the foot of the Maures mountain range, surrounded by the Var vineyards, renowned for their rosé wines, and close to the Provence village of Pierrefeu-du-Var, with its shops and day-to-day services. Hyères airport is 20 minutes away, and Nice airport 1 hour 20 minutes. It takes 8 km to drive to the A57 motorway, which connects to Toulon TGV station in 30 minutes. Finally, the Giens peninsula and the Golden Isles - Porquerolles and Port Cros - can be reached in 30 minutes.
Description
Leaving the hilltop village of Pierrefeu-du-Var, with its breathtaking panoramic views, a main road meanders between a stream and vine-covered valleys. The villa is hidden behind a particularly dense curtain of greenery. Once past the wrought iron gate, an unpaved track leads to the property, lined with dense clumps of bamboo forming a thick protective canopy. This vista extends to the parking area, which is large enough to accommodate three vehicles, including one space under a pergola. The arches of the facade and the square shape of the main section catch the eye, with its dome in the style of a koubba, a typical North African mausoleum consisting of a cubic section topped by a spherical or ogival dome.
Built in 1894 by Swiss architect Paul Page in the style of a Moorish villa, the house reveals the oriental dream world sought by its former inhabitant, architect and decorator Frédéric Méchiche. It is extended by a large, shaded terrace. From here, a garden opens out, with a pool in the shape of a basin in the foreground and a gazebo at the back.
The ensemble is completed by an annexe converted into guest accommodation. The roughcast lime facades and plaster interior walls are finished in a luminous white. The period roof tiles, semi-circular and glazed in water-green, echo the colour of the pond, creating a harmonious contrast with the softer green of the abundant surrounding foliage.
Built in 1894 by Swiss architect Paul Page in the style of a Moorish villa, the house reveals the oriental dream world sought by its former inhabitant, architect and decorator Frédéric Méchiche. It is extended by a large, shaded terrace. From here, a garden opens out, with a pool in the shape of a basin in the foreground and a gazebo at the back.
The ensemble is completed by an annexe converted into guest accommodation. The roughcast lime facades and plaster interior walls are finished in a luminous white. The period roof tiles, semi-circular and glazed in water-green, echo the colour of the pond, creating a harmonious contrast with the softer green of the abundant surrounding foliage.
The villa
Featuring strikingly white facades, the building boasts three different roofs: a flat roof, a gable roof with turquoise-blue monk-and-nun tiles and Provence frieze, and an ogee-shaped cupola. All the roofs are bordered by oriental-style crenellations. There are many different types of openings, ranging from semi-circular arches to bull's-eyes and simple rectangular windows protected by louvered shutters.
The villa, with a floor area of roughly 80 m² extending over two floors and a central single-storey section, comprises a succession of three reception rooms followed by a kitchen. The roof terrace on the upper level can be accessed from outdoors and is ideal for sunbathing.
The ground floor
Access to the house is via the terrace extending from the parking area, bordered by two centuries-old lime trees. This leads directly onto a large square sitting room of around 25 m². The architectural style - with exterior ornamental arches and a cupola forming a dome-shaped ceiling inside - recalls an Arabic-Andalusian koubba. The main room is bathed in light thanks to two large windows and a glass door, and is richly decorated with Arabic-Persian furniture, an Ottoman-inspired bench, a lacquer coffee table, pottery, earthenware, mosaics and drawings. As in all the other rooms of the villa, the flooring is of chequered cement tiles. Three steps lead up to a small drawing room, also decorated in the style of a 19th-century boudoir, with portraits, antique mirrors and oriental objects. To the left, a small corridor leads to a double wardrobe and a lavatory. Opposite, a door opens onto a sitting room that has been converted into a winter garden, with a fresh, relaxing atmosphere thanks to green plants, low tables and a corner sofa. Continuing on from the sitting rooms in different shades of green lies the kitchen, with its traditional china cabinet, original Cassis stone sink, large range cooker and modern appliances.
The first floor
From the small drawing room, a straight stone staircase, as white as most of the villa's walls, leads to the upper level, which comprises a tiled bedroom of around 10 m², a separate lavatory and a shower room. The headboard has been crafted with particular attention to detail, using traditional cedar woodwork inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and the bed canopy is of embroidered fabric from Pakistan. In the bathroom, a reclaimed copper washbasin joins a Syrian mirror with an opaline overlay glass and a 12th-century Persian star. The large sitting room can be seen through a window concealed by wooden latticework, reminiscent of the traditional mashrabiya, allowing women to see without being seen.
The annexe
With a floor area of around 40 m², it provides accommodation for family and friends in two separate air-conditioned bedrooms, each with its own shower room and lavatory. The Moorish-style decor includes an antique kilim, an Egyptian lamp, a hand-painted Moroccan wooden tea table and an embroidered fabric headboard. From one of the bedrooms, through a delicately carved arch-shaped doorframe and a carved wooden window, the view opens out over the pool. The building also features a shower room that can be easily accessed from the pool. Each room has its own private terrace.
The garden and the parkland
Entirely designed by Frédéric Méchiche, the grounds immerse the villa in an oriental world of abundant vegetation. From the terrace, shaded by colourful awnings, a garden boasting exceptionally dense vegetation opens out. Mediterranean species - oleanders, rockroses, fig and pomegranate trees - thrive thanks to a borehole connected to the river running alongside the property. The gentle splashing of two fountains contributes to the restful, dreamy atmosphere that prevails here. The hedged and fenced parkland of more than 7,000 m² is very sober, carefully laid out and maintained, and offers a wealth of views across the many bamboo plantings.
Our opinion
Dating back to end of the 19th century, nestling in the vegetation of its grounds as if caught in the early morning mist, the villa is as unique in France as it is peaceful. Architecture and decor, fittings and furnishings, pool and garden - everything has been carefully thought out down to the smallest detail. This is a residence on an amenable scale, particularly suited to lovers of the Orient. The former inhabitant has transformed the property into a place of great elegance where dreams are given full rein. In order to preserve the research and decoration work carried out, all the furnishings, which include numerous collector's items, are being sold with the building, which requires no work whatsoever.
1 630 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 401539
| Land registry surface area | 7185 m2 |
| Main building surface area | 80 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 3 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 39.6 m2 |
Aucune procédure en cours menée sur le fondement des articles 29-1 A et 29-1 de la loi n°65-557 du 10 juillet 1965 et de l’article L.615-6 du CCH
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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.
