Two Provence farmhouses with outbuildings overlooking a valley and lavender fields,
on a vast, almost 60-hectare estate in the Vaucluse area, to the east of the Mont Ventoux
on a vast, almost 60-hectare estate in the Vaucluse area, to the east of the Mont Ventoux
Sault,
VAUCLUSE
provence-cote-dazur
84390
FR
Location
This estate is located on the north-east side of the Mont - Ventoux regional natural park, near to the hilltop villages of Sault, Aurel and Simiane-la-Rotonde, deep in the hollows of the Albion landscape at an altitude of 800 metres, where lavender blooms as far as the eye can see, headily perfuming the air throughout summer. The property is located in a region renowned for its stupendous relief, rocky energy and landscapes, on the edges of Giono’s and Pagnol’s wild Provence, between the Montagne de la Lure and Mont Ventoux, at the centre of a limestone plateau, dotted with more than 200 potholes, and features such as the Nesque Gorges and their most famous karst spring, the Fontaine de Vaucluse.
It can be reached easily via the A51 and A7 motorways (between Aix-en-Provence and Gap plus Lyon and Marseille respectively) which are 1 hour and 1 hour 20 minutes away respectively. Avignon high-speed TGV railway station is 1 hour 30 minutes away and Marseille international airport is 1 hour 40 minutes away.
Description
The region in which the property is situated is probably one of Provence’s wildest areas still in existence: comprised of high plateaux dotted with scarcely half a dozen villages, which are often sparsely populated fortified settlements, these Virgilian landscapes have retained their natural and agricultural character of yesteryear. The area, located between the southern part of the Drôme and the Vaucluse, has for several decades enjoyed enhanced protection thanks to the creation of two large regional natural parks, namely the Mont Ventoux and the Luberon.
The property emerges into view at the bend of a cypress-lined driveway. To the north, lavender fields give way to a view of the forest and surrounding mountains. At the entrance, there is a first group of buildings including one of the farmhouses and an outbuilding, both facing east towards the valley.
700 metres further along a picturesque track that runs alongside the edge of the forest with a panoramic view of the valley, there is a second group of buildings, made up of the main farmhouse with its two annexes, standing firm on a mound facing south, away from any disturbance thanks to its secluded location, surrounded by lavender fields.
The traditional architecture, which has preserved its authenticity, made up of pointed stone and half-round tiles, is present in all the buildings, which date back to before the late 17th century. This provides the property with harmonious forms as well as materials and colours that are typical of Provence country dwellings.
The property emerges into view at the bend of a cypress-lined driveway. To the north, lavender fields give way to a view of the forest and surrounding mountains. At the entrance, there is a first group of buildings including one of the farmhouses and an outbuilding, both facing east towards the valley.
700 metres further along a picturesque track that runs alongside the edge of the forest with a panoramic view of the valley, there is a second group of buildings, made up of the main farmhouse with its two annexes, standing firm on a mound facing south, away from any disturbance thanks to its secluded location, surrounded by lavender fields.
The traditional architecture, which has preserved its authenticity, made up of pointed stone and half-round tiles, is present in all the buildings, which date back to before the late 17th century. This provides the property with harmonious forms as well as materials and colours that are typical of Provence country dwellings.
The main farmhouse
It featured on Cassini’s map from the late 17th century and is made up of two groups of buildings: a three-storey one to the northwest on top of the mound and another to the south beyond the inner courtyard. In its western corner, the first group is crowned by a former dovecote, in the form of a square tower overlooking the roofs. It forms a unified whole around the courtyard, with façades made of rough-hewn, simply pointed stones from the Luberon’s quarries, embracing the slope on which they are built. The roofs made of old half-round tiles, which form a motley mosaic typical of such varied dwellings, are at points bordered by a Genoise corbel. The farmhouse has been carefully restored, with solid oak door lintels, exterior stone staircases, dry stone terrace walls, a borie-style well, small-paned windows and olive green coloured wooden shutters.
The street-level floor
This level can be reached via the former driveway into the farmhouse, protected by two large, wooden carriage gates to the east and west of the inner courtyard, which is the heart of the property. It is pleasantly paved, shaded from the midday sun and leads to the main building, which includes a three-storey apartment, and the secondary building, which, over two levels, includes three bedrooms overlooking the inner courtyard, each with an en suite shower room. The use of natural lime as the only material for rendering the walls accentuates the place’s resolutely Mediterranean character.
The first floor
The second level can be reached by a staircase from the lounge as well as directly from the outside. It is made up of two bedrooms with en suite shower rooms and an office opening onto a pleasant west-facing terrace. On this storey and throughout the house, the floors are paved with modern, light-coloured terracotta tiles.
The second floor
The staircase climbing up to the top level leads to a bedroom that is bathed in light thanks to a south-facing roof terrace as well as a bathroom and two observation rooms in the former dovecote. To the northwest, a modern veranda opens onto the grounds and leads to the swimming pool.
On this level, to the northwest, three bedrooms, each with en suite shower rooms, can be reached directly from the outside. The architecture of the house was predominantly designed to give omnipresence to light, while the choice of materials displays cohesion: the floors are tiled with cast flooring or Montagne de Lure grey stone, the walls and ceilings are whitewashed and the tall windows have small panes.
The garden-level floor
The lowest level, which is part of the secondary building, can be reached from the exterior. It is entirely south-facing and flooded with light, overlooking the lavender fields just below. It contains four bedrooms each of which has an en suite shower room. The rooms are interconnected in pairs. As a result, they can be converted into suits or studio apartments.
The outbuildings and swimming pool
The pavilion
Fifty metres to the west of the farmhouse, this square, single-storey construction with pavilion roof contains a single room that is bathed in light through the small-paned windows. It is ideal for both observation and contemplation, in a sheltered, woodland setting.
The belvedere
This gazebo topped by a pavilion roof is situated slightly below the swimming pool and overlooks the valley to the north.
The swimming pool
The swimming pool, standing halfway between the farmhouse and pavilions, is surrounded by a flagstone deck. The pool has a liner but it will need to be replaced. It is well exposed to sunlight throughout the day.
The farmhouse at the estate’s entrance
This three-storey house is located at the front edge of the estate on the hillside. It can be reached by the south-facing patio and east-facing roof terrace, both of which overlook the valley and its lush forest.
Over the building’s two levels and basement there are 200 m² of living space, with vast living rooms and three bedrooms.
The street-level floor
The entrance hall to the north leads to a bedroom with en suite shower room and a kitchen whose south-facing patio boasts views over the valley. After the kitchen, there is a dining room which can also be reached from the entrance hall. A large, astutely placed skylight bathes the large lounge in light. An old stone and brick fireplace occupies the heart of this driveway level. The floor is paved with travertine stone slabs.
The garden-level floor
This second level is the upper floor of the house and opens out onto the patio between it and the outbuilding. From the hall on the lower floor, a wide travertine stone slab paved staircase leads to a vast room bathed in light boasting impressive volumes and a sloped ceiling. To the east, a sliding patio door opens onto a roof terrace overlooking the valley and boasting spectacular views. The living rooms are embellished by exposed beams and skylight windows. The pointed stone walls combine discretely with the travertine stone slab paved floor, under which, in winter, the underfloor heating provides a comfortable sense of warmth. There are also two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and separate lavatory on this level.
The basement
On the eastern part of the building, a storeroom and boiler room, which can both be reached from the outside, provide the residence with welcome storage capacity.
The outbuilding of the farmhouse at the estate’s entrance
This outbuilding, built at a right angle to and on the same level as the garden level of the farmhouse, is roughly rectangular and is topped by a gabled roof whose two slopes face east and west. Its neatly pointed stone façades are dotted with windows aligned in rows that bathe the interior in light. It boasts six bedrooms over two levels as well as a reception room on the upper floor.
The ground floor
The four bedrooms, each with an en suite shower room, which make up this level can be reached from the patio to the east. In the northern part of the building, the reception room upstairs can be reached from a room with a ceiling boasting white painted jack arches.
The upstairs
This level is mainly made up of the approximately 70-m² reception room and its high ceiling with painted, exposed beams. The room is bathed in light thanks to the many windows in the eastern and western walls as well as the skylights. To the east, French windows open out onto a stone terrace.
The second part of the upper floor can be reached by a staircase that divides the ground floor into two sections. It leads to passageway providing access to two east-facing bedrooms, both of which have an en suite shower room and separate toilet.
The forest estate and fields
The property includes a large, mostly wooded expanse of approximately 60 hectares. The buildings are surrounded by green, grassy meadows and landscaped terraces spread over almost 5 hectares of fields, some of which have been planted with lavender. Beyond these meadows, the undulating coppices eradicate any notion of boundaries. The forest boasts a rich mixture of endemic trees and plants, such as pubescent oaks, Sessile oaks, beech, aspen, ling heather and common broom, juniper, savory, mugwort, thyme and wild lavender. The region is especially well-renowned for its exceptional wealth of herbs. The preservation of plant-life in this part of Provence has allowed a wide variety of wildlife to find sanctuary here: as a result, deer and a wealth of birds, including short-toed snake eagles, inhabit the surrounding woods in great quantities.
Our opinion
This is a place whose energy and aesthetic qualities can be immediately sensed on arrival. The all-encompassing expanse of an unspoiled landscape, the exceptional quality of the air, the absence of disturbances and noise other than the cries of Bonelli's eagles, masters of the air and surrounding peaks, make this an ideal location to recharge your batteries. Thanks to the building’s different levels, as a whole, there is an impression of architectural variety and sobriety in dialogue with the natural environment, without ostentation nor superfluousness.
Such a setting, which contrasts with today's omnipresent hustle and bustle, is an ideal location for organising nature immersion or meditation seminars. It could also play host to guest accommodation almost like a modern hermitage, unless wise old eccentrics set up home here, to cultivate their inner peace as well as their garden, in the great expanse and magnanimity of dominant nature.
Reference 897594
| Land registry surface area | 58 ha 95 a 50 ca |
| Main building surface area | 640 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | +20 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 287 m2 |
| including refurbished area | 287 m2 |
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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.
