An 18th-century country house of 600 m², with natural swimming pool, park
and 19-hectare olive-growing estate, 15 minutes from Avignon TGV station
and 19-hectare olive-growing estate, 15 minutes from Avignon TGV station
Tarascon,
BOUCHES-DU-RHONE
provence-cote-dazur
13150
FR
Location
South of Avignon, at the gateway to the Camargue and 50 minutes from the sea, stretching along the banks of the Rhône, this legendary estate has earned a reputation for olive-growing excellence thanks to its orchard of around 9,000 olive trees.
Between the Alpilles Regional Nature Park and the Montagnette massif, near the towns of Boulbon and Tarascon, around twenty kilometres from both Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Les Baux-de-Provence, and equidistant from the former residences of Frédéric Mistral and Alphonse Daudet, two poets writing in the langue d'oc, the language of the troubadours of eternal Provence, a region perfectly epitomised by this "bastide".
Shops, primary and secondary schools as well as all amenities are less than 2 km away.
50 minutes from Marseille and Montpellier and their international airports, 40 minutes from Nîmes, 20 minutes from Arles and 15 minutes from Avignon.
Description
This is a bastide with a history that is not easily unveiled.
Its Provence name, which means "to preserve and respect", may well refer to a Masonic practice that existed in 18th-century lodges but has since disappeared. And it was precisely at this time that the bastide was built, probably on top of pre-existing medieval foundations.
A symbol in the centre of the park's majestic wrought-iron entrance gate adds to the mystery: a hexagram, or 'Star of David', suggests that the estate may have belonged to a Jewish banker in the service of the Avignon papacy.
However, there are no official records to support this hypothesis, which has become a local legend. It should be remembered that the hexagram is a decorative figure found in Christian, Hindu, Japanese and pre-Islamic Arab architectural symbolism; the six branches of the star representing the six days of work, with the seventh day, the day of rest, in the hollowed-out centre of the geometry.
The residence, surrounded by around 4 hectares of wooded parklands, is situated at the south-east end of a 15-hectare olive grove, criss-crossed by chequered tracks. Some of the earth paths run alongside one of the high dykes protecting the property from the Rhone River, which provides the entire estate with a much-envied wealth of silt and a constant supply of water.
The bastide, at once an aristocratic residence and a farmhouse, displays all the distinctive features of its particular architectural style. As the construction of such a complex always takes time, the square, affluent 18th-century buildings were extended at the beginning of the 19th century by two lower adjoining buildings.
Not far away, a single-storey outbuilding dating from the late 19th century, used as a caretaker's lodge, ensures from a distance that the peace and quiet of the bastide, a true "manor house" surrounded by its estate, is preserved.
Its Provence name, which means "to preserve and respect", may well refer to a Masonic practice that existed in 18th-century lodges but has since disappeared. And it was precisely at this time that the bastide was built, probably on top of pre-existing medieval foundations.
A symbol in the centre of the park's majestic wrought-iron entrance gate adds to the mystery: a hexagram, or 'Star of David', suggests that the estate may have belonged to a Jewish banker in the service of the Avignon papacy.
However, there are no official records to support this hypothesis, which has become a local legend. It should be remembered that the hexagram is a decorative figure found in Christian, Hindu, Japanese and pre-Islamic Arab architectural symbolism; the six branches of the star representing the six days of work, with the seventh day, the day of rest, in the hollowed-out centre of the geometry.
The residence, surrounded by around 4 hectares of wooded parklands, is situated at the south-east end of a 15-hectare olive grove, criss-crossed by chequered tracks. Some of the earth paths run alongside one of the high dykes protecting the property from the Rhone River, which provides the entire estate with a much-envied wealth of silt and a constant supply of water.
The bastide, at once an aristocratic residence and a farmhouse, displays all the distinctive features of its particular architectural style. As the construction of such a complex always takes time, the square, affluent 18th-century buildings were extended at the beginning of the 19th century by two lower adjoining buildings.
Not far away, a single-storey outbuilding dating from the late 19th century, used as a caretaker's lodge, ensures from a distance that the peace and quiet of the bastide, a true "manor house" surrounded by its estate, is preserved.
The bastide
Like all country houses of this kind, this one was built near a water feature and on a hill, in a prominent position overlooking the surrounding plain. An ochre-coloured rendering conceals its regular stonework, an aspect that the people of Provence did not want to show, considering it a sign of poverty.
The three-storey building faces a vast, shaded esplanade and is accessed by both an internal staircase and two flights of external approach stairs of grey Barbentane stone leading up to the front perron with its balustrade and the entrance door. The wooden front door features small 18th-century glass panes and is protected by two studded shutters.
On the first floor, the symmetrical facade features two groups of three tall windows with shutters, framing the central entrance door on either side. The seven smaller openings on the second floor are more like those of a farmhouse.
Finally, the roof, clad with traditional Roman tiles, is not edged with a triple cornice of shortened tiles as usual, but with a sculpted stone soffit.
The garden-level floor
The internal staircase leading to the upper floors, which starts on the first floor, has been restored in Fontvieille stone, with a beautifully preserved Louis XV wrought iron balustrade. Linking to the shaded esplanade-like terrace, the floors are laid with old glazed terracotta quarry tiles, either hexagonal, square or rectangular in shape, depending on the former function of the room in which they are located: pantry, ice-house, hunting room or laundry room - all spaces that were not considered habitable at the time. Today, the entire floor is lived in; the quarry tiles have been scrupulously restored and preserved; both the hunting room and the pantry have been converted into two bedrooms, each with its own bath or shower room. A study and an orangery with a period Napoleon III glass façade have been converted into a shop, showcasing the estate's olive-growing activities and luxury products. This is also the starting point for the external double, quarter-turn approach stairs leading to the first floor.
The first floor
The noble floor, inspired by the "piano nobile" of Italian palaces, is the true living area in traditional bastides. Both the internal and external staircases lead to a vast vestibule, which is notable for opening onto a balustraded terrace affording a sweeping view of the entire estate. On either side of this spacious vestibule, so typical of Provence country houses, are two series of adjoining sitting rooms and bedrooms. Some of these have retained their alcoves and corridors reserved for household staff. The solid French oak ceilings, with their generous beams, are waxed or painted. Next follow two rooms that are truly exceptional: the long library, with its high and low panelling, and the dining room, with its colours reminiscent of Monet in Giverny, and its blue-painted china cabinet displaying a unique collection of 18th and 19th century earthenware. The floors feature a range of ancient terracotta quarry tiles and Provence terracotta tiles in a rare diversity of colours and shapes. The walls are limewashed in ochre. At the southern end of the floor, a staircase with passenger lift for disabled people and a bathroom complying with the same standards provide independent access to this floor.
The second floor
Remodelled in the 20th century to enlarge the original bedrooms, which were more maids' or children's rooms, this level is now divided into two very large bedrooms, a walk-in wardrobe, two tiled bathrooms, two lavatories and various passageways. With their sloping ceilings, the bedrooms feature walls covered with bright Provence fabrics bearing traditional floral motifs from the House of Soleïado, and floors laid with the same period Provence tiles of pristine quality as the other floors.
The natural swimming pool
Fed by a waterfall cascading from a wall-mounted fountain, the 6.5 x 16 m swimming pool is complemented by a 1.5 x 16 m natural wetland filtration system featuring both purifying plants, such as water hyacinths, and oxygenating plants, such as hippuris and elodea. The wetland area is separated from the swimming pool by a low, almost invisible wall planted with decorative species, mainly water lilies, papyrus and lotus. Extensively tested and trouble-free, the system provides crystal-clear, healthy water free from chemicals.
A vast, partially covered bath pavilion, discreetly built against a boundary wall, houses a large enclosed changing room/shower, a fully equipped kitchen and an open space containing half a dozen deckchairs.
The outbuildings
To the west of the bastide, behind the bath pavilion that borders the natural swimming pool, there is a completely independent 19th-century “mazet” (hut) with terrace, built in the style of the original building, with an original Roman tile roof and whitewashed walls covered with Virginia creeper. Formerly an essential part of the farm's work, the small farmhouse, measuring around 80 m², is now used as a caretaker's lodge comprising a large living room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garage.
At the entrance to the olive-growing estate, there is also a large, enclosed hangar, designed to house and secure the estate's farming equipment.
The olive-growing estate and the ornamental park
The olive-growing estate and the ornamental park
The estate, which extends over around 19 hectares, consists of roughly 4 hectares of wooded parkland surrounding the bastide, a vegetable garden designed according to Olivier de Serres' French cross pattern, and some 15 hectares of farmland.
Planted with 9,000 olive trees of eight different varieties - picholine, salonenque, aglandau, bouteillan, cayon, lucques, verdale and grossane - the estate can produce 14,000 litres of first cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil a year when at full capacity. An award-winning green-golden delicacy, it has earned excellent reviews, including those of a very famous gastronomic guide.
On the parkland side, the terrace running alongside the bastide is bordered by two bicentennial plane trees and two lime trees, 'trees of liberty' planted at the time of the French Revolution. A huge open meadow extends as far as the green border separating the park from the olive-growing estate.
Our opinion
A property sheltered from any neighbouring noise or visual disturbance, in a verdant environment that is both manicured and carefully preserved. A rare gem in Provence, and one that deserves to remain as such. There is one imperative: the future of the estate cannot lie in the organisation of high-profile events, but in preserving the peace and quiet of the site and the nearby villages. Already enjoying a well-established reputation for olive production, the estate could easily breathe new life into this activity, which has recently been put on hold. It could also become the ideal home for a large family or provide a few privileged residents with the opportunity to share in the undiminished delights of the Provence art of living - or, more importantly, provide a profitable investment, a function in which it will certainly excel.
3 850 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 731666
| Land registry surface area | 19 ha 48 a 47 ca |
| Main building surface area | 600 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 10 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 80 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.
