Our Maison Sumiane project is first and foremost a family affair. We are from Nice and lived in Paris for a long time, where we spent almost 20 years working and starting our family. Shortly before Covid hit, the idea of a change of life came naturally to us. We wanted to return to the south-east, to rediscover a rhythm of life that we are deeply attached to, and to offer our children the same environment that we experienced ourselves. All that was left to do was to find the location. Our search took a long time, because we wanted a property that was large enough for our project, but above all a place that we felt really attached to. This house was an obvious choice: a place to live in, to share and enjoy.
Built at the end of the 19th century, this middle-class farmhouse of around 500 m² opens south onto a walled garden of just over 1 100 m², planted with ancient trees - magnolia, ginkgo biloba, acacia, pine and boxwood - whose shade protect the swimming pool and terraces from view. The facade with its eight windows, highlighted by a double overhanging cornice, still has its wooden shutters and two symmetrical stone-framed doors. Inside, the house has retained most of its original features: terracotta floor tiles, parquet flooring, marble fireplaces, interior shutters and an old staircase. The house still bears the imprint of its first occupants, a family from the French nobility whose travels seem to have inspired certain decorations: ceilings painted with Asian motifs, a bedroom with Italian accents or Provençal tones. The remarkably well-preserved wall frescoes illustrate decorative work that is rare in the region.
The house is located in an area strongly influenced by the medieval and ancient past of Brignoles, which in the Middle Ages was the residence of the Counts of Provence, making it a political and administrative centre. Its recent history can be traced back to two key figures. The first is a family from the French nobility who occupied the premises for a long time. The second is a more contemporary story. For almost 20 years, the property belonged to the head of Coteaux Varois, who raised his seven children there. In 2021, we acquired it, adding a new chapter to the house's history.
The house is full of surprises. From the street, there's nothing to suggest the garden with its trees and ancient decorations hiding behind the gate. This feeling of a hidden place, combined with the peace and quiet, the shade of ancient trees and a friendly atmosphere, makes for a charming stay. Here you will be well-taken care of, nourished by small attentions. The food served places great emphasis on local produce and the delicacies of the surrounding land. It is deliberately kept intimate, limited to around ten guests, to preserve the simple, warm spirit of the place. The property lies between the blue Var and the green Var, close to a number of outstanding landscapes: the coastline and its creeks, Porquerolles and Bormes-les-Mimosas on one side, and the rivers, villages and hills of the Verdon on the other.
At Saint-Martin-de-Pallière, its chateau hides a large cave, formerly a cistern, now a stage for classical concerts where the music resonates in the stone. In Esparron-de-Pallières, the "Bistro École", nestled in a former school, serves carefully selected wines and home-cooked dishes, where every detail reflects its hosts’ passion. In summer, at Domaine Terre-Promise, the vines become the setting for an ephemeral restaurant: the light plays on the vines, the chefs reveal the flavours, and the natural wines match the heat of the day. In Hyères, the simple, elegant "Cabane de Noé" invites you to listen to the surf and the gentle sound of suspended time.
The property comprises two independent buildings and a garden of approximately 1 250 m² with swimming pool and boules court. The main house spans 550 m² on three levels, with a living room, dining room and large kitchen on the ground floor. There are three bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms on the first floor. The second floor has two flats with a kitchen and a living room with a sofa bed. One has a bedroom and bathroom and the second has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The small 65m2 house, situated opposite the swimming pool, comprises a kitchen and shower room on the ground floor and a double bedroom and convertible lounge on the first floor.
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The three en-suite guest rooms are located on the first floor of the main house. Guests have access to the garden with its swimming pool and boules area, as well as to the communal areas on the ground floor: lounge, dining room and dining areas.
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