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Between the Alpilles mountains and the waters of the River Durance, here Provence is at its best. The sun and the water deliver a profusion of fruits and vegetables. A little outside the historic centre, the old market garden farm has changed a lot over the last few years. Its former hard life has given way to another world, where joyful reunions and long lazy days last all year long. The old walls have found new life thanks to careful renovations! The decoration, full of mischievous details, contributes to the slightly bohemian atmosphere in the air. The "écoliers" in the house's name (school children) refers to our visitors, both young and old, who while enjoying themselves in the house, the garden, the swimming pool, or around the dinner table can savour the most precious thing the old farmhouse has to offer - carefree living.
I was born in the Centre region of France, but I have origins in the Ardèche and Avignon where I spent all my holidays as a little girl. I have dreamed of going to live in the South of France all my life. We moved a lot for work and we always lived in big cities like Lyon and Paris. When the long awaited opportunity finally came, we didn't think twice. Within a month we had packed up our children and moved to the countryside and we have never regretted our decision!
The Mas des Écoliers is a typical southern Provence farmhouse, built in "tapie", or "pisé", an inexpensive building method using raw earth. There are numerous “tapie” houses on the plain between the Rhône and the Durance, thanks to the thick layer of light grey clay silt that lies around 80 cm below ground level. Once moistened, shaped and packed down, this earth could be used to build farmhouses in the region at a lower cost. In addition, the windows in the kitchen and the room above it have a unique "basket-handle" shape, a curve formed by a half-oval or half-ellipse cut on its long axis, which are typical of the region.
A “mas” is a farm house. They are almost always south-facing, offering protection from the mistral winds. There are no openings facing the north and in other places they are narrow to protect the house from the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter. The Mas des Ecoliers follows this pattern. It was built in the 19th century and was a former market garden farm before we owned it.
This property is the ideal holiday destination for big happy families. The outdoor areas have been carefully designed to appeal to young and old alike. There is the garden with its lawn for ball games, the petanque area and the pool with its large terrace for sunbathing. We love children, especially those that read late into the night in their beds, jump in the pool and dip their fingers in the jam. Everything has been thought out for their safety. Because of our passion for decoration and our ecological awareness, all the furniture has been carefully sourced and renovated, or created with materials recovered on site to give the house a warm, bohemian, vintage feel, just like a family home. We offer various activities on site to enhance our guests' stays: yoga, massages, wreath making, home cooking, wine tasting, as well as baby-sitting and drive-through shopping services.
For Provençal specialities, we recommend the "Mas de l'Echanson" in Chateaurenard, the "Café du Soleil" in Eyragues and the "Maison Bournissac" in Noves, with its breathtaking view of the Mont Ventoux! For those who prefer to cook good meals at home, the farmers' market "La Récolte des Confines" in Eyragues sells delicious local and seasonal products. The path from the small village of Mas Blanc des Alpilles is perfect for a family walk. In the spring it is lined with flowers that seem to be planted to specifically to delight hikers. The walk ends with a climb up to a magnificent view of the Luberon, Mont Ventoux and the Camargue plain. For antique enthusiasts, the stalls of the Village des Antiquaires de la gare in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue are irresistible!
The Mas des Écoliers is a different, intimate location, which makes for easy discussions and group work in a very friendly setting. It can be rented for a day or a half-day or as part of a residential package. It has fantastic assets such as natural light, a projector, a free wifi connection, a shaded terrace and access to the swimming pool. The accommodation offer consists of the five rooms described in the rental section and an additional room, "Mathematics", only offered for seminars, with a walk-in shower room and toilet. Various activities are offered on site: yoga, massage, wine tasting, individual or corporate coaching and a 2CV rally. Tailor-made offers are possible together with local partners and tourist service providers.
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