A real village house in Althen les Paluds, northwest of the Luberon and in a great location to explore Provence: if you are not sure what to see first, the owner offers an insider's guide to the region and cuisine of Provence.
 
The front of the house with wisteria over the veranda.   Beautiful bathroom with bath and walk-in shower.
 

La Garance is a spacious 2-bedroom private wing of the owners' house, designed in the true Provencal style. Although there are two bedrooms the home is intended for a couple, or possibly three people.

The owners are interior designers and antiquaries, and have decorated in an authentic Provencal style.

Note: This property also has a unique selling point - there is the option of the English-speaking owner taking you on a guided tour of Provence based on your interests, as well as an introduction to Provencal cuisine. He has a love and knowledge of both. More details at the bottom of the page.
 
 
Dining table in the living room, by the kitchen.   The other end of the living room with fireplace.
 
 

Downstairs there is an inviting hallway, living room and adjoining open-plan kitchen.

This house is adjoining the owners' but there is no inter-connection and it is private.

The living room has a fireplace with well-upholstered armchairs, satellite TV, and high-speed internet.

The kitchen is behind a counter at the other end of the living room, and has an oven, cooker, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher and clothes washer.

Between kitchen and sitting area is a dining table and chairs. There are also three choices of table for eating outside.

  
 
Kitchen.   The front of the house with wisteria over the veranda.
 
 

Upstairs are two bedrooms and the bathroom. In the hall between the bedrooms is an air conditioning unit that can cover both the bedrooms.

The master bedroom is either two singles or a double, and the second bedroom is two single beds.

There is a beautiful big bathroom with bathtub and walk-in shower (pictured at the top of this page).

There are separate WCs upstairs and downstairs.

  
The master bedroom with two singles or one large double bed.
  
 
 
If your computer doesn't show the email link above, the email address is garance, then the @ sign, followed by theluberon.com
 

 
The view from the master bedroom. Bedroom 2 with two single beds.
 
Outside
 

Outside there is a private garden for La Garance to the back, which is separate from the owners' side of the house. This is in lawn and gravel, with sunloungers and deckchairs, and a table and chairs.

There is also a summer kitchen room (see below), for extra shade, decorated with local finds.

To the front of the house, there is also a table and chairs on the veranda, under the shade of the wisteria that covers the trellis overhead.

There is secure off-street parking.
The back of the house has a large garden which is only for La Garance.
  
 
 
The summer kitchen is a cool place to relax and there is a table and chairs right outside.
 
 
If your computer doesn't show the email link above, the email address is garance, then the @ sign, followed by theluberon.com
 
The Location
 

Althen des Paluds is a small village near Avignon, which is superbly located for exploring Provence: the Luberon with its hill-top villages; the cities of Avignon, Orange, Nimes, Arles, Aix, and Marseille; the Camargue; the Mediterranean and Cote d'Azur; the wine regions of the Rhone - Althen des Paluds is in the centre of it all.

The village has a cafe, two bakers and a few other shops, as well as a very good restaurant, the Moulin de la Roque. The nearest baguette is 1 minute's walk away.
 

 

How to use the map:

You can zoom into this map for more detail, or move around.

At the moment it is centred on the blue marker which shows the approximate location of La Garance.

To zoom in and out click on the + and - buttons.

You can also click on the map and drag in any direction to see where nearby places are.

  
 
Weekly Rental Rates 2008
 

 

November-March..........600 euros

April.............................700 euros

May............................. 800 euros

 

June-September............1000 euros

October.........................800 euros

Xmas, New Year............800 euros

  
 
Notes to the rental rates

Included in the rental rates: utilities, bedlinen, towels, high-speed internet, after-stay clean.

Rental periods run from Saturday 4pm to Saturday 11am.

To secure a booking you would send a 25% deposit, with the balance payable up to 8 weeks before your stay.

There is a refundable security deposit of 300 euros against any breakages or damage.

  

Insurance: when you book a rental home in France you must take out holiday insurance not only to cover yourself against loss or accidents but also to cover against accidental damage to the property.

Cancellation policy: if we can find another booking for your dates we will return any money sent (minus bank charges).

The house is for a maximum of 3 people. We regret that pets and smoking are not allowed in the house.
 
Guided Tours of Provence, for the day or half-day
 

If you are not sure what to see and do in Provence, let Michel (the owner of La Garance) show you the Provence he knows and loves (in English). Not necessarily what all the guidebooks tell you to see, but perhaps the road less travelled, stopping off at various points of interest on the way. Here are some examples of possible itineraries:
 

Roman Remains

Head for Vaison la Romaine to take in all the Roman treasures of the city, then to Orange for the vast amphitheatre - you might stop at Sablet for olive oil and Gigondas for wine, a Provencal market en route to pick up lunch. In the afternoon cross the Rhone river by the Roman bridge of Pont Saint Esprit, and arrive at the extraordinary Pont de Gard. Maybe finish the day off at the arena in Nimes.

  

Villages of the Luberon

Quick tour of Pernes les Fontaines, then a stop at St Didier, a lovely market at Venasque, drop in at Senanque Abbey on the way to Gordes, then onto St Saturnin d'Apt and home via Isle sur la Sorgue. Or carry on to Bonnieux and south over the mountain to Lourmarin with its restaurants and castle, finishing at Ansouis and its magnificent Provencal chateau.

  

Explore Avignon

The ramparts, the Pont d'Avignon, the old streets, the Popes' Palace, and less known gems like the Calvet museum and the Vouland museum. Not to mention the great shops and restaurants. Then Villeneuve lez Avignon next door.
Guided tours cost 100 euros for half a day and 150 euros for a full day.
 
Maybe you want a guided hike, go horse-riding, play golf, swim in the Mediterranean and include some stop-offs on the way?

Do you want to learn to cook some Provencal recipes? Michel is an excellent cook and you can go to the market with him to choose the best ingredients, then prepare them together.

Talk about it with Michel over an aperitif!
 
 
If your computer doesn't show the email link above, the email address is garance, then the @ sign, followed by theluberon.com
 
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