Le Refuge
Menerbes, Provence
Sleeps 2 • Bedrooms 1 • Bathrooms 1
HIGHLIGHTS
Wifi
A wonderful place
We really enjoyed the stay in this beautiful place. The house is situated in a beautiful forest and it is quiet and peaceful. Thanks Marie!
Menerbes rises up like a ship from the sea of vineyards that run along the Luberon valley and is officially one of 'The Most Beautiful Villages of France'. Menerbes has two levels. On the mid-level are restaurants, cafe, bakery and grocery store. And on the top level you can stroll past grand houses with magnificent views to north and south, as well as the Maison de la Truffe et du Vin (House of Wine and Truffles), where you can buy produce and also have lunch in the beautiful garden. Market day in Menerbes is Thursday mornings from April to October.
From Menerbes you can get to the other picture-perfect hill-top villages of the north Luberon within 15 minutes by car: Gordes, Bonnieux, Roussillon, Lacoste, Oppede-le-vieux and Goult. Within an hour are the must-sees of Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, St-Remy, Les Baux-de-Provence and Arles.
Included in the rates: utilities, bedlinen, towels, WiFi internet, visitor tax, after-stay clean.
To book: 30% booking deposit, with the balance payment due on arrival.
Rental periods: 7 nights minimum.
Refundable damage deposit: 200 euros.
Cancellation: if you have to cancel, we will try to re-book your dates, and refund the amount recovered (minus bank charges).
Maximum occupancy: 2. This property is not suitable for children.
Dogs would be considered at this property.
All properties are non-smoking.
Truly a special place
We have traveled a fair amount and always put a lot of care into choosing where we
stay. We expected a lot from “The Refuge” based on what we saw from the photos
online when we booked, and happily, the reality exceeded our expectations. This is
truly a special place, whose modest price belies its charms. Though you are a very
short drive from Menerbes and near to all the other hill towns in the Luberon, you
feel a world away from the tourist crowds when you arrive at this natural sanctuary,
hidden away at the end of a small country road. The cliffside location is striking, and
the indoor and outdoor spaces have been designed with care and creativity to make
the most of its unique setting. It was a great pleasure preparing our meals in the
cosy kitchen (taking advantage of the terrific produce, cheeses, charcuterie, etc, etc
found in the local markets), and dining on the terrace, flanked by climbing roses and
jasmine, listening to birdsong and watching the sunset. The greatest pleasure of all
was getting to know Marie, the owner and creator of the place. She is an intelligent,
sophisticated ex-Parisienne with a warm and generous heart, the soul of an artist,
and a wonderful sense of fun. Besides giving us the benefit of her significant
knowledge of the area and her discerning taste in local restaurants and places to
visit, she took excellent care of us and proved to be a true guardian angel when we
were faced with an unexpected health issue. I look forward fondly to when we can
return to see her again — and in the meantime, I’m recommending “The Refuge” to
everyone who I care about.
A week in paradise
If for your next vacation you really want to relax, far from the crowds, and discover places and landscapes of a rare beauty, I know the place you need! It’s in Menerbes, in the Luberon. It is here that I spent one of the best weeks of my life. Le Refuge is a beautiful place, out of time and benefitting from a wonderful owner, Marie. Breakfasts on the terrace, sunbathing in the natural amphitheatre on the cliff behind the house, with a breeze and the song of cicadas, reading in the hammock, dozing outside. At night after dinner, back to the hammock under a sky full of stars. In brief, I spent a week in paradise.
Magical Refuge
Thank you for your kindness in sharing your beautiful home. You are an amazing woman and you should be very proud of the effort and work you have put in to this home
We have discovered the lovely area around Menerbes – so peaceful and beautiful. Hope to visit again the future and we will tell our family and friends to visit Le Refuge!
