Le Clos D'ours (7 Nuits Min)

Description

This cosy Provençal villa was recently restored and now sleeps 7. The house sits in 2.5 ha of land surrounded by Olives, vines and Cork Oak trees. The house faces south and has stunning views over farmland to the soft wooded hills beyond. You can sit on the terrace and watch the birds of prey circle overhead, listen to the crickets and watch the sun go down with a cool glass of Rose, and feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere. Yet you are only 12 km from the beaches of St Tropez.

The house is small and cosy, and sleeps 7 in two double rooms, one twin bedded room with balcony, and a single room. There is a bathroom with a roll top bath en-suite with the master bedroom, and the second double bedroom has its own ensuite with stone surrounded bath tub. There is also a separate WC inside the house. The third bathroom with tiled shower and WC is accessible from the outside. The kitchen and sitting room have open fireplaces, and there is also a fireplace on the terrace for evening BBQ. (except in the summer when BBQ's are not permitted by the local authority) There is a large pool with 2 pool alarms, and a large Mediterranean style garden. Like most pools in this area, our pool is unheated, but in summer is warm enough for swimming in.

The 2.5 hectare garden is enclosed by electric fence (to keep out the wild boar) and is very tranquil and private. It has a rustic feel, and you will see many types of birds and insects - especially butterflies, and at night, beautiful moths. If you are lucky, you will see a wild tortoise, and you will definitely see the geckos which scamper up and down the house walls at night catching insects.

The last 500 meters of the road leading to the house is very rustic; it is not scary, but quite bumpy and rutted in places. It is not suitable for a low slung sports car, but otherwise is fine as long as you take it slowly. With a 4x4 it is no problem.


Please note that the house is only available for stays of 1 week or more.

La Garde Freinet: La Garde Freinet is a remarkably unspoilt medieval hilltop village. It has twice weekly markets and and great local family run shops and restaurants. The village sits at the base of the Massif des Maures mountains and above the village is the Fort de Freinet from which you can walk on a stunning two hour journey through the mountains back to the house. You will see views of the snow covered Southern Alps in one direction, and the Bay of St Tropez on the other. You will pass the Romanesque Chapelle de Notre Dame de Miramer high above the fields and farms below, and often you will be the only person around surrounded only by the bare rocks and the wild plants of the Garrigue. In the other direction from the house is the hilltop medieval village of Grimaud which also has great views, great restaurants and a local flea market. In October the annual Chestnut festival in La Garde Freinet is a popular local event with stalls selling chestnut themed produce as well as hog roasts and music

Beaches: The nearest beach is Port Grimaud about 10km away. From here you can also take a ferry to St Tropez which is not only a great way to beat the traffic, but also to see the many huge and sometimes beautiful yachts in the bay. The beaches of St Tropez like Pamplonne are busy and glamorous with great beach side restaurants such as the famous Club 55 where the stars like to be seen having lunch. You might prefer the quieter coves like Canadel and le Lavandou, or you can take a short ferry ride to the beautiful island of Porqueroles where you can rent bikes, pack a picnic and visit the botanical garden.

Activities, sports and sightseeing: There are quite a few Golf courses nearby, and tennis near Grimaud. There is horse riding in the village of Hameau de la Tourre 1km from the house, and of course on the beaches you can rent boats, windsurfers and go water skiing. For older children and teenagers the
go-kart track near the Geant Casino supermarket is very popular. For younger children there is Aqualand.

There are also numerous local caves and châteaux where you can sample the excellent local wines.

The local town of Cogolin, whilst less idyllic than Grimaud and La Garde Freinet has many useful shops, banks, supermarkets and also a weekly market.

The Grarde Canyon de Verdon is about an hour's drive to the North. In this amazing nature reserve you can do canoeing, rock climbing, white river rafting or just take in the incredible geological features, and breathtaking scenery.

About 35 min drive North is the perfectly preserved Cistercian monastery of Le Thoronet which was founded in 1120.