Montagnette, Barbentane

Description

Exceptionally situated villa in Provence near Avignon, in a beautiful, calm setting where the view consists exclusively of mountains and trees, with rabbits and squirrels for company, plus chirping crickets in July and August. The photographs show the spacious terrace, the Montagnette (little mountain, pronounced Montanyet) at the bottom of the garden, the swimming pool, the Pétanque pitch (an area of flat ground surrounded by old railway sleepers to play bowls - a full set is supplied), and the view across the Rhone valley (although the river itself, about a mile away, is not visible from the house because of the trees).

The nearest road is a quarter of a mile away, with very little traffic. The village is within walking distance (for the energetic), but a car is essential to enjoy the surroundings, when you can tear yourself away from the house, the pool and the Montagnette.

A week's not really enough, so you'll be glad to know we offer DISCOUNTS for bookings of 2 weeks or more -- please contact owner BEFORE booking.

* FREE CANCELLATION if official Covid travel restrictions prevent you from taking up your holiday. Your payments will be refunded in full. Alternatively, if you prefer, we will change the dates to a later date (this year or next), thus guaranteeing that you will be able to take equivalent holidays for the same price. *

* Croissants & Festival d'Avignon *
With 3 bakers in the nearby village, you can enjoy freshly baked bread and croissants for breakfast every morning (including Sundays), sitting on the terrace soaking in the warmth and the stunning view of the Montagnette. OK, someone has to go and get them; you will be back in the time it takes to make a pot of coffee, and going into the village (especially the baker's) is always a pleasure.

A short bus ride away is Avignon (*** maximum star rating in the Michelin Guide) with its famous (half) bridge ('Sur le Pont d'Avignon...'), Papal Palace, festivals, museums, concerts, street cafés and restaurants... Most famously the July Avignon Festival (mainly performing arts).

* Beauty, traditions, antiques, antiquities and the Camargue *
Then there's the rest of Provence, with l'Abbaye de St Michel de Frigolet close by in the Montagnette, St. Rémy de Provence (Wednesday market) just a few kilometres to the south, Les Alpilles (mini-Alps), Glanum (ancient Greek and Roman Gallic city) and Les Baux (surreal hilltop village and fortifications, huge art displays inside the mountain, and superb wines).
Follow the river south to Arles (Saturday market), or go west to Nîmes, Uzès and the famous Pont du Gard triple-decker Roman aqueduct.

To the east visit Fontaine de Vaucluse, l'Isle sur la Sorgue (antique dealers on Sundays) and Gordes. Or Carpentras with its Friday market.

From Greek antiquities, Roman temples and arenas, and medieval fortresses, to lively village fêtes with horse riders, Arlésiennes in their colourful traditional costumes, and bulls with the young braves running after them - or being chased - in the streets, you can be as relaxed or as busy as the mood takes you.

The Mediterranean is about 40 miles away. You can choose the deserted flatlands of the Camargue (wild horses, bulls and pink flamingos), the unspoilt Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, medieval Aigues Mortes, or Le Grau du Roy with its 18 km (11 miles) of sandy beaches.

Or you can keep it local, with horse riding, cycling, walking, practice golf, and ballooning. You can even join in a game of pétanque with the villagers!

* Easy to get to -- scenic roads or motorway, high speed rail or air *
A leisurely drive through France is the ideal, if you have the time. If not, there is the A7 motorway.

You can fly into Avignon, Nîmes, Marseille or Nice airports.

Slip under the Channel on the Eurostar from London and Ashford (non-stop service to Avignon in the summer - less than 6 hours journey time), or skim across the French countryside on the TGV high speed train from Brussels and major French towns (only 2 hrs 40 mins from Paris to Avignon!).

Car hire available at the airports and railway stations. And there's plenty of parking space at the villa.