Villa de Banon  

Description from the manager

Fields of blue and mauve flowers dazzle your eyes. This holiday villa is near the village of Simiane la Rotonde, for many years the regional capital of lavender. A truly magnificent property, Villa de Banon features a private heated swimming pool, garden, tennis court, and lawn bowling game. Perfect for groups and family-friendly, feel free to meander around the countryside on one of the six bikes at this Provencal vacation villa. Luxuriously decorated with attention to every detail, this rental villa in France is a great way to appreciate country life with modern amenities.

[83 hectares or 200 acres] This magnificent property is perche...d high on a hill surrounded by fields of lavender in Haute Provence. It is located 2 km from the village of Simiane la Rotonde, between Forcalquier and the Luberon. For many years, Simiane was the regional capital of lavender, and this small village was made famous by its tasty goat cheese delicately wrapped in a dried cedar leaves and tied with a raffia ribbon. A traditional music festival is held from mid-July to mid-August. Marseille Airport: 100 km

Avignon TGV Station: 75 km

Apt: 25 km

Banon: 9 km

Simiane: 2 km

This family property can accommodate 28 people with 8 double bedrooms and 2 children dormitories [with 6 single beds in each one].

1st level: There is an entrance hall; 3 salons with fireplaces, sofas, Hifi, Satellite TV, and DVD player; a library; dining room; fully equipped kitchen [microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, professional oven]; laundry area; WCs, and cellar.

2nd level - East side: There are 4 double bedrooms. The 1st bedroom has 2 single beds [which can be joined to form a king size bed] an ensuite bathroom with toilets and shower. The 3 other bedrooms each have 2 single beds and a sink. They share a large bathroom with tub, shower, and toilets.

2nd level - West side: There are 2 large dormitories [one for the boys and one for the girls] with 6 single beds and a bathroom in each one.

2nd level - Separate: There is another bedroom with 2 single beds [which can be joined to make a king size bed] and an ensuite bathroom with toilets and shower.

3rd level: There are 2 double bedrooms. One bedroom has 2 single beds and an ensuite bathroom with shower and toilet. The other bedroom has 2 large single beds [which can be joined to form a large king size bed] and an ensuite bathroom with tub and toilet.

By the pool: At the back of the swimming pool there is an independent double bedroom with 2 single beds [which can be connected to form a king size bed] and bathrooms with shower and toilets. Wheel chair access is possible.

This wonderful villa is located 2 km from the village of Simiane la Rotonde, between Forcalquier and the Luberon. Activites in Simiane la Rotonde include hiking, guided tours, summer festivals, exhibitions, arts and crafts: ceramics, paintings, sculptures and traditional music. The Luberon mountain range is beautiful to visit by car, foot, bicycle or horse. Many lovely ancient villages with castles, forts, ruins, and towers are along the way. Banon as a beautiful medieval village to visit surrounded by fields of lavender and wheat fields and perfumed by local aromatic herb. This is a small village known for its tasty goat cheeses with ancient residences and medieval fortifications. Apt is a great market town. Though it is not a small village, there is an old town within Apt, centered about an 11th century Cathedral. Along the narrow paved streets in this area you will find vaulted passages and some lovely fountains. Saignon, alternately, is a quaint hilltop village, great for exploring on foot. Here you can climb to the top of the huge rock behind the village and enjoy fantastic panoramic views of the plains and the Luberon mountain range. You can also find horse-riding and mountain biking. Forcalquier offers excellent dining, museums, markets, wine tasting, hiking, and cycling along the Luberon en Velo path, easy access to bus and TVG. If you venture into Avignon, you will find a charming walled French town with history, restaurants, museums, shops and a vibrant local scene. There is so much to see: the Place de l'Horloge, the outdoor market in Uzes on Saturday, the Pont du Gard, the antique markets in Isle sure la Sorgue on Sunday, Mount Ventoux, the vineyards, the Festival d'Avignon in July, Fountaine de Vaucluse, and on and on.

Marseille Airport: 100 km

Avignon [Airport, TGV Station]: 75 km

Forcalquier: 36 km

Saignon: 27 km

Apt: 25 km

Banon: 9 km

Simiane la Rotonde: 2 km

Indoor amenities: stereo, Satellite TV, DVD player, dishwasher, baby equipment, and central heating.

Outdoor amenites: swimming pool [15m x 7.5m, heated to 25°C from June to September included in the rental price; for May and October the cost of heating the pool is extra]; fully equipped summer kitchen with BBQ; stereo; shower; garden furniture; table tennis; swing; tennis court; lawn bowling game; 6 bikes; automatic gate; and security alarm.

Extra Services:

* The caretakers are nearby. There is a full time staff [2 maids and 1 butler].

* The owners offer the 1st dinner and 1st breakfast to the guests.

* The swimming pool can be heated in April, May, and October for the additional cost of 1500 euros per week [must be requested prior to arrival]

Nearby Attractions: Simiane la Rotonde [hiking, guided tours, festivals, exhibitions, art, traditional music], Banon [lavender, wheat, goat cheese, medieval fortifications], Apt [11th century Cathedral], Saignon [the plains and Luberon mountain range, horse-riding, mountain biking], Forcalquier [dining, museums, markets, wine tasting, hiking, cycling the Luberon en Velo path, bus, TVG], Avignon [TVG station, restaurants, museums, shops, Place de l'Horloge, outdoor market, Pont du Gard, antique markets, Mount Ventoux, vineyards, Festival d'Avignon, Fountaine de Vaucluse, Marseille [Airport].

Minimum Stay: 7

Check-In: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Check-In: 4:00pm - 6:00pmRead more

Additional Location Information

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• Peter
  

  Peter 's review of Villa de Banon

  Left on 08/11/2012 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  Excellent experience.
  
  Perfect for handling a large group. Staff were superb. The staff provides all the cooking and service and this is included in the price; we were only responsible for the cost of groceries and drinks!
  
  Nice variety for the varying tastes of members of our group. Great longer distance and more challenging routes for serious cyclists.

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• Jeep
  

  Jeep's review of Villa de Banon

  Left on 07/31/2008 for a stay in July 2008
  
  

  We have taken many high end trips, but this was the best one we have had so far. A. Over the top. Wonderful. I don't have enough superlatives.
  
  Very comfortable set up for a family. The bedrooms are many and large and comfortable. The food served outside, inside and by the pool was very relaxed. The pool was over the top. The whole place is well kept up and modern. We had internet access, ping pong, tennis, fous ball, petanque. We kept 9 children and 13 adults delightedly amused all week. The staff was very friendly, helpful, on the spot. We really liked Andre and Jean-Jacques, Lina, Josie-Anne and Chantal. The took great care of us.
  
  No complaints.
  
  The surrounding Provencal area is magical. Great mountain biking and hiking. Easy access to all of the stunning Luberon region.

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• Tania
  

  Tania's review of Villa de Banon

  Left on 06/30/2008 for a stay in June 2008
  
  

  Excellent. Gorgeous property and grounds. Wonderful swimming pool, tennis courts. Lots of privacy for a smaller group like ours.
  
  The key for us was the fantastic staff--the caretakers, Jean Jacques and Andree, the cook, Lina, and the two housekeepers. The food was fabulous and the service unflaggingly good-natured and attentive. They made our stay a true vacation. Between the pool, the tennis court, the bikes, the ping-pong table and the wi-fi, the 7 tween-teens in our group were always busy when at the property.
  
  Our thoughts are really constructive suggestions. They should have bike helmets of appropriate sizes to correspond to the 6 bikes. They should be clear in the property description that soap, shampoo and hairdryers are not provided in the bathrooms so that guests come prepared. It would also be very helpful to have at least 2 converters from U.S. to French current to run appliances.
  
  Access to active sporting adventures and to beautiful scenery and scenic-historic towns.

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• Ofelina
  

  Ofelina's review of Villa de Banon

  Left on 08/31/2007 for a stay in August 2007
  
  

  I brought my children and grandchildren and everyone had a wonderful time at this special villa.
  
  It was very elegant, which we all enjoyed.

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• Hammond
  

  Hammond's review of Villa de Banon

  Left on 07/31/2007 for a stay in July 2007
  
  

  Our stay would not have been so perfect if it had not been for the care and kindness of the managing couple. They were superb and we left in tears.
  
  The amazing way in which it had been refurbished. Not one detail had been missed. We do not think we have ever seen such attention to detail nor the sympathetic way in which the restoration had been carried out.
  
  Leaving it.
  
  The villages and local markets, the wonderful cheeses, fruit, meat and wine.

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• Helga
  

  Helga's review of Villa de Banon

  Left on 08/31/2006 for a stay in August 2006
  
  

  I have rented quite a few properties in France and Italy now, and some of my same guests were at this villa, too. We all agreed by far is the best. Must publish better images... it is truly a great property and you cannot tell by the website pictures.
  
  Staff was exceptional, quality of property and pristine conditions of everything in the property. The villa and its staff were simply exceptional. All dinners were beautifully done and presented. The service just fantastic and needless to say the house is amazing.
  
  Dealing with the issues related to using the washer-drier. But at the end it was all sorted out.
  
  Beautiful scenery, lavender fields, great to enjoy such a nice tennis court in the property and also walks and bike rides. Bikes were provided by the property, so it was nice to have them readily available.

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