Stunning Medieval Luberon Village House (Pool)

Description from the owner

Le Mas Des Gardiols, La Cerisaie, a wonderful medieval Provence stone house in the Luberon national reserve, provides guests an authentic Provence living experience. The Luberon home is over three hundred years old, yet retains original beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls, tiled floors, and a private trellised courtyard where grape vines wind and roses, lavender, and jasmine perfume the Provence evening.

This Luberon home has been thoughtfully and beautifully restored with Gourmet kitchen, modern baths, extra hot water heaters, brand-new comfortable beds, authentic Provence country antique furnishings, and interior appointments. Frenc...h doors in kitchen and dining room open directly into the private courtyard which has a stone table comfortably seating ten.

A spiral staircase leads from the dining room up to the family/living room on the second floor, from where one can view the gardens, nearby vineyards, lavender fields, the Luberon village of Roussillon, and the Luberon Mountain range. A master suite off the living room has private terrace, king-size bed, beamed ceilings, private ensuite bath with tub, shower, sink, and bidet. Living room also has beamed ceilings, bookshelves with books, games, CD player, video cassettes, satellite TV. A lovely large bedroom with fireplace, twin beds, a bathroom and smaller bedroom, twin beds, same Luberon view are located in the oldest wing of the home above a Provencal type living space. This ancient garden/kitchen and family living space, is today converted into a bedroom suite with queen-size bed with a unique vaulted ceiling, original fireplace, and original ceramic tile floor. Across the courtyard from this space is an old outdoor kitchen. Today this space provides a shaded hideaway, but the old wood-cooking bread oven can still provide a warming fire.

The Cerisaie sits next to its gated garden where a private pool is nestled in a lovingly tended garden with lavender, climbing roses, laurel, oleander, rosemary, and fig trees. Here one can lunch under the shade of a cherry tree at a second stone table in a trellised eating area, get lost in a book, gaze at Roussillon and the Luberon range, or snooze in the shade to the songs of birds and cicadas.

Food and wine are a prime reason many visit Provence and the Luberon. You can visit a different Provencal Luberon village or Vaucluse outdoor market every day and cook with fresh local ingredients, have a cook do it for you, or eat in one of the world-class, Michelin star rated restaurants in the vicinity. The home lies amid welcoming Luberon vineyards, our favorite within walking distance, but with the world-famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape just 45 minutes away.Read more

Additional Location Information

Location: Maison des Gardiols is located at the edge of a hamlet, Les Gardiols, which is attached to the tiny village of Joucas. A wonderful, peaceful medieval hill village with a market, a café, post office, several nearby restaurants, Joucas is not a “tourist trap” village like some heavily trafficked neighbors: Roussillon (3k) and Gordes (8k). Our renters are able to escape to a sweet location where they can experience true Provencal living.

Renters frequently ask me if the house is within walking distance of the village. We always walk to Joucas. It’s about five minutes to the little market on the main street and even less to the village café. The market has about all one would need for food, vegetables, fruit, plus the daily croissants and baguettes. Mainstreet Joucas is pictured above. A grocery truck passes the house Thursday afternoon and a butcher passes on Friday at 4:30 PM.

Region: You will never have enough time. Some of the most famous and picturesque villages of Provence are just a short drive away. Joucas is located on a plateau amid the perched villages of Roussillon, Gordes, Goult, and Murs. You can hike or bike to all these villages. Nearby Menerbes, Lacoste, Lourmarin and Bonnieux (photo) are listed among France’s most beautiful villages. St. Remy, Aix, Nimes, Arles, the Camargue, are easy trips with Monte Carlo and the Cote d Azur also potential regions to explore. The daily village markets, with food, spices, music, and crafts, reflect the region’s spirit. Country roads winding through vineyards, lavender and sunflower fields with ancient farmhouses, abbeys and chateaus surprise you at every turn of the road, bathed in a quality of light inspiring artists over centuries. You will find a bridge near Roussillon built by the Romans over 2.000 years ago. And the church in Apt is one of the oldest in the region.

Whether you enjoy walking, cycling or motoring there is always an exciting experience nearby. You can or explore the hundreds of antique shops in France's antique capital on Isle-sur-La Sorgue, or take a canoe trip down the river. Half a dozen excellent golf courses and tennis courts invite you to test your game surrounded by the most spectacular landscapes. Try hot air ballooning; join the fun of bustling village fetes or attend the music and theatre festivals of Avignon where the famous Palais du Papes (photo) is located. And you must stop in Fountaine de Vaucluse, where Petrarch lived for a time and discovered his muse Laura. A wonderful paper mill here and a Santon Musee are also worth a visit

Good food and wine are essential to the French. You can feast in hundreds of little bistros and refined restaurants in the nearby villages, or just walk down the road. Then again, you might prefer packing your own picnic basket from the wonderful fresh delicacies offered at any of the daily village markets! Pick your favorite wine from any of the dozens of vineyards in the Luberon or nearby Rhone valleys.

Location Type Mountain, Rural, Village

Additional notes from owner

We include cleaning and gardening in the total price. Extra cleaning can be arranged but is paid by the renter.

What Past Guests Are Saying

• Cats19
  Burton upon Trent, United Kingdom

  Lovely house in lovely Provence location

  Left on 09/03/2012 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  We stayed here in July with our grown up Children
  The house is very large with plenty of space for everyone to hav esome personal space if they choose. The courtyard is fantastic and provides plenty of shade
  The pool is situated across the lane and is fantastic with amazing views across to hilltop villages
  Bikes are provided and the owners were fantastic providing helpful info and even phoned to check we were on our way on the day we arrived

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends, Groups, Families w children

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• Nostrovia1
  Arizona

  An absolutely wonderful property!

  Left on 07/08/2011 for a stay in June 2011
  
  

  My husband and I stayed in Les Gardioles for only one week, but it was truly a fantastic week! The property is perfectly situated in the Luberon area of Provence and it's an oasis to come back to after a morning and early afternoon of exploring the area. We rented with two other couples and we each felt we had our own little private space. The courtyard and the pool area across the lane were so welcoming and comfortable. The kitchen is well-equipped and made creating meals of local goods a pleasure to prepare. The daily markets in the area were fun to explore and the history of the hill towns so interesting. We would definitely come back and stay here again...longer stay next time!!

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  Detailed ratings for this rental

  • Check in
    
  • Cleanliness
    
  • Comfort
    
  • Location
    
  • Service
    
  • Value
    

  
  

  
  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends, Families w teenagers, Romantic, Families w children, Singles

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  Was this review helpful? Yes