Cassis, France

In the verdant countryside, surrounded by forests and vineyards and yet only 6km away from the nearest village, Maison Papillon is a beautiful home for your trip to Provence.   

The villa is a historic house within the grounds of a vast wine estate which offers comfortable accommodation within a stunning setting. There is plenty of space here for a holiday with a group of friends or a large family as the house is spread over four floors which can be reached with a lift or by stairs.   

The main living spaces are found on the ground floor; everyone can gather in the expansive living and dining room with a feature fireplace and cosy sofas for colder evenings. If anybody in your group is musical, they can play a few songs on the piano after dinner. If you would rather settle down to watch a film or read a good book in peace, then sneak off to the lounge and library room.   

The eight bedrooms are all well-decorated and offer en-suite bathrooms. The lower ground floor has a fantastic room with bunk beds that can sleep up to six children, which they will love! There are two bedrooms on the ground and first floors and three bedrooms on the second floor, including the master suite, which has the addition of a dressing room and a welcoming bathtub.   

The home also has a wonderful gym with all the fitness equipment you could need and a Turkish bath. Next to this, on the lower ground floor, you will find a games room where the children can have fun over a game of table football.   

The garden here is one of the best features, so you are sure to spend lots of time outside. In the garden, you can take a dip in the private pool or relax on the outdoor sofas with incredible views over the vineyards and fields. There are plenty of peaceful seating areas, a summer kitchen, and dining tables to come together over special al-fresco meals.  

As you will be situated on this beautiful wine estate, you do not have to travel far to spend time outdoors and participate in several activities. Wine lovers can visit the cellars and take part in tastings, while nature lovers can go on hikes or explore the landscape by bicycle or on horseback. There are also unique activities, such as a night-time safari and a butterfly garden. There is so much to do on the grounds around the house that you can spend your entire trip here if you like.  

When you wish to go out for a meal or do some shopping, the closest village La Celle is a mere 6km drive away. This is a small yet pretty village with historic streets, a medieval Abbey and a river flowing through it which is a lovely spot for a picnic.   

If you would like a wider selection of shops and restaurants, then Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume is a town 14km away from the villa. Visitors flock here because it is the apparent final home and burial place of Mary Magdalene, who arrived by boat after the crucifixion of Jesus. Pilgrims have been coming here since the 13th century when her tomb was found. As well as the tomb, there is also an impressive Gothic 13th-century basilica and the Dominican convent to see. After seeing the historic sights, you can wander the atmospheric Jewish Quarter through to the more modern area, which has a number of shops and cafes.  

From this great location, you are also well placed for days out to the coast or to other towns and cities such as Brignoles (8km away) and Aix-en-Provence (53km away), or you can take a boat to the unspoilt Golden Islands (54km away).

Features:

Features

Villa Interior

Ground Floor

- Living and dining room with sofas, grand piano, fireplace and dining tables seating 16 guests
- Fully-fitted kitchen with breakfast bar, oven, hob, fridge freezer, dishwasher, microwave, toaster, coffee machine
- Lounge with TV and library area
 - 2 x bedrooms with double beds (180cm) and en-suite bathrooms with showers, sinks and WCs

First Floor

- Bedroom with double bed (180cm) and en-suite bathroom with shower, sink and WC
- Bedroom with twin beds (90cm each) (which can be made into a double) and en-suite bathroom with shower, sink and WC

Second floor

- Master bedroom with double bed (180cm), dressing room and en-suite bathroom with bath, shower, sink and WC
- 2 x bedrooms with double beds (180cm) and en-suite bathrooms with showers, sinks and WCs

Lower Ground Floor

- Bedroom with 3 bunk beds (90cm) sleeping 6 children and a cot with en-suite bathroom with shower, sink and WC
- Gym with fitness equipment and Turkish bath
- Games room with billiards and table football

Outside Grounds (10,000 m2)

- Fenced private pool (17m x 8m), with pool alarm if requested
- Large landscaped garden with lawns, trees and a pond
- Summer kitchen
- Al-fresco dining terraces
- Poolside sun loungers
- Lounge chairs
- Boules court
- Barbecue
- Parking
- Charging point for electric vehicles 

Facilities 

- Wi-Fi
- Air conditioning
- Central heating
- Fitness equipment 
- Fireplace
- Lift
- TVs
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Piano
- Hairdryers
- Billiards
- Table football
- Table tennis

Location:

Maison Papillon is located on over 1000 hectares of grounds, making up a wine estate in rural Provence. With lots to see and do on the estate plus villages and towns close by, this is a lovely place to stay with friends or family. In the estate surrounding the villa, you can take part in bike rides and horse treks and climb up the local mountains to see incredible panoramic vistas. There is also a winery on-site offering wine tastings and tours of the cellars, so you do not need to travel very far to have some great experiences. 

If you fancy seeing some of the local towns and villages or going for a meal nearby, then the closest village is La Celle which is around 6km away by car. This typical Provencal village is centred around agricultural life and the river Caramy which flows through it and is a peaceful place to visit. The main attraction is the imposing Abbey which was home to Benedictine nuns for 500 years; today, visitors can look around the recently restored buildings and the exhibitions. As well as archaeological artefacts and items from the Abbey, there is also a modern exhibition on display here. Next door to the Abbey, there is a Michelin-star restaurant, the Hostellerie de l’Abbaye, perfect for a celebratory meal.

Another nearby town is Brignoles which is an 8km drive away. Brignoles is a bigger town with a wider range of shops and restaurants. The former ruling Counts used to live here in a palace which now houses a regional museum with exhibitions on everything from day-to-day life to the period in the 18th century when the town was chosen as a temporary home for the Parliament because of the plague. If you are in town on a Wednesday or a Saturday, then make time to peruse the bustling market stalls where you can purchase locally produced items such as olives, honey and peaches. 

Though the villa is inland, it will take you under an hour to get to the gorgeous coastline, which is dotted with plenty of beaches. One of the closest beaches is Plage de la Garonne which is 42km away and is a long sandy beach. If you do not mind travelling just a little further for a day trip, why not drive the extra 18km down to Port de la Tour Fondue and take a relaxing boat ride to the Golden Islands. There are three islands to visit, the largest being Porquerolles, a beautiful, protected island. Spend the day enjoying the unspoilt beaches and snorkelling in the clear water, or make the most of the brilliant hiking and cycling routes to explore more of the island. There are even restaurants on the islands, so you do not need to rush back for dinner.

From the villa, you can also easily access chic Saint-Tropez, which is 75km away or the city of Aix-en-Provence, which is 53km away; both of these are fantastic places for day trips. 

Terms & Conditions:

Security deposit?
€5000 charged to client’s credit card by the owner as a pre-authorisation upon arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection.

Arrival time?
4.00 p.m.

Departure time?
10.00 a.m.

End of stay cleaning included?
Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.

Linen & towels included?
Yes.

Energy costs included?
Yes.

Minimum stay?
3 nights. All other durations on request.

Changeover day?
Flexible.

Pets welcome?
Not allowed.

Smoking Allowed?
Outside only.

Tax?
French Visitors Tax (typically costs €1-€10 per adult per night- please enquire if exact amount is required), payable to Oliver’s Travels at the time of balance payment.

Other Ts and Cs?
Events are on request only and subject to prior arrangement with the owner and additional charges.

Insurance?
Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, loss of personal belongings, personal liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay.