Maison Eclaircie enjoys an incredible position perched on the edge of the idyllic Luberon village of Gordes, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. The Provençal views from the swimming pool and terraced garden are magnificent!
It really is a privilege to stay in this historic village house that dates back to the 17th century. The characterful interiors have been decorated with refined style and there’s an authentic ambience across its elegant lounge, dining room and perfectly equipped kitchen with doors sliding open to the al-fresco dining terrace. Modern additions include air-conditioning throughout, a Sonos music system and Smart TVs in its mezzanine lounge and two of the three bedrooms.
Sleeping up to six guests, the bedrooms are gorgeous, one with a king-size double bed, wood-beamed ceiling and romantic rolltop bath, another with a queen-size double, sofa and en suite shower room and the third en suite with twin beds and lovely views through its little windows.
Outside, the vistas of Provence will take your breath away whether you are enjoying a glass of Luberon AOC wine on the upper terrace or peacefully reading on the outdoor sofa beneath the poolside pergola. The swimming pool is superb for warm summer days when you don’t wish to venture too far. We love the rustic charm of the terraced grounds with old stone steps, pretty pathways and swathes of summer colour.
It’s only a few minutes to walk up the hill to the heart of Gordes with its boulangerie for freshly baked croissants and baguettes each morning alongside restaurants and inviting little shops. The lighting and historic beauty of the village has inspired artists over the many years and nowadays you can potter around Gordes’ art galleries and exhibitions. Visit treasures such as L’Eglise Saint Firmin and Château de Gordes as well as admiring the glorious valley views from the very top of the village.
The Tuesday morning market in Gordes is a delightful way to appreciate the gastronomy of this region whilst other weekly markets take place in nearby Coustellet, Ménerbes, Roussillon and of course the handsome town of Apt – look out for summer melons, cherries, candied fruit and all sorts of other wonderful delicacies.
Soak up the beauty of the summer lavender by the 12th century Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque and appreciate yet more landscapes of the Luberon as you walk, hike or cycle past poppy fields, vineyards, orchards and iconic perched villages of this captivating part of Provence.
You are also well located for visiting the antique stores and Sunday morning brocante of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, canoeing or kayaking along the Sorgue River or spending time in the historic city of Avignon with its UNESCO World Heritage sites. After a long day out exploring, return to the comfort of your beautiful village house in time to watch the mesmerising sunset from your garden terrace and swimming pool.
Features:
Maison Interiors (180m2, including an old stairs without a banister/handrail)
- Lounge
- Dining area
- Kitchen, well-equipped including oven, dishwasher, fridge-freezer, microwave, blender, kettle and Nespresso machine. Doors open to al-fresco dining terrace
- Mezzanine level hallway with sofa and Smart TV
- Guest WC
- Bedroom with double bed (180×200cm), Smart TV and en suite bathroom
- Bedroom with double bed (160×200cm), Smart TV and en suite shower room
- Bedroom with twin beds (90×200cm each) and en suite shower room
Outside Grounds
- Swimming pool (11×3m, depth: 1.6m) with safety gate
- Poolside sun beds
- Covered pergola with outdoor sofa
- Terraced grounds (some open terraces/old stone steps/railings)
Facilities
- Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioning
- Heating
- Fireplace
- Smart TVs
- Sonos music system
- Small fitness room with gym equipment
- Hairdryer
- Ironing facilities
- Washing machine and dryer
Location:
On a hillside on the edge of Gordes, one of France’s classified ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, Maison Eclaircie enjoys a wonderful location just a short walk from the heart of this beautiful and historic village. The Provençal valley views from the terraced grounds are incredible.
Guests can fly into Marseille, Nîmes or Avignon airports or arrive via the fast train service into Gare d’Avignon TGV (40km) – the direct train journey from Paris Gare de Lyon takes around 2 hours 40 minutes.
It’s just a few minutes’ walk up the hill to reach the top of the village where there are yet more magnificent views, passing historic treasures such as L’Eglise Saint Firmin and Château de Gordes. The picture-perfect village has inspired artists over the years – look out for little art galleries and exhibitions. There is a good range of shops including a boulangerie and Spar grocery store and a choice of inviting restaurants from down-to-earth bistros to gastronomic establishments.
The delightful Tuesday morning market is another way to experience the produce of this part of Provence – look out for cheeses, charcuterie, honey, olive oil, wine, breads, cherries, melons, vegetables alongside crafts and plenty of lavender-based products.
Nearby Coustellet (8km) is a good place for larger supermarkets and artisan food shops as well as a Sunday morning Farmer’s market. It’s also home to the Lavender Museum and close to the Musée de l’Huile d’Olive which offers olive oil wine-tasting. The handsome town of Apt (22km) hosts an atmospheric Saturday morning market, the largest in the region, whilst there are many other superb markets dotted across nearby Provençal villages and towns.
Elsewhere in the Luberon, discover the captivating landscapes on foot or bike as you pass endless orchards, farmland, poppy and lavender fields, woodland and so many iconic perched villages such as Ménerbes (11km), Bonnieux (16km) and Roussillon (11km). Embrace the history of the region when visiting Le Village des Bories and admire the summer lavender of L’Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque.
Furthermore, you are close to the antique stores, waterways and Sunday morning brocante of the charming town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (18km) and the incredible natural beauty of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (18km), a popular area for canoeing and kayaking along the Sorgue River.
Find horse-riding near Joucas (6.5km), a wealth of hiking trails across the Luberon and Vaucluse as well as many cycling circuits from challenging routes to family-friendly greenways.
Terms & Conditions:
Security deposit?
€5000 charged to client’s credit card as a pre-authorisation one month before arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection.
Arrival time?
4.00 p.m.
Departure time?
10.00 a.m.
Heating costs included?
Yes.
Energy costs included?
Yes.
Linen & towels included?
Yes.
End of stay cleaning included?
No. €320, collected by Oliver’s Travels at the time of balance payment. This is for a standard changeover clean. 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 garbage disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.
Tax?
French Visitors Tax payable locally (typically costs €1-€10 per adult per night- please enquire if exact amount is required).
Pool opening dates?
Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.
Pool towels included?
Yes.
Changeover day?
Flexible.
Minimum stay?
5 nights.
Pets welcome?
Not allowed.
Other Ts and Cs?
Due to the nature of the property and its grounds, this villa is not suitable for children under the age of 12.
Smoking Allowed?
Not allowed.
