Alpilles - Gîte Holiday Rental in Moules, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

• 1: Alpilles 1 bedrooms, Sleeps 2
• 2: Camargue 1 bedrooms, Sleeps 2
• 3: Provence 2 bedrooms, Sleeps 4

Where is it

• Location:  South of France and the Riviera  >  Provence - Cote d'Azur  >  Bouches-du-Rhône
• Closest town/village:  Moules (Bouches-du-Rhône) ( Central )
• Closest airport: Nimes Airport (18.6 miles *Direct distance, road distance may vary. Please refer to detailed area map for local roads.)
• Distance to coast: 18.6 miles
• Access: Car Essential Car hire
• Property highlights: Barbecue, Garden, Scenic views, Swimming pool (shared use)

 

19th Century Farmhouse Gites with Pool for a Dream Provençal Holiday

Mas de l’Hermitage is a place of luxurious calm, surrounded by the grass fields of the Crau. It is situated in Provence, close to the Alpilles Hills and the sea, near to the medieval village of Les Baux and only eight kilometres east of Arles.

The Mas, or farmhouse, is divided into several independent units dating between the 18th and 19th centuries. The building is south facing and overlooks a garden, shaded by century old Plane trees. Each apartment has its own private terrace with teak furniture, ideal for cool private evening dinners, and are separated from the other terraces by planters.

The large garden is a quiet retreat, often frequented by egrets, crows, falcons and magpies with the cicadas and frogs making up the evening orchestra. There is a large swimming pool of 15m x 7m with a depth ranging from 1.4 to 2,8m, as well as small paddling pool under a light cascade for the recreation of toddlers. The swimming pool is chlorine free, and is available from May untill end September. The pool is surrounded by teak tanning beds and recliners. The pool house, with its terrace and barbecue, provides a pleasant location for socialising, sundowners and playing petanque (French bowls).

See the comments of our guests by viewing the Visitor's Book on our own web site  

The Apartments

All three rental apartments have been renovated to a high standard using authentic materials. Each apartment is independent and has its own private entrance. They are double storey with the bedrooms and bathrooms above, the kitchens, and open plan lounges downstairs. The bedrooms are all double volume spaces of 4 – 5 metres in height. They all have the original round wooden roof beams exposed and restored. The ceilings downstairs all feature the original wooden slats, typical of the area. The stone walls, when found to be sound have been exposed by removing centuries of boarding, paints and wallpaper. Where the stone was found damaged, it has been plastered using an enduit technique, a traditional technique of the area.

The upstairs rooms and bathrooms have breath-taking views of the landscape: grass lands, rows of Cyprus and Plane trees and in the distance, the Alpilles. The kitchens are all newly renovated to a high standard. All surfaces are tiled for easy hygienic cleaning. There are ample cupboards for food storage and rental includes all crockery, cutlery, pots, pans and utensils required to cook a normal family meal. Extra or specialised equipment can be requested – if available. The kitchens are each equipped with a stove, a ceramic hob, extractor fan, microwave oven, dishwasher, kettle and Italian expresso machines.

All bathrooms have been fully renovated and stone has been searched out that matches those of the original construction. ‘Fontvieille’ stone and Travertine tiles have been used extensively in combination with modern fittings, basins and large open showers (each shower includes an overhead and hand-held shower heads).

There is internet access via W-ifi throughout the Mas.

Cots are available for any of the apartments but must be requested when booking.

Holiday Accommodation at Alpilles

This apartment had a slightly more modern touch to it, featuring a 'Le Corbusier' leather lounge suite, African artefacts and contemporary art works.

This accommodation is available throughout the year - the wildlife is astonishing in Camargue from Autumn to Spring.

The accommodation has:

• An open plan kitchen/lounge
• A double bedroom with king-size bed
• Bathroom

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About Moules in Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence - Cote d'Azur

Arles is a fine example of a Roman city that survived into a medieval European civilisation. There are several impressive Roman monuments, of which the earliest – the arena, Roman Theatre and the cryptoporticus (subterranean galleries) – date back to the 1st Century BC. During the 4th Century, Arles experienced a second golden age, as attested by the baths of Constantine and the necropolis of Alyscamps. In the 11th and 12th Centuries, Arles once again became one of the most attractive cities in the Mediterranean. Within the city walls, the cathedral of Saint-Trophime, with its cloister, is one of the Provence’s major Romanesque works.

The Roman and Romanesque monuments of Arles have been classified World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1986. In more contemporary times, Arles is known for being the adopted home of the early impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. Although the city does not own an original ‘Van Gogh’ the sites that he painted and frequented, such as the ‘Night Café’ and the ‘Hospital of Arles’ have been well preserved. In the latter, the City has converted the hospital into a media, exposition and entertainment centre. The ‘Foundation van Gogh’, next to the Roman Arena, curates exhibitions along the ‘van Gogh’ theme, showing the influence of both Arles and van Gogh in the exhibited works. Arles also hosts the International Photo Festival all through the summer months.

Historical cities offer a wealth of monuments such as Roman aqueducts, Roman thermos, theatres and arenas in Arles and Nîmes, and the Papal Palace in Avignon, as well as other cultural activities.

The famous aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, is located close by and offers ideal picnic locations complete with swimming and canoeing facilities.

Dramatic and contrasting landscapes and seascapes can be found in the Alpilles Hills, in the Camargue and along the Mediterranean coast. Experience the excitement of the cliff diving of the Calanques in Marseille and Cassis.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

How To Get To Moules in Bouches-du-Rhône, South of France and the Riviera

The Mas is easily accessible via the A54 motorway, the TGV railway stations of Avignon and Nimes (both within 30 minutes drive) and the Airports of Nimes-Arles-Camargue (direct flights by Ryanair to and from London) and the Marseilles International Airport located 20 and 40 minutes respectively, from the Mas.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.

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Facilities at Alpilles

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Availability at Alpilles

Changeover day: Saturday

Availability last updated on: - Friday, June 14, 2013

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Rates

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