Maison de Village in the Heart of Provence

Bon Souvenir details

Our typical Provencal home in the center of town

Home description

"What is wonderful about your home is that it is like having a royal box, where the theatre of village life is acted out for you every day," said one guest. The old beauty of the village, the people and the area constantly impress you, and once you are there, you will find it hard to leave. Whether for a week or for a month, Entrecasteaux is the best place in the world to unwind and relax.

The village is built around a grand chateau, prominent in the 18th century. It sits in a valley astride the river Le Bresque. The arable land of the commune is heavily planted in grapes and olives, in a red clay soil that produces marvelous rroses, Cote de Provence reds and some white wines. The wine cooperative in the village offers these local vintages for a very reasonable price.

The village, about 900 inhabitants, is a mix of French from many generations, as well as a noticeable number of people from all over Europe who have retired there, or vacation there in their residence secondaire.

Rentals are from Wednesday to Wednesday.

External features on site

• Garden
• Scenic views

Accommodation detail

Fully equipped gas kitchen and service for 6

Modern and beautiful, the bathroom is all new

Two comfortable and lovely bedrooms feel like home

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Bon Souvenir has two spacious bedrooms with queen size (148 cm) beds. The decor is simple and in good taste, with comfortable and useful furniture and carpets. The bathroom has been completely renovated for both beauty and comfort. Decorations on the walls range from photographs, fabrics and paintings.

Stereo CD players are provided along with a number of music discs across a wide variety of tastes. There is also a terrace table and chairs for enjoyment of dining 'al fresco' morning, noon or night.

The kitchen and dining area are recently updated as well to provide an enjoyable atmosphere for cooking and pleasureable dining inside or on the terrace. A new washing machine makes it easy to take care of laundry without fuss. A spacious refrigerator accommodates a great many items that can be found at Provencal markets in the area.

The house is a typical example of a maison de village in a living Provencal village.

About the location

Bon Souvenir is located in the heart of the 11th century village of Entrecasteaux. The town, in the center of the Var, has three restaurants, a boulangerie, an epicerie and several other services, including the Bar Central.

Nearby are Salernes, the center of French caralage (tile) making, Carces, Lorgues, Contignac and Draguignan. All offer markets and other essentials, including several hypermarkets such as Carafour and Casino. Several of these villages and towns have weekly markets for fresh vegetables, meats and cheeses, in addition to frequent brocante and "vide grenier" (empty attic) markets. There are great treasurers to be found for the connoisseur.

In addition, there are many small, beautiful villages with their own interesting sites, including the Abbey de Thoronet, the Var's most popular must see stop. More importantly, the central Var is itself an area of intense beauty with the forests, olive groves, vineyards and rolling hills.

Within  a short drive are many beautiful beaches on the French Riviera, from Fréjus to St. Tropez and to the cities of Hyères, Toulon and Cassis. The spectacular Gorges du Verdun and Lac St. Croix are nearby, as are many fine restaurants. Aix-en-Provence is about an hour to the west, while many impressionist artists' home and studios are within easy reach. The works of Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne, van Gough, Renoir, Chagall and many more are very accessible, often in their atelliers.

Musical concerts in August and September are also plentiful in beautiful settings, such as the Abbey de Thoronet (acoustically perfect!) as well as local churches. The Entrecasteaux Music Festival in September is widely recognized for the caliber of the musicians and variety of performances.

In addition, Entrecasteaux has the second best cricket pitch in France, with matches occurring frequently in the warmer months. Of course, one can always join the villagers in a game of boules, on the Cours, almost any afternoon.

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

Activities nearby

Boules, Canoeing, Canyoning, Cycling, Diving, Fishing, Go karting, Golf, Gourmet dining, Hiking, Horse riding, Mountain biking, Photography, Pottery, Riverside activities, Rock climbing, Sailing, Shopping, Sightseeing, Swimming, Walking, Water sports, Wine tasting

See Activities and attractions for more information on nearby activities and places of interest.

How to get here

Entrecasteaux is almost equidistant from Nice and Marseilles. Driving from Nice, it takes about an hour and a half, starting on the A-8 autoroute, and going through Les Arc, Lorgues, and taking the D562 west to the D31. Toulon's airport is also about an hour south of the village. The closest train stop is in Les Arc.

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