Le Clos de Gavarron
318, Chemin de Gavarron 83510 Lorgues, Var
Sleeps 10
Facing south west
The Location
"Le Clos de Gavarron" is a charming, much-loved family house which has been completely renovated by its present owners with great taste and eye to detail.
It stands on a slope in 6000 square metres (1.5 acres), faces south west, and is surrounded by the stunning wooded hills, valleys, vineyards and olive groves of the central Var.
"Le Clos" is 4.5 kms (5 minutes' drive) from the pretty, medieval town of Lorgues (with the longest avenue of plane trees in France, a wonderful weekly market, and boasting good shopping and some restaurants - one of the latter being the truffle-focused, Michelin-starred "Bruno's"). The property is 45 minutes from spectacular Aix-en-Provence which, quite apart from its numerous museums and art galleries, hosts some of the most important musical events in France.
The Main Street of the nearby town of Lorgues
It is only 40 minutes from Toulon (Hyères) airport which has some international flights, whilst Nice and Marseilles international airports (the latter called 'Marignane') are 50 minutes and an hour's drive respectively. The super-fast train, the TGV, stops at Aix TGV station (between Aix-en-Provence and Marseilles), although some trains continue, rather more slowly, to Draguignan/ Les Arcs (about 15 kms from the house). Eurostar trains stop at Avignon (90 minutes' drive), whilst the nearest entry to the autoroute system is 15 minutes away.
The Villa
A very quiet 200-metre lane ascends to "Le Clos de Gavarron's'" entrance gates from the country road linking the village of Taradeau with the small town of Lorgues.
These entrance gates are electronically operated, the floodlit, gravelled drive leading past the 2-car garage-cum-wood store, where the table tennis table (equipped with a net, bats and balls) is stored.
The Dining Terrace
"Le Clos de Gavarron" comprises:
Ground floor
- The impressive front doors open into the Hall, from which a staircase ascends to the First Floor.
- A short flight of steps on either side of the staircase leads down to the spacious, comfortable Salon, with an 18th century working fireplace at its far end, and a pair of large French windows leading to the Terrace. There is a stereo system comprising a radio and a CD player, plus a good collection of CDs.
- Both the Salon and the Hall have underfloor heating, and all the rooms (other than the air-conditioned Kitchen) have large ceiling or standing fans.
The Salon
Off a Passage to the right of the Hall are (on the left hand side): - A Cloakroom. With a W.C.
- Bedroom 1. With two 3'3" beds which can be made into a double, and a window overlooking the Terrace and the Garden.
- Ensuite Shower Room 1. With a shower and a W.C.
- Bedroom 2. With two 3' beds which can be made into a double, and a window overlooking the Terrace and the Garden.
On the opposite side of this Passage are:
- A large cupboard holding the clothes washer and the separate tumble dryer.
- Bedroom 3. With two 3'3" beds which can be made into a double, and a window overlooking a fountain and the 'boules' pitch.
- Ensuite Shower Room 2. With a W.C.
- Bathroom 1. With a bath and a W.C.
At the end of this Passage is the:
- Sitting Room/Dining Room. With an 18th century working fireplace, a satellite TV, a DVD player, an electric organ, and a dining table seating 10. There is a small deep-freeze in a cupboard at the kitchen end of this room (in addition to the large deep freeze located in a Store Room, and which can be accessed on request). French windows open from the Sitting Room onto the Terrace.
- Off the Sitting Room / Dining Room is the very well equipped, air-conditioned Kitchen, with a 4-hob gas burner, 2 electric ovens, a microwave, a toaster, a dishwasher etc. Doors open onto the parking area, allowing shopping to be carried easily into the kitchen.
Bedroom 2
Stairs ascend from the Sitting Room to:
- A Mezzanine Floor with a TV screen (which only shows videos and DVD's), a video and a DVD player, a large collection of videos and DVD's, and a desk with a Wireless/Broadband internet connection.
First Floor
The Master Bedroom (Bedroom 4). With a 6'6" bed which can be split into 2 single beds, and windows on 2 sides.
- Ensuite Bathroom 2. With a bath, a separate shower, and a WC.
Both this Bedroom and its Bathroom have underfloor heating.
The Master Bedroom
The Pool Area
The buildings on 2 sides of the swimming pool comprise:
- Bedroom 5. With two 3'3" beds which can be made into a double.
- Ensuite Shower Room 3. With a W.C.
- Summer Kitchen/Dining Room. With a table seating 10, a 2-hob electric cooker, a combination microwave/oven, 2 fridges, an ice-maker, a dishwasher, and a full range of plates, cutlery, glasses etc. A retractable electric blind gives additional shade when required.
- A comfortable, sheltered Seating Area. With a wood-burning fireplace which can also be used for barbecuing.
- Alongside this Seating Area is a gas-fired barbecue-on-wheels, and a fresh-water shower.
The Summer Kitchen/Dining Room
The filtered, alarmed swimming pool has wide, Roman steps, measures 9.25 x 4.25 metres, and is 95 cms at the shallow end and 1.6 metres at the other. It is a salt water pool, its saline content (protecting the eyes and hindering the growth of bacteria etc.) having the approximate strength of human tears.
N.B. Please switch on the pool alarm when the pool is not in use - it is activated by the average weight of a baby (or heavier) entering the water.
This is a shallow pool and no diving is permitted.
The pool is surrounded by a large range of sun beds, parasols and a swing-sofa, and enclosed by a hedge of white oleander.
The Grounds
- The Sitting Room/Dining Room opens onto one end of the tiled Terrace which has a shaded dining table seating 10.
- At the other end of this Terrace is a comfortable Seating Area (also well shaded), with a swing-sofa, armchairs, and tables for food and drinks.
- The attractive terraced garden has an olive grove, a pergola, a variety of trees and flowering shrubs, and several other sitting areas.
- On the north east side of the house is a floodlit 'boules' pitch. (The 'boules' are kept in the house)
The Dining Room with the Sitting Room in the background
Other Facilities And Information
- There should not be more 10 people (including children and babies) staying at "Le Clos de Gavarron" at any time.
- Tenants will be met on arrival. They will be shown how everything works, (including the alarm system), and will be given the codes both for this system and to open and close the entrance gates.
- Bed linen, and bath and pool towels are provided free of charge, and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- Tenants should advise Anglo French Properties Ltd at the end of each rental of any losses, breakages or damages. This is in lieu of an inventory.
- Irene and Victor Oscini are a French husband and wife team who live in Lorgues. Irene is the cleaner/caretaker, and is paid by the owners. She comes in on 3 days a week, doing a total of 8 hours per week of general house cleaning, including the kitchen and bathrooms. She should be paid direct by the tenants at the rate of Euros 12 per hour for any agreed additional hours of work - she is willing, for instance, to wash and iron tenants' clothing, as well as to cook simple Provençal dishes if and when requested.
- Victor looks after the pool and the garden, and is paid by the owners. In the colder months he will replenish the logs for the Salon and Sitting Room fires as required.
- The owner's insurance policy requires that all exterior doors are locked, that all windows are closed, and that the house alarm is set whenever tenants are away from the property.
The Entrance Hall. The stairs ascend to the Master Bedroom
- As long as sufficient notice is given, a babysitter and/or a part-time professional cook (ie as an alternative to Irene) can most probably be found. His/her/their wage/s will be the tenants' responsibility and, if requested, will be ascertained prior to the commencement of the tenancy. Airport collections (by an English-speaking driver with a 7-seater vehicle) can also be arranged.
- There are several telephones, as well as a Wireless/Broadband internet connection.
- There an iron and an ironing board.
- There are two cots (both with mattresses and bed linen) and a high chair.
- There are masses of English-language books, as well as board games, playing cards and children's toys and games, including a baby swing and a hammock.
- The House Manual is most detailed, and as well as describing how everything works (both inside and out), it lists a doctor, a dentist, an electrician and a plumber, plus other emergency and useful numbers.
- The Villa has 3 adult bicycles (which should be put away at night). Additional adult or children's bikes can be hired in Lorgues - more information is in the House Manual.
- There are any number of restaurants in the vicinity, ranging quite markedly both in price and quality. (Truffles are a local speciality). Details and descriptions of just a few of them are given in the House Manual
The Kitchen
- There is swimming, sailing and windsurfing on the Lac de Ste Croix, whilst the spectacular Gorges du Verdon offer gentle-to-testing rafting, canyoning kayaking and canoeing (both 50 kms).
- The tennis club in Lorgues has 4 outdoor and 2 indoor courts. Booking information can be found in the House Manual.
- There are a number of reasonable-to-outstanding 18-hole golf courses within 30 kms. Arguably the best are St Endréol and Barbaroux. Details of these (and of several others) are in the House Manual.
- Local fairs and festivals (including concerts at the nearby Abbaye du Thoronet) take place throughout the summer. See the House Manual, and/or visit the most helpful Tourist Office in Lorgues.
- There are also details in the Manual of nearby riding stables, offering everything from lessons to dressage to trekking in the surrounding countryside.
- There are excellent walks in several directions. A 30 minutes' walk with a built-in exercise programme circles the church at nearby St Ferréol. See the House Manual.
- There are many stunning towns and villages in the vicinity - Entrecasteaux with its marvellous Chateau and its gardens designed by Le Notre in the 17th century (he also laid out those at Versailles), Tourtour (known as "the village in the sky"), Aups (gateway to the Haut Var, and said to be the truffle capital of France), Salernes with its numerous pottery shops and its excellent (but small) Sunday market, and many more.
Markets abound in many of the surrounding towns and villages, opening on different days of the week - details are shown in the House Manual.
Facing north east. The front door is on the far left (between the lanterns), whilst the kitchen door is in the foreground
- Although the Mediterranean beaches of Cavalaire, St Tropez and Cannes are about an hour's drive in the off-season, be warned that getting to them can take considerably longer in summer. (Alternative - and frequently quicker - routes are shown in the House Manual). Ste Maxime is relatively easy to get to even in the summer, and details of its beach bars and restaurants can be found in the House Manual.
- Vineyards surround "Le Clos", producing red, white and rosé wines (rosé is a Provençal speciality). Many offer tastings and on-the-spot purchases, whilst the excellent Maison des Vins at Les Arcs sells a comprehensive selection of the region's best wines.
- A nearby lavender farm makes and sells lavender essence and related products. There are also nougat and honey producers in the vicinity.
- There are a number of children's adventure playgrounds and zoos in the area. Details of these (as well as quad-biking opportunities for older children) are in the House Manual.
The Master Bedroom's ensuite Bathroom
The Rents In 2008
| Month | Price |
|---|---|
| Easter & Christmas | £3,000 |
| May, June & September | £2,720 per week |
| July & August 2007 | £3,500 per week |
| All other available months | £2,280 per week |
Unless otherwise agreed, all lets will be for a minimum of 1 week, and will begin and end on a Saturday.
Tenants should arrive between 5 pm and 6 pm on the commencement day, and should leave before 10 am on the agreed day of departure. They will be met on arrival at "Le Clos".
The Deposit
A deposit of 25% of the rent will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement, with the balance to be paid 6 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
The Booking And Security Deposit
A Booking and Security Deposit of £500 will also be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing this Rental Agreement. This will secure the booking and will cover (a) the cost of telephone calls made during the tenancy, (b) the cost of replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages incurred during the rental, and (c) any exceptional cleaning work which may be required at the end of the tenancy. It will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 8 weeks of the tenancy's conclusion.
Evening drinks on the Terrace
