La Lanterne de St. Fiacre
Quartier des Neuf-Riaux, 83680 La Garde-Freinet, Var
Sleeps 10
The Location
"La Lanterne de St. Fiacre" is built in the pure Provencal style, and stands on a hill-top in 5 hectares (12½ acres). It enjoys breathtaking and totally unspoilt views of the several thousand hectares of surrounding forest, designated a "Zone of Natural Beauty", and assiduously protected by the State.
Although within a relatively short distance of the coast and all its activities, complete peace reigns. There is not another building in sight - even the nearby caretaker's house is tucked into a fold on the edge of the property, and has its own access.
"La Lanterne" is 20 kms south east of the A8 autoroute (the exit is signposted "Le Luc/Le Cannet"), and 7 kms north of unspoilt La Garde-Freinet which has very reasonable shopping facilities, a number of middling-to-good restaurants, and a true Provencal "feel". There are also good shopping facilities at Le Luc (15 kms to the north west) including Leclerc and Intermarché supermarkets. The house is 35 kms north west of the nearest beach (at Port Grimaud), 40 kms north west of St. Tropez, 1 hour's drive south west of Nice airport, and about the same distance north east of Toulon airport. The super-fast train, the TGV, stops at both Cannes (¾ of an hour's drive to the north east) and at Nice. An hour to the west is elegant Aix-en-Provence with its music and opera festivals, and its many art galleries and museums.
The Setting
Here is Provence at its most spectacular - and most idyllic. Standing on the terrace overlooking the swimming pool one feels that this is how the South of France must have been long before the tourist invasion took root.
The View from above the pool. The house is to the left.
"La Lanterne" is the result of an extensive enlargement and renovation of the "bergerie" (sheepfold) which had stood here for generations. The use of local materials (natural stone, terracotta floors, reclaimed roof tiles, antique doors) has created a house which is in complete harmony with the traditional "Midi", and yet has all the most modern equipment, together with a fabulous swimming pool.
The House
"La Lanterne" is approached via a rather hilly and somewhat narrow 1 km untarred road that is unsuitable for vehicles with a low wheelbase, and which leads off the D558 north west of La Garde-Freinet. Outside the front door (i.e. on the eastern side) is an extensive parking area.
The house is built on several levels, and fits snugly into the surrounding contours. Although on a hill-top, it is thus pretty well protected from all but gentle breezes.
It comprises:
Ground Floor
- The entrance hall overlooking the living area. A short flight of steps descends to:
- Sitting Room. This bright, attractive room with its high, beamed ceiling and tiled floors, has a dining area - up 3 steps - at one end. (The table seats 10). Between the Sitting Room and the Dining Area is an efficient wood-burning fireplace.
The Sitting Room. Beyond is the Dining Area, and then the Kitchen
The Main Terrace
There is a television (receiving both satellite and terrestrial programmes), a video machine, and DVD and CD players.
2 large, sliding glass doors open onto the south-facing covered Terrace which provides all-important summer shade, and has marvellous views of the rugged slopes of the Massif des Maures. This Terrace has a dining table, again seating 10, and comfortable chairs and chaises longues. It overlooks the swimming pool which can therefore be monitored from it.
- Beyond the Dining Area is the well-equipped open-plan kitchen with a 5-ring gas hob and extractor, oven, large fridge/freezer/ice-maker, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, etc. A third sliding glass door gives access to the Terrace.
- Off the kitchen is the utility room with a washing machine and a separate dryer. It also houses the oil-fired hot water/central heating system.
Off the entrance hall are:
- Bedroom 1. With a queen-size bed, 2 wardrobes, and a west-facing window.
- Bedroom 2. With 2 single beds, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, and a west-facing window.
- Bathroom 1. With a bath, a separate shower, and a W.C.
Bedroom 1
- Bathroom 2. With a shower and a W.C.
A few steps up is:
- Bedroom 3. With a queen-size bed, and a wardrobe/chest of drawers. The French windows face east.
- Children's Bedroom (bedroom 4). With 2 full-size single beds, and a cot. A French window opens onto the garden on the west side of the house.
Bedroom 4
Further stairs ascend to:
- Master Bedroom (Bedroom 5). With a king-size 4-poster bed and a wardrobe. A sliding glass door give access to a spacious (40 square metres) and totally private terrace, protected by the surrounding roof, and with yet more superb views.
- En suite bathroom with a walk-in shower and a WC.
The Master Bedroom (Bedroom 5)
Adjoining the house is:
The Games Room
Equipped with:
- A billiards table (with cues etc, plus balls for snooker and pool).
- Table football (as found in French cafés and bars).
- A television (receiving French language programmes only), a DVD player, and a PlayStation.
The Grounds
Stone steps descend to the stunning, fenced 16 metre-long filtered swimming pool. Its design mirrors the surrounding contours, sweeping in a gradual and graceful crescent from zero to a depth of 3 metres. A barely submerged walkway separates the shallow from the deep end, and leads to a central fountain which can be turned on or off as desired.
There is an extensive terracotta-tiled terrace at both ends of the pool, and a range of comfortable pool furniture.
NB 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.
The house is surrounded by cork trees, holm oaks, pines, chestnuts and even the odd cactus.
The parking area, the garden and the pool can be illuminated at night.
The water requirements of both the house and the swimming pool are satisfied in normal circumstances by a well, a spring, and a sophisticated rainfall-capture system. However, as elsewhere in the South of France, a prolonged dry spell can create problems, and water should therefore be used with care.
Bathroom 1
Other Facilities And Information
- Unless otherwise agreed, there should not be more than 10 people including children and babies staying at "La Lanterne" at any one time.
- The owners' insurance policy requires that all doors and windows are secured whenever everyone is away from the property.
- 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.
- The caretakers are Tomix and Anne-Marie Massey - they live in a cottage 50 metres below and to the south east of "La Lanterne". Mme Massey or her deputy will act as the cleaner for 4 hours per day on one mid-week day per week, these 4 hours being included in the rent. Any extra hours of works should be agreed by tenants with Mme Massey or her deputy, and are to be paid direct at the rate of Euros 15 per hour.
Looking towards the Pool from one of the Terraces
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge, and will be changed on a weekly basis.
- Monsieur Massey looks after the garden and the swimming pool, and is paid by the owners.
- As long as sufficient notice is given, a baby-sitter and/or a part-time cook can probably be provided. His/her/their wage will be the tenants' responsibility, and will be ascertained prior to the commencement of the tenancy should tenants so wish.
- A wide selection of tempting dishes (cold or ready-to-heat) can be pre-ordered from either of the butchers in La Garde-Freinet.
- "La Lanterne" has a telephone system, and also has Broadband/Wireless internet access.
- It is centrally heated throughout.
- There are 2 cots (one being a travel cot, and both having a mattress and bedding), a high chair, and a pushchair.
- There is an ironing board, an iron and a hair-drier.
- There is a table tennis table, plus bats and balls.
- There are 2 bicycles.
- "La Lanterne" has a most useful folder listing doctors, dentists and other emergency numbers, as well as shops (pottery is a local speciality), local markets and restaurants, plus hints and instructions regarding the house, the grounds and the swimming pool. There are also ideas and suggestions about what to do and where to go in the area. Tenants are encouraged to add to this list.
- There are tennis courts in nearby La Garde-Freinet. (See the folder - as above - for booking information).
- There is also a tennis club (offering coaching) in Grimaud (½ hour's drive). It is run by Christophe Cochet, the son of Henri Cochet, one of the legendary quartet of Frenchmen who dominated the game for much of the period between World Wars I and II.
- There are 2 spectacular inland 18-hole golf courses within ½ hour's drive - St Endréol and Barbaroux. Also 18-hole coastal courses at Beauvallon and Ste Maxime, plus a number of others within an hour's drive.
- There is some fishing on the small reservoir ½ km below the house.
- There are some ideal picnic spots around the nearby lake of Les Escarcets (10 minutes' drive).
- There are magnificent walks and mountain bike trails in the forest in all directions. (Bicycles can be hired in Cogolin). Perhaps the best known walk is the GR9 which winds through the Maures hills, has unrivalled views on all sides, and can be tackled by enthusiasts of all ages.
- There are livery stables on the outskirts of Grimaud which offer lessons as well as riding in the surrounding hills.
- Several nearby vineyards offer tastings and on-the-spot purchases. There is also a wine co-operative on the road to Ste Maxime, just outside Grimaud.
The view from the roof-top Terrace outside the Master Bedroom.
- Port Grimaud offers a child-friendly beach (with several fairly basic restaurants), plus sailing, water-skiing and wind-surfing lessons. In addition, self-drive boats can be hired to cruise the waterways of this 'village-by-the-sea'. There are boat excursions from several local ports to St Tropez and elsewhere
- The best beaches are probably Pampelonne (with a great restaurant), Gigaro and Cavalaire (all south of St. Tropez).
Well worth a visit are:-
- The Gorges du Verdon (1½ hours' drive). This stunning canyon and its eponymous river offers numerous activities - walking, canoeing and paragliding to name just some.
- The nearby village of Collobrières, "the capital of the Maures", is renowned for its monastery and, from a restaurant point of view, for its chestnut-based cuisine (the local speciality). The ancient Abbaye du Thoronet near Le Luc is also worth a visit, and hosts concerts and other musical events in the summer. In addition to St Tropez, Grimaud, Port Grimaud and Collobrières, there are many pretty villages in the area which are worth visiting - Plan-de-la-Tour, Gassin, Ramatuelle and Bormes-les-Mimosas to name but a few.
- Children will enjoy the tortoise and donkey villages (10 to 15 minutes' drive), as well as the "little train" which runs between Grimaud and Port Grimaud.
The Front Door on "La Lanterne's" eastern side
The Rents In 2008
| Month | Price |
|---|---|
| May | £1,990 per week |
| June & September | £2,440 per week |
| July & August | £3,200 per week |
| January to April &
October to December |
£1,250 per week |
| Easter and Christmas | £2,300 |
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 4 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 "La Lanterne".
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.
