Domaine de Poutassaou
83310 Grimaud, Var
Sleeps 10
Please click here to view the 2012 rental rates, or see below for further information
"Domaine de Poutassaou". The Lower House
The Location and Setting
"Domaine de Poutassaou" is an 80 hectare (200 acre) estate standing at the summit of a hill, and about 3 kms from the medieval village of Grimaud. The Villa is approached via a long, uphill drive through a dramatic landscape of cork trees, oaks, olives, eucalyptus and oleanders. It is an intensely private estate, with a tranquillity which can hardly be surpassed - certainly not by any other property within, literally, an arrow's shot of the bustling Côte d’Azur.
"Poutassaou" is about ¾ of an hour's drive south of Le Luc on the A8 autoroute, 1½ hours' south west of Nice’s International Airport, and about 45 minutes from Toulon (Hyères) airport which has some international flights. The super-fast train, the TGV, stops at both Fréjus and Cannes, with local trains running to and from St Raphaël and Les Arcs.
St Tropez, Port Grimaud, Ste Maxime, Cannes, Monte Carlo and the many other attractions of the Côte d'Azur are all within comparatively easy reach.
The Property as a Whole
The "Lower” and "Upper" houses are 150 metres apart. They belong to the same family, and whilst some of them may be at the "Upper House" during a tenancy (they live mainly in the U.S.A. and England), only the drive will be shared with tenants - the Swimming Pool and its surroundings are reserved exclusively for tenants.
The photographs and the entire description as below therefore relate solely to the "Lower House" and the Swimming Pool.
Both Villas were designed and built in the early 1960's by the iconic, eclectic French designer, Andrée Putman. The present owners have retained much of their original 'feel' - the thick walls and the carpeted marble floors ensure that the Villas remain cool in the hottest weather, and warm throughout the winter.
Bedroom 1.
The "Lower House"
Its parking area is 20 metres from this 2-storey, south-facing, stone-built Villa.
Ground Floor
- The front door is on its west side, and opens into the DINING AREA (with a table seating 10).
- Beyond the Dining Area is the KITCHEN.
The cooker has 5 gas
rings, as well as a gas and an electric oven. Double sinks, plus a
magimix, electric kettle, toaster, cafetières etc.
An iPod dock is attached to the 2 speakers in the Kitchen, both of which can be positioned so as to be heard on the Terrace.
The Dining Area and the Kitchen.
- The adjoining 'PANTRY' holds a microwave, 2 large fridge/freezers (one with an ice-maker), 2 dishwashers and 3 sinks.
- Beyond the 'Pantry' is the UTILITY ROOM. With 3 washing machines, 2 dryers, an ironing board and an iron.
Straight ahead from the Dining Area to:
- The SITTING ROOM. With sofas and armchairs, and a wood-burning marble fireplace. A door opens onto the lawn at the front of the Villa.
The Sitting Room.
Then through to:
- BEDROOM 1. This large room has a 6 ft double bed, a sofa, a pretty bureau bookcase, and 2 writing tables.
- Ensuite BATHROOM 1. With a bath (and shower attachment), twin washbasins, a bidet, and a semi-separate W.C.
A marble staircase ascends from the Dining Area to:
Bedroom 5.
First Floor
- A second, spacious SITTING ROOM. With a sofa and armchairs, a card table with 4 chairs, a wide screen satellite TV with a video and a DVD player, and lots of videos, English-language books and board games.
The First Floor Sitting Room.
Opening off this Sitting Room are:
To the left:
- BEDROOM 2. With a 6 ft double bed.
- SHOWER ROOM 1. With a walk-in shower, twin washbasins, and a W.C.
- A separate W.C., and a washbasin.
Bedroom 2.
To the right:
- BEDROOM 3. With two 3 ft 3 ins single beds.
- BEDROOM 4. With two 3 ft single beds.
- BEDROOM 5. With two 4 ft single beds, and a 'chaise-longue'.
- SHOWER ROOM 2. With a walk-in shower, twin washbasins, and a W.C.
- A second, separate W.C., and a washbasin.
Bathroom 1.
THE TERRACE
On one side of the Villa, and immediately outside the front door, is a spacious TERRACE with a table seating 14, a second table in one corner seating 8, wooden benches, 2 moveable barbecues and a table tennis table. Facing the House is a sheltered LOGGIA, with a table seating 8, and a wood-burning fireplace.
NB. Fires are a constant threat during the hotter months, and both barbecues should therefore be used with extreme care. Having said this, the local authorities forbid their use in particularly dry summers, and tenants will be advised of any such restriction.
The Terrace.
THE GROUNDS
Steps on one side of the Villa, followed by a short walk through a variety of shady trees, descend to the filtered, alarmed, heated SWIMMING POOL, 40 ft in length (12.3 metres) and 23 ft in width (7 metres), with Roman steps at the shallow end (2 ft 6 ins / 80 centimetres), shelving to 6 ft (1.90 metres) at the deep end.
The water has a saline content (of a similar strength to human tears). This assists in keeping the water crystal–clear, helping to prevent eye infections.
At the shallow end is a rustic Pool House with a drinks fridge.
There are wonderful, totally private walks and rambles in all directions.
NB. Please switch off all outside lights before retiring at night, including those in and around the Pool.
The Swimming Pool with the Pool House in the background.
Other Facilities and Information
- There should not be more than 10 people (including children and babies) staying in the "Lower House" at any one time.
- The caretakers are Jean-Jacques and his wife, Véronique. He looks after the Villa, the grounds and the Pool. Their cottage is within 150 metres of the "Lower House".
The Walk down to the Pool.
- Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of
charge,
and will be changed by the cleaner, Kiki, on a weekly basis. She will
do 3 hours per day on 2 weekdays per week and, in addition, will change
bed linen and bath and pool towels each Saturday. All such hours will
be paid for by the owners.
Any additional hours of work should be agreed direct with Kiki, and should be paid to her by tenants at Euros 15 per hour. - As long as sufficient notice is given, a cook and/or a babysitter can very possibly be found. Her/his/their wage/s will be the tenants' responsibility, and will be ascertained prior to the commencement of the rental should tenants so wish.
- The house has a telephone, as well as Wi-Fi/Broadband internet access.
- There is a cot and a high chair.
Bedroom 3.
- This is an all-year-round Villa. All Bedrooms are air-conditioned, and there is central heating throughout. There are also some fans.
- Tenants should advise the caretaker, Jean-Jacques, as well as Anglo French Properties Ltd at the end of each rental of any losses, breakages and/or damages. This is in lieu of an inventory.
- The owners' insurance policy requires that all shutters are closed and that all outside doors are locked whenever tenants are away from the property.
- The House has a most useful Information Folder listing doctors, dentists, plumbers, electricians, supermarkets, shops (pottery and Provençal fabrics are a speciality), weekly open-air markets (the best is in St Tropez), antique markets, restaurants etc, plus hints and instructions regarding the Villa, the Swimming Pool and the estate as a whole. There are lots of ideas and suggestions on what to do and where to go in the vicinity, as well as a selection of maps and brochures. The Tourist Offices in Grimaud, Port Grimaud and Cogolin also have lots of useful information.
Shower Room 2.
- There are many pretty villages which are well worth a visit - Grimaud itself and Port Grimaud, Plan-de-la-Tour, Gassin, Ramatuelle, Bormes-les-Mimosas and Collobrières, to name but a few.
- There are very children-friendly water ski-ing, wind-surfing and sailing courses at Port Grimaud.
- There are 6 outdoor tennis courts in Cogolin. Booking details are in the Information Folder.
- There are several good 18-hole golf courses in the vicinity, the majority of which are listed in this Folder. The nearest are Beauvallon and Ste Maxime, whilst outstanding are St. Endréol, Barbaroux, Château de Taulane and Valcros.
Bedroom 4.
- The best beaches are probably Pampelonne (with its 'Club 55'), Gigaro and Cavalaire (all south of St. Tropez), and "taxi boats" can be hired in Port Grimaud to take passengers both to St Tropez and to these beaches. In addition, there is a regular ferry service between Ste Maxime and St Tropez - crossings take 10 to 15 minutes.
- There are also services from Le Lavandou to the Isles de'Hyères (Porquerolles being the largest of these islands).
- There is a go-karting circuit between Grimaud and Port Grimaud.
- A livery stable on the road between Grimaud and Cogolin offers riding lessons as well as trekking in the surrounding countryside.
- There are great walks both on the property itself and in the surrounding hills and valleys.
- Mountain bikes can be hired in Cogolin.
- Small children will enjoy the "little train" which runs between Grimaud and Port Grimaud.
- A number of local vineyards encourage visits as well as tastings and on-the-spot purchases. There's also an excellently priced wine co-operative on the road between Grimaud and Ste Maxime.
The Rents In 2012
| Month | Price |
|---|---|
| May, June and September | £3,680 per week |
| July and August | £5,200 per week |
| All other months | £2,630 per week |
| Christmas 2011 & Easter and Christmas 2012 | £3,150 |
The Loggia at the far end of the Terrace.
NB. Unless otherwise agreed, all rentals will be for a minimum of one week, and will begin and end on a Saturday.Tenants should arrive between 4pm and 6pm on the commencement day, and should leave before 10am on the agreed day of departure. They will be met on arrival by the caretaker/s.
If so, please click the flags to go to our Enquiry/Booking Form
The Deposit
A deposit of 25% of the rent will be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement, with the 75% 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, (c) pool heating if required (see "THE GARDEN AND ITS SURROUNDINGS" above), and (d) 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.
