Le Vieux Manoir is a spacious Provençal country house, dating from the 17th century, with lots of different living areas, including two separate terraces. It has been converted, decorated and equipped to the highest standards, and sleeps 12 in great comfort (including children and babies).
Le Vieux Manoir
Bonnieux, Commune de Bonnieux, Luberon, Provence
Overview
Sleeps: 12
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
7 double bedrooms
1 twin bedroom
7 bathrooms
Rent per week
£6500 to £9800 per week depending on the season. Saturday to Saturday.
Detailed break down of price per week
Key features
Beautiful garden and orchard
Garden bedrooms with private access
Infinity pool and paddling pool
Well equipped pool house
Testimonials
The House and Accommodation
Le Vieux Manoir is south-facing and comprises 4 double bedrooms in the main house plus a further 4 bedrooms which have direct access from the garden or from a terrace for greater individual privacy.
Dining Room – with a beamed ceiling and table seating 14. Stairs ascend from the dining room to the first floor.
Breakfast area – with a table seating 6.
Kitchen – very well-appointed and equipped, including a cooker with 4 gas hobs, a gas hot plate and 2 ovens, a large fridge/freezer; a dishwasher, blender, nespresso machine, electric kettle, toaster etc.; a portable stereo radio & C.D. player.
Sitting Room – formerly 2 separate rooms and very spacious, with a beamed ceiling and several comfortable sofas.
TV Room – with a giant satellite TV, huge sofas, a CD and a DVD player.
Bedrooms & bathrooms
Bedroom 1 – located mid-way up the principal staircase, with a double bed (1.4m w x 1.95m), cupboards, and en suite (Shower Room 1) with a shower and a W.C.
Bedroom 2 – air conditioned, with a 5’6” double bed, beamed ceiling and windows looking north. The ensuite shower room has a walk-in shower and a W.C.
Bedroom 3 – air conditioned, with a 6′ double bed, beamed ceiling and windows looking north and south. The ensuite bathroom has a bath, a walk-in shower, and double wash basins. A walk-in wardrobe leads to a separate W.C.
Bedroom 4 – with a 5’6″ double bed. It has an ensuite Shower Room – with a separate W.C.
Terrace / garden bedroom 5 – accessed by a staircase from the terrace to the left of the front door. A small sitting room and separate WC are located on its lower floor. Upstairs is a 5’6″ double bed with windows looking east and North, plus a shower room.
Terrace / garden bedroom 6 – accessed from a staircase leading from the terrace to the garden and comprising two 3’ single beds, windows facing south and east, plus a shower room with a walk-in shower, a wash basin and a W.C.
Bedroom 7 – on the first floor of bedroom 6, with a 5’6” double bed and windows facing south. This bedroom would share the bathroom with bedroom 6 which is a shower room with a walk-in shower, a wash basin and a WC.
Terrace / garden bedroom 8 – accessed from a separate outside staircase on the south side of the house and comprising a 5’6” double bed and windows on its west and north sides. The ensuite shower room has a walk-in shower, a wash basin and a separate W.C.
NB: There are hair-dryers in every bedroom, and standing fans in all the bedrooms which are not air conditioned.
Garden and Grounds
Le Vieux Manoir is situated in 8 hectares (20 acres) of grounds, surrounded by vineyards, a lavender field and orchards with cherry, fig, pear, peach, apple and plum trees. (Tenants are encouraged to pick the fruit in season). Its large, well-maintained and most attractive garden is a particular feature.
Electronically-controlled entrance gates open from a quiet country lane into the 100-metre, tree-lined drive which leads to the north side of the house, where there is ample parking space. On one side of the drive is a lavender field, whilst a high, dense hedge shields the property from the quiet lane on its other side. The drive is bordered by lawns, and the centre of the turning circle in front of the house features an ancient olive tree.
All round the house are shady trees of many varieties, as well as hedges separating the terraced lawns on its south side. Beyond the property is a vineyard, also owned by the Manoir.
There’s a table tennis table (with a net, bats and balls) which can be set up in the garden.
Additional buildings, terraces and eating areas
Dining Terrace – French doors from the dining room, breakfast area and the sitting room open onto the covered terrace, with a table seating 12 (can seat 14) plus sofas and armchairs, and a gas-fired Weber barbecue.
There’s a 2-storey pool house on one side which has an awning shading a large table, seating up to 12. The pool house includes, on the Ground Floor, a 2-hob electric cooker, a fridge, a dishwasher and a sink, plus a hot and cold water outside shower and a separate W.C. There’s a Weber gas-fired barbecue.
There are a choice of terraces for relaxing and eating al fresco.
Swimming Pool
The filtered, heated, floodlit, infinity swimming pool measures 15 x 6.8 metres, with a depth of 1 metre at its shallow end (with steps), and 2 metres at its far end. Around the pool are 12 sunbeds and some small tables.
Adjacent to the swimming pool is a cascading ornamental paddling pool (with steps), measuring 6.8 x 3.2 metres, with an overall depth of 50 cms.
The pool area is fenced and gated, with child locks.
Location
Le Vieux Manoir is situated in a peaceful valley in the heart of the Luberon – one of Provence’s most stunning regions.
The house lies at the foot of the enchanting Provençal village of Bonnieux (5 kms) which has very reasonable shopping and some good restaurants. The town of Apt (9 kms) has an even greater variety of shops, plus some large supermarkets and a hospital.
On a hill, an exceptional view from the house, in the middle distance stands the village of Lacoste, dominated by its medieval castle, which was the stronghold of the notoriously wicked Marquis de Sade.
How to get there
Airports
The closest airports are Avignon (45 minutes)
Marseilles/Marignane (75 minutes)
Nîmes (with some international flights) is 90 minutes.
TGV
Avignon, and connects with Nice, Paris and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport.
Things to see and do nearby
Walking
Walking in the surrounding National Parks – this is spectacular walking country.
Tennis
There are tennis courts in nearby Bonnieux
Golf
The nearest 18-hole golf course, the Provence Country Club, at Saumane-de-Vaucluse.
Horse riding
A nearby riding stable, where lessons can be booked and trekking can be arranged through the surrounding countryside.
Watersports
Canoeing, kayaking, dinghy sailing and rafting on the local rivers. The nearest point-of-hire is probably at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on the Sorgue river (20 minutes).
Cycling
Bicycles can be hired in Bonnieux. The shop also provides battery-assisted bikes (which are excellent for the hills of the Luberon!) as well as details of recommended routes.
Gorge du Verdon
The spectacular Gorges du Verdon, Europe’s Grand Canyon, offering adventure activities of many kinds.
Vineyards
The vineyards which abound in the region, with many offering tours, tastings and on-the-spot purchases.
Towns and Villages
The stunning and hugely photogenic small towns and villages in the surrounding area – Bonnieux, Saignon, Vaugines (where the legendary “Jean de Florette” and “Manon des Sources” were filmed), Lourmarin, Ansouis, Apt, Roussillon, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Ménerbes and Gordes to name just a few.
Historic cities
Aix-en-Provence and Avignon – two of the region’s most interesting historic cities and cultural centres. There are distinguished music festivals in both cities, as well as in Orange.
Religious buildings
The numerous chateaux, abbeys, churches, gardens, art galleries, museums and archeological sites that are well worth a visit, as well as the many cultural and sporting events taking place in the surrounding area.
Children
The local children’s zoos and adventure playgrounds.
Caves
The grottoes and caves, many of them exhibiting features of their fascinating pre-historic past.
Take to the air
Flying, ballooning and paragliding over the spectacular local countryside.
Beaches
The nearest Mediterranean beaches are in the “calanques” (coves) to the west of Cassis, as well as the larger beaches east of this small coastal town, several of which have windsurfing, waterskiing and sailing facilities. Cassis also has some good seafood restaurants.
Lavender
The abundant lavender farms and honey-producers.
Additional Information
Arrival welcome and departure: Tenants will be welcomed on arrival and will be shown how everything works, both inside and outside.
Wifi and Broadband: There are telephones throughout the house, and local calls are free of charge. The cost of all other calls will be deducted from the tenants’ Booking and Security Deposit (see Rent & Terms). There’s Broadband/WiFi internet access throughout the house. Whilst being very reliable, as with all rural properties access cannot be guaranteed.
Housebook: The house manual also contains a great deal of useful information including where and when the local markets take place, details of supermarkets and shops selling Provençal products (fabrics, pottery, lavender and honey spring to mind), plus recommended restaurants in various price categories etc. It also includes details of the main things to see and do in the area.
Additional entertainment: There’s a table tennis table (with a net, bats and balls) which can be set up in the garden. There are English-language books, plus playing cards and board games. There are also a number of CD’s and DVD’s. There’s a set of ‘boules’. The best place to play is on the gravel on the south side of the House but there are numerous choices!
Services included: Two cleaners are employed by the owner, each for 3 hours per day on 2 mid-week days per week, as well as for changing bed linen and bath and pool towels every Saturday.
Optional / additional services available: Any additional days/hours of work should be agreed by tenants with the cleaners, and paid direct to them at the rate of €18 per hour and paid direct to the property manager. As long as sufficient notice is given, a cook and/or a baby-sitter can be found. His/her/their wage will be tenants’ responsibility and, if requested, can be ascertained prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
Utilities: There is a larder with a second fridge/freezer, a microwave etc. There is also a utility room – with 2 washing machines and 2 separate driers, an iron and an ironing board.
Air conditioning and heating: The house is heated and cooled by an underfloor geothermal heating system keeping the house fresh and cool in the summer months and warm in the winter months.
Children: There are 2 cots (with bedding), and 2 high chairs.
Car Parking: There is plenty of parking.
Rents
2024
| Period | Rent per week |
| January, February and March | £6,500 |
| April | £7,400 |
| May, June and September | £7,800 |
| July and August | £9,800 |
| September | £7,800 |
| October | £7,400 |
| November and December | £6,500 |
| Christmas and New Year | £7,500 |
Terms & conditions and the booking process
The Booking Process: 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 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the tenancy.
Security Deposit: A Booking and Security Deposit of £890 will also be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing the Rental Agreement. This will secure the booking, and will cover the cost of (a) calls (other than local ones) made during the tenancy on the house telephone, (b) replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages incurred during the rental, (c) any exceptional cleaning work which may be required at the end of the tenancy. This Deposit will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 4 weeks of the tenancy’s conclusion.
Minimum stay: Unless otherwise agreed, all rentals will be for a minimum of one week and will begin and end on a Saturday.
Arrival Time & Departure times: Tenants should arrive as soon as possible after 5pm on the commencement day. They will be welcomed on arrival, given a tour of the property and shown how everything works. Tenants should leave by 10am on the agreed day of departure.
Number of People: Unless otherwise agreed, there should not be more than 14 people staying in the property at any one time.
Security: The owners’ insurance policy requires that all doors are locked, and that all windows and shutters are closed when tenants are away from the property.
Energy costs are included: The energy costs are included in the rental price.
Heating costs are included: The heating costs are included in the rental price.
Linen and towels: Bed linen, bath and pool towels are provided free of charge.
Smoking: No smoking allowed inside the property. Caution should be taken when smoking outside during the summer months as the risk of fire can be extremely high.
Internet access: yes, included in the rental price.
Optional / additional services available: any additional services, if available, (eg extra cleaning or cooking) will be agreed in advance at a pre-agreed rate per hour. These costs will be the sole responsibility of the tenant.