Le Haut Refren

The House is approached down a long track then via a charming path across a terrace featuring an ornamental pond with goldfish and waterplants. An attractive wooden front door opens into the entrance hall, with high ceilings and exposed beams.  

There is air conditioning in all bedrooms.

Ground Floor:
Living Area – a large, open plan room, comprising the Sitting Room, Dining Area and Kitchen, with golden oak floors and beamed ceilings. It is flooded with sunlight through several French doors, which open onto the Terrace and provide panoramic views towards St Tropez. The Sitting Room has two comfortable sofas, satellite TV and a working fireplace; the Dining Area has a table seating 8; and the modern, oak Kitchen includes a large range cooker, an American-style fridge/freezer and 2 dishwashers.
Master Bedroom (Bedroom 1) - with exposed beams, a 6-foot double bed, built-in wardrobes and a satellite TV. French windows open onto a south-facing Terrace which runs along the front of the house. The ensuite Shower Room 1 has a walk-in shower, twin washbasins, a bidet, and a W.C.
Separate W.C. with a washbasin.
Laundry Room - fully-equipped, with a washing machine and tumble dryer, irons and an ironing board, and a second large fridge/freezer.
Breakfast Terrace - with a stone table seating 8. A path leads to the pedestrian gate next to the main entrance gates.

First floor
Bedroom 2 - with a 5’6’’ double bed, built-in wardrobes, a satellite TV and a window looking south. The ensuite Shower Room 2 has a walk-in shower, a washbasin and a W.C.
Bedroom 3 - with two 3-ft beds, built-in wardrobes, a satellite TV and a south-facing window. French windows lead to a small, west-facing Terrace. The ensuite Shower Room 3 has a walk-in shower, a washbasin, a W.C.

There are 3 large Terraces, all with stunning views to the south. The Zen Terrace is at the east end of the House where guests can dine at a table created from a hewn rock in the shade of an overhanging mulberry tree. To the west is a covered Terrace with comfortable armchairs grouped round a fireplace, and beyond this, and linking the House to the Cottage, is a newly-constructed Terrace in local stone with seating around a glass table, and a beautiful stone barbecue. All perfect for outside entertaining.

The Cottages
20 metres from the Main House, in the shade of a spreading pine tree, are a Larger and a Smaller  Cottage with magnificent sea views.

The Larger Cottage has a comfortable living Area, a working fireplace, 2 windows and a French window facing south. It also has a Kitchenette with a fridge and coffee making facilities. The Bedroom (4) has a 6’6’’ four-poster bed, built-in wardrobes and a satellite TV. The ensuite Shower Room (4) has a walk-in shower, a washbasin and a W.C.

The Smaller Cottage has a further Bedroom 5 with a 5'6" double bed and ensuite shower room. 

Le Haut Refren has a very secluded and panoramic setting, 10-minutes’ walk from the large village of La Garde-Freinet. It is about 2 kms from the D558 which climbs between Grimaud and La Garde-Freinet and 20 kms south east of the A8 autoroute (the exit is signposted “Le Luc/Le Cannet”).

La Garde-Freinet has a true Provençal “feel” with very reasonable shopping facilities and a number of local restaurants. There is also good shopping at Cogolin (12 kms to the south west), including Leclerc and Géant supermarkets.

The house is 9 kms from the nearest beach (at Port Grimaud), 21 kms from St. Tropez, 1 hour’s drive from Nice airport, and about the same distance from Toulon airport. The TGV, stops at both Cannes (¾ of an hour’s drive) and at Nice. An hour’s drive is elegant Aix-en-Provence with its music and opera festivals, and its many art galleries and museums.

There are two Information Books in the House giving useful telephone numbers including a doctor, dentist, police, fire, taxis etc. It also lists recommended restaurants, beach bars, nightclubs, shopping and market days in La Garde-Freinet, supermarkets and shopping in nearby Grimaud, and market days in St Tropez. The tourist offices in La Garde-Freinet, Grimaud and St  Tropez also have much useful information.

In addition to La Garde-Freinet, there are many pretty villages well worth a visit - Grimaud and Port Grimaud, Plan de la Tour, Gassin, Ramatuelle, Bormes les Mimosas and Collobrières, to name but a few.

A number of local vineyards encourage visits as well as tastings and purchases. There’s also an excellently priced wine co-operative on the road between Grimaud and Ste Maxime.

There are nearby tennis courts on the hill opposite Le Haut Refren, and a tennis club in Grimaud where lessons can be arranged.

There are several good 18-hole golf courses in the vicinity, the majority of which are listed in the Information Books. The nearest are Beauvallon and Ste Maxime, whilst St. Endréol, Barbaroux, Château de Toulane and Valcros are outstanding.

The best beaches are probably Pampelonne (with its 'Club 55'), Gigaro and Cavalaire (all south of St. Tropez) and boats can be hired at Port Grimaud to take passengers direct to these beaches.

There are boat trips to the Isles d'Hyères, (Porquerolles being the largest of these islands). There are also boat services across the Bay of St Tropez from Port Grimaud.

A livery stable on the road between Grimaud and Cogolin offers riding lessons as well as trekking in the surrounding hills.

There are some marvellous walks and mountain-bike trails in the vicinity. Bicycles can be hired in Cogolin.

Port Grimaud offers children-friendly sailing, water-skiing and wind-surfing lessons.

There's a go-karting circuit between Grimaud and Port Grimaud.

Small children will enjoy the "little train" which runs between Grimaud and Port Grimaud.