Le Clos de Gavarron

Le Clos de Gavarron is a charming, much-loved family Villa which has been completely renovated by its present owners with great taste and attention to detail.

Ground Floor:

• Entrance hall – grand and spacious, with marble pillars framing the staircase to the master bedroom and with underfloor heating. 
• Salon – down a few steps and through archways on either side of the entrance hall, this spacious, elegant living room includes comfortable sofas, an 18th century working fireplace, underfloor heating 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.
• Sitting Room/Dining Room - with an 18th century working fireplace, satellite TV, DVD player, iPod dock, an electric organ, a dining table which seats 10 and French doors onto a tiled dining terrace.
• Mezzanine – accessed by stairs from the sitting room and comprising a sofa, a TV for watching videos and DVD’s, with a large collection provided and a desk with a printer and WiFi/Broadband internet connection.
• Kitchen – located off the sitting/dining room with air conditioning and doors to the parking area. The kitchen is also well equipped with a 4-hob gas burner, 2 electric ovens, a microwave, a toaster, a dishwasher etc. There is a small deep-freeze in a cupboard at the kitchen end of the sitting room and a large deep freeze in a store room which can be accessed on request.
• Cloakroom with a W.C.
• Laundry cupboard – comprising a washing machine, separate tumble dryer and a butler's sink.
• Bedroom 1 - with two 3' 3" beds which can be made into a double and a window overlooking the terrace and the garden. An ensuite (Shower Room 1) has a shower, and W.C.
• Bedroom 2 - with two 3' beds which can be made into a double and a window overlooking the terrace and the garden. 
• Bedroom 3 - with two 3' 3" beds which can be made into a double and a window overlooking a fountain and the 'boules' pitch. An ensuite (Shower Room 2) has a shower and W.C.
• Bathroom 1 - with a bath and a W.C.

First Floor

• Bedroom 4 – the luxurious master bedroom with a 6' 6" bed which can be split into 2 single beds and windows on 2 sides. An ensuite (Bathroom 2) has a bath, a separate shower and a W.C. Both have underfloor heating

Poolside Studio 

• Bedroom 5 – located on one side of the pool, with two 3' 3" beds which can be made into a double. An ensuite (Shower Room 3) has a shower and W.C.
• Summer Kitchen/Dining Room – alongside the pool and shaded by a retractable electric blind. This striking feature comprises 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.

From the country road linking the village of Taradeau with the small town of Lorgues, a 200 metre lane leads to the electronically-operated entrance gates of Le Clos de Gavarron. The villa stands on a slope, facing south west and is surrounded by the stunning wooded hills, valleys, vineyards and olive groves of the central Var region of Provence.

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, good shopping and a choice of restaurants. The Michelin-starred Bruno’s, on the road to Lorgues, is renowned for its truffle specialities.

The villa 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.

Le Clos 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 10 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 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 folder.
• There are many restaurants in the area, in different price ranges, with details and descriptions of a selection in the house folder.
• The tennis club in Lorgues has 4 outdoor and 2 indoor courts. Booking information can be found in the house folder.
• 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 folder.
• Local fairs and festivals, including concerts at the nearby Abbaye du Thoronet, take place throughout the summer. See the house folder, and/or visit the very helpful Tourist Office in Lorgues.
• There are details in the house folder of nearby riding stables, offering everything from lessons 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 folder.
• There are many stunning towns and villages in the vicinity to explore including the following, to name but a few. Entrecasteaux boasts a marvellous Château and gardens designed by Le Nôtre in the 17th century who also laid out those at Versailles. Tourtour, is known as "the village in the sky" whilst Aups, the gateway to the Haut Var, is said to be the truffle capital of France. Salernes has numerous pottery shops and an excellent (but small) Sunday market.
• Markets take place virtually every day of the week with details of where and when in the House Folder. Local pottery and Provençal fabrics are very popular.  
• Although the Mediterranean beaches of Cavalaire, St Tropez and Cannes are about an hour's drive out of peak season, the journey can take considerably longer in summer. Alternative - and frequently quicker - routes are shown in the house folder. Ste Maxime is relatively easy to reach even in the busiest months and details of its beach bars and restaurants can be found in the house folder.
• Vineyards surround Le Clos, producing red, white and rosé wines – chilled rosé being a speciality of Provence. 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, including one near Vidauban which provides a range of activities for all ages from 3 to the early 20's. Details of these, as well as of quad-biking for older children, are in the House Folder.
• There is swimming, sailing and windsurfing on the Lac de Ste Croix, whilst the spectacular Gorges du Verdon offer gentle-to-more-exhilarating rafting, canyoning, kayaking and canoeing (both 50 kms).