Moulin de La Tour was once an olive mill and is quintessentially Provençal, located at the very heart of the iconic landscape of sunflowers, lavender fields and olive groves. Its bedrooms are divided between the grand Main House and a separate Annexe, while the gardens include a swimming pool and a tennis court. This is a superb property for large groups, multi generational holidays and mixed ages. It is within walking distance of Fontvieille where there is a nice choice of restaurants, bars and café’s. Its a fascinating area with masses to do and see locally if you choose. Its not far from the Camargue and from the old city of Arles on The Rhone with its fantastic Roman amphitheatre though you may well not stray far from the place.
Moulin de la Tour
Fontvieille, Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence, South of France
Overview
Sleeps: 18
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Main house:
4 ensuite double bedrooms
1 double bedroom with additional single bed – ensuite
1 bedroom with a double bed and 4 bunk beds – ensuite
Annexe:
3 double bedrooms (two of which can be split into twin rooms)
One shower room and one bathroom
Rent per week
£8000 to £14000 per week depending on the season. Saturday to Saturday.
Detailed break down of price per week
Key features
18th century olive mill
Main house and Annexe
6 acres of grounds
13 x 5.5 m swimming pool
Tennis court
Air conditioning in all the bedrooms
Testimonials
The House and Accommodation
Moulin de la Tour is a south-facing 17th century Provençal olive mill which was converted into a spectacular private House some 50 years ago. It has been renovated and redecorated with immense taste by its present owner, who lives mainly in Paris, to provide very spacious, stylish and comfortable accommodation in the 6-bedroom Main House and the 3-bedroom Annexe.
Sitting Room or “Salon” – measuring 200 square metres with an impressive stone stone-vaulted ceiling. The sitting area comprises groups of sofas and armchairs, a grand piano, substantial double-sided wood-burning stone fireplace, library area, wide-angle satellite TV with a video and DVD player and a CD/cassette player with 50 or so CDs. Dining Area – at one end of the Sitting Room, with a dining table seating up to 12. If required, an additional table and chairs can be moved into the dining area from the adjacent Kitchen.
Kitchen – large, bright and well-equipped with a table seating 8, larder/pantry on either side, gas cooker, 1 electric and 2 gas ovens, 2 fridges (one with a freezer and an ice-maker) and a dishwasher.
Games Room – with a stone vaulted ceiling, wood-burning fireplace, French/American billiards table, bar and a fascinating collection of bullfight posters, photographs and costumes. (See ‘Things to see and do’).
The Annexe:
Single storey and about 20 metres west of the Main House. It has a living Room/bedroom 10/Kitchenette – with 2 full-length single beds (83 cms w x 1.9m), 2 electric hobs, a fridge, a kettle and a sink, plus table-top football and an electric piano.
It has 3 bedrooms (bedroom 7, 8 and 9) and two bath / shower rooms.
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- Twin bedroom and Study – with two beds (83cms w x 1.8m) and a desk-style table with chairs.
Bedroom 3 – the Master Bedroom, accessed through bedroom 2, with a canopied 4-poster double bed (1.6m w x 1.95m)and a spacious en suite (Bathroom 1) with a bath, a separate shower, double washbasins and a WC.
Bedroom 4 – with an attractive raftered ceiling, a double bed (1.8m w x 2m), small adjoining dressing room and an en suite (Bathroom 2) with a bath, separate shower and a W.C.
Bedroom 5 – with a double (1.8m w x 2m) and a single bed, a dressing room and en-suite (Bathroom 3) with a bath, separate shower and a W.C. Doors lead straight to the garden on the North side.
Bedroom 6 – large beamed-ceiling children’s room with 2 pairs of bunk beds (ie. 4 beds in all), and a separate double bed (1.6m w x 1.9m) . An en suite (Shower Room 2) has a shower and W.C. This bedroom has a door leading out onto a separate terrace of its own with shaded pergola’s of vines and flowers.
Annexe Bedroom 7 – with a double bed (1.6m w x 1.9) which can be split into two singles and direct access to the garden. This bedroom share either a shower room or a bathroom with bedrooms 8 and 9.
Annexe Bedroom 8 – with a double bed (1.6m w x 1.9m) which can be split into two singles and direct access to the garden. This bedroom share either a shower room or a bathroom with bedrooms 7 and 9
Annexe Bedroom 9 – with a double bed (1.8m w x 1.9m). This bedroom share either a shower room or a bathroom with bedrooms 7 and 8.
All bedrooms have air conditioning
Garden and Grounds
Moulin de la Tour stands in approximately 6 acres of grounds which comprise olive and almond groves, vines, a vegetable garden, a lavender field and an orchard of apple, fig, mulberry, cherry, apricot, plum and pomegranate trees. The House is surrounded by sunny terraces with tables and chairs, overlooking extensive lawns studded with a variety of shrubs, flowers and shady trees, including the bright colours and fragrance of hibiscus, oleander, roses and geraniums.
From the electronically-controlled entrance gates, the cypress-lined drive leads through an olive grove to the ample parking area near the front door on Moulin’s north side. Just off the drive is a first-class all-weather tennis court, complete with an umpire’s chair.
There is a ‘boules’ court in the garden, with ‘boules’ kept in the Main House and also a table tennis table stored in the garage which can be set up on the lawns or terraces as required
Additional buildings, terraces and eating areas
The pool house salon has a bar with sink and fridge. There is also a sofa bed along with an indoor barbecue.
Swimming Pool
The magnificent filtered, alarmed, swimming pool measures 13 x 5.5 metres, with wide steps into the shallow end (80 cms) shelving to 2.5 metres at the deep end. Around the pool is an excellent range of sun beds, mattresses, parasols, tables and chairs. There are 2 changing rooms, a shower and W.C. The pool house salon has a bar with sink and fridge. There is also a sofa bed along with an indoor barbecue.
Tennis Court
Just off the drive is a first-class all-weather tennis court, complete with an umpire’s chair.
Location
Moulin de la Tour is situated in a very special part of Provence. This is van Gogh’s landscape of dazzling bright summers, vivid sunflowers, silvery olive groves and timeless hill-top villages (‘villages perchés’) with, all around, the scents of rosemary, thyme and lavender. There is the lovely hill country of the Alpilles to explore, a wealth of Roman monuments to discover and the mysterious wetlands of the Camargue – one of Europe’s most important nature reserves, known for its flamingos, fighting bulls and wild horses.
Moulin de la Tour is less than 1 km from the centre of the attractive village of Fontvieille with good shopping facilities, pavement cafe bars, several Michelin-rated restaurants and an outstanding small hotel with its own restaurant.
The property is 8 kms from Arles and Les Baux-de-Provence which boasts 2 of France’s most distinguished restaurants and 15 kms from St Rémy-de-Provence.
The nearest beach is at Stes Maries-de-la-Mer (½ hour’s drive) and Nîmes, Avignon, Orange and Aix-en-Provence are all within easy driving distance.
How to get there
Airports
Marseilles international airport (Marignane) is ¾ of an hour away
Nîmes and Avignon are both about half an hour
TGV
Stops at Avignon
Things to see and do nearby
Cycle Hire
Bicycles can be hired in several local villages and there are also a number of nearby riding stables.
The Camargue
The Camargue offers wonderful opportunities to ride, bicycle and walk in its strange and fascinating landscape.
Riding, cycling, walking
There is also excellent riding, cycling and walking in the Alpilles hills close to Les Baux-de-Provence.
Beaches
The nearest beach is at Stes Maries-de-la-Mer (½ hour’s drive). Its local church, and its patron saint, Sara, is the goal each May of the “Pélerinage des Gitanes”, the huge and colourful gypsies’ pilgrimage from all over Europe.
Watersports
The beaches around Cassis (1¼ hours’ drive) offer windsurfing, waterskiing and sailing.
Music festivals
There are distinguished music festivals in Aix-en-Provence and Orange.
Golf
The nearest golf courses (all 18 holes) are at Les Baux-de-Provence (Domaine de Manville – 10 minutes), Mouriès (Golf de Servanes – 15 minutes) and Golf de Nîmes Vacquerrolles (25 minutes).
Bullfights
Nîmes is graded as one of the 5 top bullrings in Europe, along with Madrid and Seville. Bullfights (where the bulls are killed) take place in Nîmes at the end of May and September and in Arles in April and September. There are many other bull-oriented events and festivals where the bulls are unharmed. Local villages stage “courses à la cocarde”, whilst the Camargue holds both private “tientas” (the testing of the young bulls reared on its plains), as well as actual Provençal-style fights in which the bulls aren’t killed.
Restaurants
There are many good restaurants in the vicinity in all price ranges, including excellent Michelin-starred restaurants (see ‘Location’). Several feature gypsy music and flamenco-style dancing.
Local vineyards
Many local vineyards offer wine tastings and on-the-spot purchases. Particularly recommended are the white and rosé wines of nearby Chateau d’Estoublon.
Culture
This region is one of France’s most important cultural treasure houses. Highlights include the Roman amphitheatres in Nîmes, Arles and Orange which are all still very much in use, the necropolis of Alyscamps, the classical excavations near St. Rémy as well as its Van Gogh museum and the nearby Abbey of Montmajour to which countless pilgrims flocked throughout the Middle Ages.
Additional Information
Arrival welcome and departure: Tenants will be met on arrival by the caretaker and will be shown how everything works, both inside and out.
Wifi and Broadband: There is a telephone/fax system with extensions in all the bedrooms in the Main House and calls can be made room-to-room. There is Broadband/WiFi internet access.
Housebook: There is a useful information folder in the Main House which contains the telephone numbers of doctors, dentists etc. as well as who to contact with various queries, eg. Michaël should be advised if a plumber or electrician is required. There are also hints and instructions regarding the buildings and the grounds, whilst Michaël has considerable knowledge about the superb local outdoor markets in Arles, St Rémy, etc.
Additional entertainment: There is a boules court and boules as well as table tennis.
Music and TV: wide-angle satellite TV with a video and DVD player and a CD/cassette player with 50 or so CDs.
Services included: The rent includes 2 hours of general housework per day on 5 days per week (including bed-making and bathroom cleaning, as well as changing and washing bed linen and bath and pool towels on a weekly basis). The caretaker, Michaël, is employed by the owners to looks after the buildings, the grounds, the swimming pool and the tennis court.
Optional / additional services available: This will be done by one or more cleaners who will be happy to work additional hours if requested at €18 per hour.
There’s an excellent cook who lives locally and who will, prepare/cook dinners and/or lunches as required if requested in advance. Her charge for doing so (as well as for her time spent food shopping) is €18 per hour.
Utilities: There is a utility room with a washing machine and a dryer, an iron and an ironing board.
Air conditioning and heating: All bedrooms in both the main house and the annexe are air conditioned. There is an electric heating system throughout both the Main House and the Annexe.
Children: There is a high chair, plus 2 cots with mattresses and bedding.
Car Parking: There is plenty of parking.
Rents
2024
| Period | Rent per week |
| May and October | £8,000 per week |
| June and Sept | £10,000 per week |
| 29th June to 31st August | £14,000 |
| All other months | POA |
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 will also be payable to Anglo French Properties Ltd on signing a Rental Agreement. This will secure the booking and will cover: (a) the cost of telephone and fax calls made on the house telephone during the tenancy, (b) the cost of replacing/making good any losses, breakages and/or damages incurred during the rental, and (c) the cost of any exceptional cleaning work which may be required at the end of the tenancy. This Booking and Security Deposit will be refunded (less any deductions as outlined above) within 4 weeks of the conclusion of the tenancy.
Minimum stay: Unless otherwise agreed, all lets will be for a minimum of 1 week, and will begin and end on a Saturday. However, there are occasions when the period of availability can be less than 1 week, and/or the start or ending date may not be a Saturday.
Arrival Time & Departure times: Tenants should arrive as soon as possible after 5 pm on the commencement day (not earlier), and should leave before 10 am on the agreed day of departure. They will be met on arrival by the caretaker.
Number of People: There should not be more than 18 people in all (including children and babies) staying in the Main House and the Annexe 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: Linen and towels, and the cleaning of the linen and towels are included in the rental price. These will be changed on a weekly basis. Each tenant will be provided with one pool and one bath towel per week.
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.