Mas/Bastide in Alpilles/Provence, Fontvieille

This traditional 18th-century farmhouse was transformed and renovated into a small Bastide (manor house) by the Comtesse de Rovisanda in the 1958-60. It enjoys an exceptional location to the south of the Alpilles, offering a unique character with its sunny, south-facing orientation that ensures natural light throughout the day while remaining sheltered during the Mistral winds.

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The main house, measuring approximately 250 m², comprises three reception rooms: an entrance hall way  with an impressive original fireplace and access to both the elevator and staircase; a large living room featuring a fireplace, high ceilings, exposed beams, and French doors; and a smaller living room/study that enjoys sunlight from morning until afternoon through expansive Orangerie type doors. In between the hallway and the living room  a dining room accommodating up to 14 guests opens onto a magnificent south-facing terrace, approximately 25 metres long. The ground floor also includes a kitchen, a second kitchen/ laundry room and a separate WC. The second kitchen leads towards the breakfast terrace in between the main house and the guest house.

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On the first floor: a hallway leads to bedroom one with an en-suite bathroom; bedroom two, also with an en-suite; a master bedroom with a private covered terrace facing south-east; and a fourth bedroom, which has been converted into an independent apartment with its own external entrance, terrace access, and bathroom. All bedrooms are air-conditioned.

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The property spans over 6,300 m² and features a beautifully landscaped garden adorned with rose bushes, 70 olive trees, massive cypresses, and five ancient plane trees. The garden is divided into four distinct areas: the manor house garden, closed in by a gate on the small bridge of the canal des Alpilles towards a lower part of the olive groves with a Lilly pond and an ornamental water well.

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Separated by a second fence door -for child protection- you will find a 12 x 6 metre concrete heated swimming pool with a terrace. The pool area enjoys sunshine throughout the day and also offers an old round stone table with curved stone benches around, ideal for midday pool luncheons.

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The ‘Mazet’ garden is accessible from the guest house area via steps and separated by a wall from the manor garden.

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Annexes:

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Guest House, the second house: A 60 m² independent building connected to the main house by a covered passage. It includes a living room with high ceilings, a hallway, two bedrooms (one with a king size bed and en-suite bathroom and second bedroom with a bunk bed and a single bed, ideal for 3 children and an independent bathroom, as well as a kitchen with access to a breakfast terrace.

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Studio/Mazet: Recently renovated, the 16 m² studio features a living area with a view of a rose and olive garden, a kitchenette, a shower room, and a sunny morning terrace. It is a truly romantic house, slightly separated from the main grounds by a garden staircase, providing privacy and tranquillity.

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Location:

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Situated on the foot (rear garden exit gate) of the Alpilles Natural Park

​​https://www.seeprovence.com/reserves/the-alpilles-regional-country-park-region-697919 

and just 15 minutes from the meteorically rising roman and artistic town of Arles, where van Gogh lived and Hemingway, Picasso and Cocteau attended bullfights in the last roman arena located before Spain, but now hosting the world’s largest photography summer festival (Arles Photo).

 

​The property is ideally positioned for exploring picturesque villages and enjoying an exceptional natural heritage. Notable attractions include the citadel of Les Baux de Provence, just a five minute’s drive away, with the world-famous restaurant La Baumanière and the massive underground chalk caves “Carrières de Lumières”, this year with a sensational son et lumiere show on Picasso.

 

This idyllic location is cherished by UK and US families seeking a temperate climate, by Parisians being just 2.5 hours away by train, and Swiss and Belgians, offering a vibrant cultural scene, and a high quality of life. The property is a mere five-minute drive from the lively all year-round village of Fontvieille, which offers four to five excellent restaurants, four cafés, an old fashioned cinema with regular transmissions from leading opera house, three bakeries, a weekly market, and a variety of shops and tabacs including English speaking newspapers.

 

Prestigious villages such as Paradou (world famous Bistro de Paradou, ideal for festivities) and Maussane-les-Alpilles are only 10 minutes away, while fancy Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is also just 15 minutes away, with the famous City of Avignon and the TGV 25 minutes and Marseille Airport reachable in 50 minutes. Close to the Camargue, great beaches and beach clubs (M Plages at Marines les Plages).

 

This rare and exceptional small estate offers a unique blend of character, charm and elegance, and modern living in a highly sought-after location.

 

Wonderful for family holidays, remote work in beautiful surroundings, larger family get togethers to celebrate a special occasion, but also possible to spend long weekends in smaller house (catering five people, if the large house is not occupied). Works very well to use as home office and teleworking, fibre internet powerful enough to allow four PCs at same time and watch TV in separate room.