Sitting just 1km outside the quaint village of Verquières near the foothills of the Alpilles mountains, you can discover La Ferme de Pierre, a six-bedroom farmhouse. This lovely, rustic home is the ideal setting for your French escape with friends or family.

From outside, the home appears just as it has for centuries; you can see stonework, shuttered windows, terracotta tiles and historic ironwork. Indoors the period features such as wooden beams and open fireplaces have been lovingly maintained, but the home is otherwise elegant and modern and has all the conveniences you could need for a relaxing trip.

On the ground floor, the house has an open-plan living and dining space filled with natural light that opens onto the garden. The kitchen is just around the corner and is fully equipped with all of the appliances you would need for preparing a meal for your party, and as the areas all flow into each other, this creates a sociable space for coming together.

As you head upstairs to the first floor, this is where four of the bedrooms are located. All of the rooms are double bedrooms with air conditioning and comfy beds. If you have teens with you or a couple who would prefer a little privacy, then one of these bedrooms is slightly separated from the other rooms and has an adjacent TV lounge. The final two bedrooms overlook the leafy grounds on the second floor. Though all rooms boast double beds, if you require twin beds, there is flexibility to change a few of these over.

As you head outdoors, you will find the fantastic garden covering a vast 3600m². As the weather here is usually brilliant, you are sure to get plenty of use out of the summer kitchen to cook and dine al-fresco on a balmy evening. During the day, you can unwind and read a good book in the shade of an ancient tree, take a dip in the private pool or maybe play boules or ping pong with friends.

There are many charming, historical villages close to the villa; you could visit one each day and never run out of things to see and do. The closest are Verquières (1km) and Saint-Andiol (4km). Nearby, for example, you can visit Eyragues which is 8km away and Châteaurenard which is 10km away.

The large, picturesque town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is 12km away by car and is a must-visit location filled with historic sites from the Roman era to the 19th century. Art lovers will enjoy the connection to Vincent Van Gogh, who stayed in the area and produced many paintings here during a difficult period in his life. A little further afield, Avignon is another place which should definitely make your itinerary; this beautiful city is protected by UNESCO World Heritage and was once home to a succession of Popes who lived in the incredible gothic palace. The city is also great for shopping or for taking relaxing boat trips down the river.

Aside from the atmospheric villages and towns, the area surrounding the house is also wonderful for those who love spending time in nature. Whether you like walking, hiking, horse riding, cycling or golf, you will be well catered for here in Provence’s stunning landscape.

Features:

Villa Interior (280 m²)

Ground Floor

- Open-plan living and dining room with garden access, sofas, TV, fireplace and dining table
- Fully-fitted kitchen with breakfast bar, oven, hob, fridge freezer, dishwasher, microwave, food processor, coffee machine
- Bathroom with shower, sink and WC
- Laundry room
- Guest WC

First Floor

- Master bedroom with double bed (180x200cm) and en-suite bathroom with bath tub, shower, double sink and WC
- Bedroom with double bed (180x200cm) and access to TV lounge
- 2 x bedrooms with double beds (180x200cm)
- Bathroom with shower, sink and WC

Second Floor

- 2 x bedrooms with double beds (180x200cm)
- Bathroom with bath tub, double sink and WC

Outside Grounds (3600 m²)

- Private pool (12m x 5m, max depth: 1.8m) with cover
- Pool house with equipped summer kitchen, barbecue, sofa and dining table
- Gated landscaped grounds with lawn and established trees
- Poolside sun loungers and parasols
- Al-fresco dining and seating spaces
- Boules court
- Table tennis
- Parking

Facilities

- Wi-Fi
- Air-conditioning
- TVs
- Bose sound system
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Iron and ironing board
- Hairdryers
- Children’s toys

Location:

La Ferme de Pierre is a serene retreat in the heart of Provence, a region filled with stunning mountains, rolling fields of lavender and grape vines and countless historic villages. There is plenty to see and do here, which is within easy reach of the villa, so you can enjoy art, culture and the sumptuous local cuisine without driving very far.

Within just 1km of the house, you can find the nearest village, Verquières. This tiny village has a medieval dovecote plus a pretty historic church and bell tower, which you can view while wandering the tranquil streets. There are walking routes through orchards and verdant farmland and roads leading out from the village, which will take you to mountain cycling trails that offer amazing views.

This whole area is dotted with beautiful and welcoming villages and towns; another you could visit is Eyragues which is only 8km away. The village has a thriving market each Friday, which sells the freshest local produce you can prepare for dinner unless you would prefer to dine at one of the family-run cafes and restaurants that line the village streets. Here you can stroll around and visit places like Saint Bonnet Chapel, which has landscaped gardens and centuries-old tombs. In the summer, the village hosts festivals, saints’ days and communal meals, while in winter, there are Christmas markets in the square, so you will always find something going on.

Châteaurenard is another character-filled place you can reach under 10km from the house. If you would like to arrive uniquely, then why not board the steam train in a neighbouring town which is great fun! The town sits in the shadows of its imposing castle, one of the main attractions. Today most of what we see of the castle is in ruins, though the walls and the towers can be explored, and there is an exhibition held in one of the towers, which spans many eras through history. The exhibition will tell you more about how the castle came to be destroyed in the French Revolution, or you can learn about the area's agricultural history down the hill at the Museum of Agricultural Implements. Aside from the historic sites, Châteaurenard has a wide range of shops, cafes and restaurants, plus a large market.

As well as sleepy hilltop villages and expansive natural parks, Provence has some wonderful larger towns and cities too. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, for example, is only 12km away from the villa and is somewhere you should visit if you are interested in the artist Vincent van Gogh. In town, you can pay a visit to the enchanting 11th-century Saint-Paul-de-Mausole monastery, which is famous for hosting Van Gogh for an entire year in the 19th century. Though this building is lovely and surrounded by gorgeous gardens, Van Gogh slept in a cell-like room while he worked on 100s of paintings. If this interests you, you can also take a guided tour around town to see some of the places he painted. One of Saint-Remy’s other star attractions is just a short stroll from the monastery and is a series of ruins from the Gallo-Roman city of Glanum; here, you can imagine what life was like 2000 years ago as you look around the mausoleum, bath houses, homes and the triumphal arch. Saint Rémy de Provence is a beautiful town where you can enjoy shopping in little boutiques and dining in picturesque squares.

Terms & Conditions:

Security deposit?
€5000 charged to client’s credit card before arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection.

Arrival time?
5.00 p.m. Late arrivals after 9.00 p.m. may be charged a late arrival fee of €120.

Departure time?
10.00 a.m.

End of stay cleaning included?
Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit.

Linen & towels included?
Yes, changed weekly for stays of 14 nights or more.

Pool towels included?
Yes, changed weekly for stays of 14 nights or more.

Energy costs included?
Yes.

Minimum stay?
14 nights in July and August. 7 nights during all other periods.

Changeover day?
Saturday. All other changeover days on request.

Pets welcome?
Not allowed.

Smoking Allowed?
Outside only.

Tax?
French Visitors Tax payable locally (typically costs €1-€5 per adult per night- please enquire if exact amount is required).

Insurance?
Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for civil liability as well as cancellations, personal belongings, public liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. A copy of this policy may be requested by the owner before arrival.

Pool opening dates?
Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming.

Other Ts and Cs?
Weddings, stag/hen parties and any special events are not allowed.

Please note that published rates are only valid for the current year. Any bookings for subsequent years will be on request only and correct rates will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Please note that your booking will only be confirmed once we have checked availability with the owner or their property manager.