Location: St.-Cannat, Aix en Provence Area, Provence, France, Europe (15 min. from Aix, 30 min. from Marseille Airport & Med Sea)
Accommodations: Village House, 3 Bedrooms + Loft, 2 Baths (Sleeps 8)
LES BOUGAINVILLIERS, a splendid stone "Village House", renovated by an imaginative French architect, was once used as a location in a French film. It belongs to me, Cynthia Gillespie-Smith, an American living on the French coast at Bandol. I've owned Les Bougainvilliers since 1995, and lived here for several years. Normally I am available to help with any questions, and my property manager, Babeth, from Saint Cannat, is always ready to assist you.
In order to keep Les Bougainvilliers clean and fresh for guests, we do not allow smoking in the house, please. Nor do we allow pets.
My house is situated on the western edge of the very friendly and yet, "undiscovered," Provencal Village of Saint Cannat. I am still amazed at how few tourists stop in Saint Cannat as they dash from Aix to the Luberon or west to Les Baux and Arles. Saint Cannat is a sweet secret I hope we can keep!
Built on three levels, Les Bougainvilliers has three bedrooms, all on the middle level. One has a queen sized bed, one has a standard double, and one has twins that can be made up into a queen sized bed. On the top level where the TV room and terrace are located, there is a comfortable convertible sofa bed. The house has two full baths, one with a tub and one with a large shower. Two separate toilets make "sharing a bath" much easier. On the top floor, under the huge beams, you will find the TV/VCR room stuffed with lots of great old films. The large living/dining room has an extendable table, antiques (a lovely grandfather clock is only one), a very comfortable sofa and chairs, and a piano.
The kitchen has all the right appliances and tools for preparing your Provencal meals. There is a library space with novels, travel and art books, an enclosed courtyard full of flowering plants, a private, sunny, roof top terrace, a stone vaulted storage room and convenient parking. A huge skylite in the roof brings sunshine into the entire house through the atrium. Double paned glass and excellent central heat keep the house very warm in winter -- the thick stone walls keep it cool all summer. All year long the warm afternoon sun floods the living room, rooftop terrace, and farmland across the street.
Tastefully furnished with a combination of French antiques and modern pieces, the house is extremely well maintained and continually updated.
From the house you can quickly walk to the butcher, the baker, the post office, pharmacy, shops, cafes, and the colorful Wednesday morning market. The bus to Aix-en-Provence and beyond leaves from a nearby corner. An excellent restaurant, Le Mas de Fauchon, is just outside of St. Cannat... a nice stroll on a summer's evening.
St. Cannat has the PERFECT location for exploring Provence. You'll be just 15 minutes from Aix and in the center of all the other historic and beautiful places you'll want to visit: Avignon, Arles, St. Remy, Aix, Marseille, Cassis, the villages of the Luberon, St. Tropez, and perhaps on to Nice and Monaco.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Wood Fireplace: Our fireplace draws well and gives a good deal of heat.
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Double Bed
- Twin/Single Bed (2)
- Convertible Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- VCR
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: We have a dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, toaster and more
- Cooking Utensils Provided: High quality cookware, pretty plates and glasses
- Refrigerator (2) : Two small refrigerators
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio: We have an enclosed courtyard with geraniums and other bright plants. The floor is gravel.
- Balcony: Our rooftop terrace overlooks the fields and roofs to St. Cannat.
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance
- WiFi (Wireless Internet): Newly installed WIFI is a real bonus!
- Other Amenities
- We have a piano, a great working fireplace, Wine Celler, library, games, cleaning and one maid service included per week.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed: We do allow smoking in the courtyard, but ask that guests please dispose of their trash.
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Sailing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- History, Roman ruins, art, music festivals and GREAT shopping, The village tennis courts and large swimming pool only 100 yards from our door, While the pool is not our own private pool, it is very pleasant and rarely crowed
Rate Details (In Euros)
Last Minute SPECIALS! Just ask!
Jan. - Feb..............................€60 night (4 night min.)
March................................. €100/night (4 night min.)
April, May, June & Oct ............... €900/week
July, August, Sept................... €1100/week
Nov & Dec...............................€80/night (4 night min.)
Xmas and/or New Years ................€1000/week
Utilities charged in winter only. Cleaning fee of 50 euros.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Property Photos
- Welcome to Les Bougainvilliers - St. Cannat, Provence, France - Vacation Rental near Aix-en-Provence
- Dining Room -- table extends for 8 people - St. Cannat, Provence, France - Vacation Rental near Aix-en-Provence
- Living/Dining Room - St. Cannat, Provence, France - Vacation Rental near Aix-en-Provence
- The Living Room
- Les Bougainvilliers armoire, living room
- Full Modern Kitchen
- Chambre Jardin ~~ The Garden Bedroom
- La Chambre des Antiques ~~ The Antique Bedroom
- La Chambre Matisse ~~ The Matisse Bedroom
- Bathroom Upstairs
- Your rooftop terrace
- View from Chambre Jardin
Guest Comments (53)
First (10) of (53). View all comments
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #1138
There have been 16888 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2008.
This listing was first published here in 1998.
Date last modified - June 26, 2009
Positive Rating
We enjoyed our first trip to Provence! Thank you for welcoming us into your home. We especially enjoyed our day trips to Avignon, Arles, Nimes, Orange, Vaison le Romaine, and Cassis. Your home is lovely and we were very comfortable here. Babeth was helpful and we managed to communicate very well. We also loved your photos on the walls. You are so talented, I am jealous. Thank you again for a great time.
Positive Rating
With respect to the enthusiastic comments of earlier residents on the pleasure of meeting Cynthia and Babeth, the comfort of the villa, classic Provencial ambiance of St. Cannat, splendid pizza in the square,elegant dining at Le Mas de Fauchon, and the nearby attractions, including Aiz, Arles, and especially the commentary at Nostradamus's place in Salon, we are in complete agreement. Thank you for a wonderful week, "et a la prochaine".
Positive Rating
Great location for seeing so many of the wonderful villages, towns and stunning landscape of Provence. We were blessed with perfect weather, and a comfortable home to return to each day. Lovely to meet Babeth and it was very re-assuring that you, Cynthia, were a phone call away if we needed anything. Merci et a bientot!
Positive Rating
"Parfait!" What a beautiful, welcoming home! My first trip to Provence and I am in love ~~ the flowers, the "vin", the people, the architecture, the vistas of sun-soaked villages clingng to cliffs, crimson poppies springing up under knarled, carefully pruned grage vines, fields of mustard blanketing the country-side. It has truly been one of the best trips I've taken. Thank you for letting your lovely home be our "base camp" for such an adventure!
Positive Rating
We have very much enjoyed our stay in your spacious and comfortable home. After days spent touring Provence and the Cote d'Azur, it was wonderful to relax in the living room with the light pouring in thrugh the arched windows. Babeth ws very friendly and helpful and the people we encountered in Saint Cannat were tres gentils as well. I can't imagine there is a better location from which to explore Provnce. A week is far too short and we hope to return.
Positive Rating
Merci beaucoup for our "home away from home" and to the kind Babeth for her assistance and friendship. This has been an experiece of a lifetime and I loved every moment. We have been to many of the small villages, the marches, day hikes, and of course, tasting the bounty of Provence -- the bread, pastries, fresh vegetables and fruits, the fish, and of course, the wine from local caves! I hope to return one day soon, and couldn't hope for a more memorable, enjoyable, and marvelous journey.
Positive Rating
A most wonderful experience to live in St. Cannat for a month. A home away from home. Provence: the Luberon, Gorges du Verdon, Cassis, Marseille, etc. All experienced to the utmost degree. It has been a most educational and spiritual experience to live here for 4 weeks. The people are beautiful and so accommodating. We have met wonderful people while here. Especially Babeth, whose smile and willingness to help us at every turn were welcome and appreciated. Thank you, Babeth. Thank you, Cynthia for the use of your home and a glimpse of your life. We had an experience of a lifetime. We sang to the carpenters with a piano accompaniment, as well as to all your CDs. A memory made for all!
Positive Rating
My first trip to France. Fabulous! Magnificent! The house is wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Better than I ever imagined. Wee!
Positive Rating
An excellent way to avoid tht worst of the English winter is to stay in this splendid (or "cool" as my grandson put it) house in Saint Cannat. We made many visits to places old and new, but always enjoyed returning to what we came to regard as home. Babeth was most attentive to our occasional needs and was a reassuring presence in the background. We shall miss many things -- the weather, morning bread and croissants, a welcoming village and the many new friends we made. We hope to be back someday.
Positive Rating
Though five days was much too short, we've been able to take in some of the treasures of Provence: Christmas markets and lights in Avignon and Aix, and we even dipped our hands into the Mediterranen outside of Marseilles (Brrr!). The house was a wonderful home base, and the people of Saint Cannat could not have been friendlier. Thank you Babeth, and thank you Cynthia. One of the best Christmases ever. We'll return someday in lavendar season!