Perfectly located house in a great little town

Guest: Jeff (Boston, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/09/11 Review Submitted: 01/15/12

My family and I (wife, daughter, mother, father and one good friend) stayed in this house for one week in August. It was a great week. The house was very accommodating, the newly renovated bathroom has a huge shower and the roof terrace with BBQ was wonderful, especially at night in the summer. Cafe Saint Victoire is just 25 yards up the street with outdoor dining on a terrace with a fountain. It became routine to hike in the morning up above the town in the Saint Victoire mountain range and then relax on the terrace of the cafe for a long lunch, followed by a cappuccino, followed by a beer or a cool glass of rose, whichever the preference was that day. There is a nice park with a playground just 25 yards in the other direction, our daughter loved it. Lastly, there are two bakeries, we normally flipped a coin to decide which to go to in the morning, they are equidistant from the house, about 3 minutes on foot, and both really good (up to par for a french bakery, excellent by American standards). I should also mention that the town is inhabited by all kinds. Teenagers, twenty-somethings and many couples in their thirties with young children like us. Everyone was very friendly. Highly recommend staying here.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Best of all worlds: quaint & quiet & close to Aix

Guest: Nadine R.
Date of Stay: 09/13/11 Review Submitted: 10/04/11

We had a marvelous week long stay in late September and loved the village and its people, who were accommodating and very warm. You can initiate a chat from the kitchen window with Puyloubier’s locals, all of whom were willing to answer questions and provide wonderful recommendations about the village and its surrounds! It was a lovely place to relax in. There are many markets (Rousset and Aubagne etc) in surrounding areas, a convenience shop in Puyloubier, and a larger supermarket in nearby Trets, also. Domaine de St. Sur winery is close by and worth a visit for their light white wine as recommended by the exuberant and fun Eric! And conveniently, the wine co-op is located across the street from the apartment and has a delicious rose! Café/bar St Victoire down the street airs EPL and European football matches. If you’re lucky, Matt will still be working summers there. He loves to practice his English, and when he is there, the café/bar could easily second as the Puyloubier tourist office, so resourceful and helpful was he! Aix en Provence, Marseille, Cassis, Les Calanques, Bandol, and Luberon (not to mention Cannes etc) are within driving distance, so you can make many interesting day trips, or choose just to relax on the roof top patio. We found several very upscale restaurants but also enjoyed BBQ-ing on the rooftop patio, or cooking in the well stocked kitchen; complete with a window box filled with fresh herbes de Provence, and a well seasoned Creuset pot! The upstairs TV room, bedrooms and bath, have all been renovated and are clean, comfortable and spacious. We hope to be back again, but for a longer stay! If we could speak French, we would even love to become neighbours!

Owner response:We're so glad that you enjoyed staying in our house, and hope that you get to return soon! The villagers are always very friendly and welcome visitors to "La Maison Canadienne"!

Recommended for:

Inspirational

Guest: ugadrava.com (Niagara, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/01/10 Review Submitted: 06/03/11

I have been visiting the place several times over the last ten years and find both the location and staying in the house an amazing inspiration to my artistic and private life. The character of the authentic centuries old structure lets one experience the feeling of the life in rural France in old days .The description of the place is right on and I am eager to see the recent renovations. The village is a pearl of itself. The presence of the "Cezanne mountain", the vicinity of Cathar and Knights Templar sites, unforgettable groves of cork oak on my day trip to Monaco, The Route Napoléon, the lavender firlds and vine of course makes me plan more stays in the future. I always admired the detailed care of the place and comfort of the guests I sensed in the house. The charming modesty of the place in the past makes me plan more creative vacations in the future. I hope to meet the intellectually energizing and respectfully discreet hosts again. The most wonderful spring times I've experienced.Thanks and see you again Puyloubier ! Uga from Niagara On The Lake, Canada www.ugadrava.com

Owner response:We're so glad you enjoyed your stay, Uga! We hope that you can visit again soon. Beth and Tony

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

A wonderful getaway!

Guest: Valerie (Toronto, ON)
Date of Stay: 03/27/11 Review Submitted: 04/11/11

We had such a lovely time in Puyloubier! We knew it would be a beautiful town and home, but the experience exceeded our expectations. The home was charming, really spacious and clean. Everyone we met was friendly and it was impossible not to relax in the welcoming town with tasty food and incredible scenery. We can't wait to return!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Experience the beauty of Southern France

Guest: Joe (Palatine, Il.)
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 04/08/11

Our visit to Southern France was highlighted by our stay in the beautiful village of Puyloubier. The historic house in the center of the village was everything advertised and more. The bright airy rooms punctuated with the bright colors of the region was a marvelous base for exploration of the region. A village cafe and shop just steps out the front door, two local bakeries for the freshest of bread and cakes, just added to the experience. In the heart of wine country, vineyards, wineries and the ever present shadow of Mont. Ste Victoire afforded ample opportunities for picnics and hiking. We found parking convenient and access to the highways leading to Aix and Marseilles and the southern coast easily accessible. We loved the house itself, there is plenty of space to relax. It was clean, fully stocked with all the necessities to cook and the local caretakers were there with information and helpful hints. If you love to experience a locale on your own pace and terms and get a true picture of the region, this is a place you have to visit.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Perfect Provence Holiday Home

Guest: Sonia (Toronto, ON)
Date of Stay: 05/28/09 Review Submitted: 03/29/11

Our stay here was by far the highlight of our trip. It was the perfect French holiday getaway for our family (including a 7 month old baby). We knew little about Puyloubier before our trip, but it is now one of our most favourite spots! Puyloubier is nestled into the side of the spectacular Mont Ste Victoire and surrounded by rolling vineyards. It is a beautiful small town, which has everything you would want: a café to get your espresso, a bakery to pick up a fresh baguette, a playground for kids to enjoy, an ATM, a small grocery store, and a 5 star gourmet restaurant with some of the best food we have every tasted! Puyloubier is the perfect springboard to explore Provence. We spent our days hiking the breathtaking mountains, resting at the beaches, tasting wine in the local vineyards, walking the local markets and eating and drinking in the nearby historic cities. There is something for everyone – the hard part is deciding what not to do! Fortunately, there was lots of good information at the house to help us decide. Melina and Eric, two bilingual locals, also provided us with all sorts of helpful information. They were there to greet us upon arrival and checked in regularly. It was particularly wonderful to bump into a friendly face around town and helped us feel at home. The home itself mirrors the town: it has retained its authentic feel without feeling contrived while having all the comfy and luxurious amenities you would want. It sometimes felt surreal to wake up in our comfy bed in Provence, open our shutter window to another sunny day and wander downstairs to enjoy another great meal in a perfectly rustic kitchen. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us and we cannot wait to return soon.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, romantic getaway.

Staying in Puyloubier

Guest: May 2010 traveler (New York City, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/11/10 Review Submitted: 07/05/10

Location is terrific. Should be fit to stay here. Parking on street near house is a challenge. Steep steps up to entry door and very steep and winding steps from kitchen & bathroom landing up to bedrooms. Shower stall is narrow - and with sliding glass door, can be a challenge if you are a person of substance! Impeccably clean and caretaker is truly lovely.

Owner response:Our new bathroom, to be complete in Feb.'11, will be on the same level as the bedrooms and will have very wide shower access. Steps from the street and internal steps are both fitted with handrails.

Recommended for:Sightseeing.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/01/08 Review Submitted: 11/24/08

This house was the most wonderful place to spend a week enjoying the incredible country town of Puyloubier, and the other towns surrounding Aix-En-Provence. We spent our days wandering through the forest, vineyards, and fields close by the house, and our evenings cozied up around the dinner table enjoying French food and bread from the local boulangerie. The amenities in the house were more than we could have hoped for--wonderfully furnished rooms, big comfy beds, everything in the kitchen we could possibly need. We felt spoiled to spend a relaxing week in such a beautiful house which felt delightfully like home. We cannot wait to return to Puyloubier!

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