Luberon Hamlet House Close Gordes, Goult, Joucas, Menerbes

'The House' (as it is often called - occasionally 'Mas Alaïs') lies in the so-called “Golden Triangle”, in the Parc National Régional du Lubéron. Surrounded by the hill villages, it is the ideal spot for a family or friends to relax and unwind, yet within reach of many activities from ballooning, cycling (including, occasionally, the Tour de France) and watersports to world-class soccer, rugby and motor racing and several music festivals.

This is the Provence of the photographs of Willy Ronis; of the books of Frédéric Mistral, and also of Peter Mayle, although the hordes of visitors once associated with him have gone away.

Nearby to the north is the famous hill village of Gordes, one of the most beautiful in France; with Joucas and ochre-red Rousillon. In a secluded valley beyond lie the lavender fields of the world-famous Abbaye de Sénanque. Beyond is the Plateau de Vaucluse and Montagne de Lure. Over all towers the white head of le Mont Ventoux

South are the hill top villages of Goult, Lacoste (home to the Féstival Pierre Cardin), Oppède, Ménerbes and Bonnieux, these last four on the slopes of the Petit Lubéron. Further south across the Petit Lubéron lie Manosque, Lourmarin, Cadenet and Salon de Provence.

Apt to the East has most facilities and a famous market and beyond it sits the Grand Lubéron. West is Avignon (with its bridge and festival), l'Ile-sur-la-Sorgue - famous throughout France for its antiques, and the Rhône. Across the Rhone are the Alpilles, with Tarascon, Nîmes, the Crau and the Camargue.

This being France within a 20km radius there is every kind of cooking from the simple local food to starred Michelin cuisine, from brasseries to mountain restaurants with amazing views. As for wine...

The stars here are stunning. Take time to sit outside at night in the quiet, with the lights off and look up and wonder. Because of its dark skies there is a long-established observatory (L'Observatoire de Haute Provence) about 40km away which you can visit and where they run activities for all the
family.

The House is described in English as a 'village house'; in French it is called a 'maison d'hameau'...just. The French 'hamlet house' is far more accurate. The hamlet originally had a bar, dance hall and cinema as well as a bakery pre-WWII. None still exist, although the buildings do. All that is left is the farm run by a local family, their sons and neighbours. Our house is one part of one of the remaining buildings. As a result we are surrounded by farmland, which in spring is full of wild flowers.

The hamlet was a cluster of a long barn and the farm buildings. The barn has been slowly converted over the past 50 - 60 years, as in many other hamlets. There are three houses, and the rest is occupied by the farmers who have barely renovated them. Each is separated from the other internally by walls which are about a metre thick in places, so little sound penetrates from one to the other. They are typical Provençal dwellings, built mostly of stone, constructed to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter – and to keep the Mistral out.

The main rooms on the ground floor comprise a kitchen and a large living room/dining area, with fireplace. These connect, via a typical open staircase, leading to three main bedrooms, one with en-suite and two other bedrooms and a bathroom. It can comfortably sleep six. The floors are stone or tiling throughout.

On the ground floor, doors give onto a courtyard at the front and a garden with swimming pool, outbuildings and, beyond a small garden area, to parking for two cars at the rear.

The private pool normally opens in May and closed towards the end of September. Dates depend on the weather, but typically vary by only a week or so. Once closed it cannot be re-opened.

We do not provide children's cots as the house is normally not recommended for toddlers etc. Those parents who want to bring very small children normally have their own travel cots which they prefer.


Many people ask about the proximity of roads. This is a low-traffic area. There is a track in front of the house and another running across the back of the barn, giving access to parking for the houses. The track at the front is largely unused, it's really a cut-through for locals going to and from other hamlets and fields

The area is very quiet. Although only about 30km from Avignon this is very much rural Provence. Some of the local villages are very much tourist attractions in high season, but the House is well away from that.

There is a Route Départmentale (D) road about 100 metres from the house which sees little traffic. The nearest proper main road is about 5-6 km away.

Marseille, France's third City, after Paris and Lyon, is about an hour or so to the south. It is one of the great cosmopolitan cities of Europe, a meeting place for peoples from Europe, Asia and Africa. Renowned as France's gateway to North Africa, it still remains very 'French'.

Marseille and Avignon airports offer flights to many parts of Europe and from Marseille to many destinations across southern Europe, the Mediterranean and further abroad. BA, Easyjet and Ryanair fly from the UK to Marseille direct. Some US airlines fly to Marseille, others via Paris. Many national carriers and budget airlines offer flights, some via Paris. Flybe fly direct from Exeter and Southampton to Avignon in the high season three times a week., less at other times of the year

There are excellent high speed TGV connections to Paris from Marseille (about 3½ hours) and Avignon all year round and direct trains from London during the summer to Avignon.

The A7 passes about 30 km to the west. From here it is possible to drive rapidly to the sea, to Aix-en-Provence, to the Riviera and Nice. The drive to Nice takes about 2½ - 3 hours – a lot more if the congestion is bad.

Keywords: hamlet house, cottage, mas, villa