Town House / Apartment - Bouche-du-Rhone, Provence, France, Vacation Rental
Location: Arles, Provence, France, Europe (In old Arles, adjacent to Historic sites, Cafes, Restaurants) View Map
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + Library, 1.5+ Baths (Sleeps 4-5)
Keywords: Townhouse, Apartment, House
Air conditioned bedrooms. Three Star *** French Tourist Board Approved Rating - highest rating for this type of property.
Located in old Arles, France, this self-catering stone town-house is within a short and lovely walk to the city's historic sights, cafes, restaurants and shops. Originally a bargeman's house near the banks of the Rhone, this four-level house has been totally renovated with attention to its traditional architectural features. It has been newly decorated with comfortable, high-quality stylish furnishings.
One enters from a tree-lined avenue into an entry hall which leads into a sitting room with wood ceiling, tiled floors and white walls. The sitting room is furnished with a comfortable sofa and armchairs, hardwood tables, satellite television and video. Adjoining the sitting room is a half-bath.
An archway leads to the kitchen/dining area with a hardwood table for six. The kitchen is galley-style with all appliances.
Stairs lead down to a large and beautiful vaulted stone cellar with terracotta tiles and a window at street level. This room has a round table seating four (as an alternative dining area) and a table-tennis table.
Stairs lead up from the first floor to a study/reading area showing the local stone and tile work. A pull-out sofa-bed may be used for additional sleeping for a child or an overnight guest. The study has a computer with broadband connection and a music center.
Leading off this room is a corridor that leads to the main bathroom and to the air conditioned master bedroom.
On the third level is a second air conditioned bedroom with half-bath.
Both bedrooms are comfortable, spacious and attractively furnished. They may be set up with twin single beds or single king-size bed, on request.
A completely private rooftop terrace overlooking the tree-lined avenue provides a lovely outdoor area surrounded by a variety of plants. A charcoal barbecue makes this a delightful place to relax in the evenings with good food and a bottle of the local wine.
The house is located on a small half-square looking out onto a tree-lined avenue, with free parking. It is a wonderful location from which to enjoy and explore one of Provence's most celebrated cities, the Camargue just to the south, Nimes, Avignon, the Luberon, Marseille and many beautiful small towns and villages within an easy drive.
Here is what some of our guests had to say:
Ann Minto: "The house was wonderful, had everything we needed for a brilliant holiday and thank you for all the details in it. It was a very special place and couldn't have been improved on. A definition of paradise has to be sitting on the terrace in the evening watching the light change from light blue to lavender to deep blue with the swallows overhead, sipping a glass of Cotes-du-Rhone, eating the local cheese and reading a book. We loved Arles and it was a great centre for visiting other towns. Local people were so friendly and I can imagine living here must be something special."
Jim Devine: "We were delighted with the house, which is situated in the Roquette, one of the most charming old neighborhoods, within five minutes walk of the town center. It is a very comfortable and well-equipped house, with its own roof garden. As a base to explore Arles and to take in the many cultural and historical attractions, it could not be better."
Janet Ouellette: "Just a note to let you know that we have returned from a wonderful trip to France. We especially enjoyed our days at your beautiful house in Arles. The town is wonderful and we used it as base to explore Provence and went as far as Nice and Carcassonne - but not on the same day!"
Sabrina Baverstock: "We are thrilled with the house!" and "We had a great time on our tour of Europe and certainly one of the highlights was our stay in Arles. Your house was the best of all our accommodations. It was the most comfortable, well equipped and user-friendly house. We have rented several apartments on our tour and yours is by far the most comfortable and well equipped!"
David & Jo Wagner: "We loved your villa and the extra touches such as the classical music CDs, iron, and books on Van Gogh. We enjoyed the city and its many historical attractions, I loved birding the Camargue and we toured several beautiful surrounding villages. Our son was with us for only three days, but he loved it as well. I will definitely recommend this to our friends who often travel to France."
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning : In bedrooms
- Linens Provided : Additional sets provided for multiple-week rentals
- Washer
- Dryer
- Off Street Parking : Free parking
- Beds
- King Bed : May be converted to two single beds
- Twin/Single Bed : May be converted to one king-sized bed.
- Convertible Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV : Full French and UK TV (BBC, ITV etc) plus 100+ satellite channels (CNN, CNBC etc).
- DVD
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library
- Ping Pong/Table Tennis
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill : Really great barbeque, very quick and easy to light.
- Deck/Patio : Entirely private roof-top terrace garden with recliners and dining table for 4. View over tree-lined avenue at front and old tiled roof at rear.
- Communications
- Telephone : Low-cost international access. WiFi broadband (and a PC) is also available so that Skype or other internet telephone service may be used.
- Free Long Distance : Low-cost national and international access provided using special access code.
- Computer : Connected to high-speed Broadband.
- Broadband Internet : The house is WiFi-enabled so that you can connect your own laptop or use the house PC.
- WiFi (Wireless Internet) : Secure wireless connection. WEP key available on request.
- Other Amenities
- Phone with low-cost international access. Full UK, French and Satellite TV (BBC, ITV, C4, CNN, CNBC etc), CD Player with a selection of CDs, PC with Broadband connection, Electric Oven with gas hob; electric rings, Coffee Maker, Cooking Utensils, dinner service for 6, Linens, towels, beach towels, No Smoking except on terrace
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Not Suitable for Children : The house is not suitable for toddlers as the stairway from the living-room to the study is quite steep and cannot be closed off.
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- Smoking Not Allowed : Smoking is permitted on the roof-top terrace but not in the house.
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Live Theatre
- Horseback Riding
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Hiking
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Arles was the most important Roman town in Gaul. During the 17th century a multitude of town houses were built, and this town house is one of them. Today they remain an essential element of the charm of the old city, which includes 7 Historical Monuments designated as World Heritage Monuments by UNESCO, the heritage of 2000 years of history. Arles is known as Van Gogh's town, a city where he was at his most prolific. Enjoy a Local Street Market at your doorstep weekly, Cafes and Restaurants, Historic Sites, Galleries, Festivals, Fiestas and Carnivals, Lovely Hill-side Villages, Vineyards and Wineries, the Mediterranean colors and the light and smells of Provence. In addition Hiking, Boating and Rafting are all available locally or within an hour's drive. The Mediterranean Sea, with wonderful beaches, is 35 kilometers away and the Camargue is five kilometers distant. The Saintes Maries de la Mer is a must for Da Vinci Code enthusiasts!
Rate Details (In Euro)
2010/2011 Rates in Euros:
€950/wk April - October
€795/wk November - March
Weeks normally go from Saturday to Saturday.
Change of linens included for multiple-week rental
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Map & Owner's Profile
Lovely Vacation/Holiday Townhouse in Old Arles, France
Year Purchased: 2003
Why the Owner Chose Arles
We bought this house because we completely fell in love with Arles ... and then we fell in love with the house, which is a typical 17th century Arlesien stone house. We love the Mediterranean and that is Provence in a nutshell. But Arles is more than just a lovely town in Provence - it is a truly beautiful and historic town, perched on the great river Rhone. It is not just a tourist town - it is a living town. It has a strong Italian influence in its architecture - and of course it was one of the great capitals of Rome.
If you want to experience a French town full of character and color and passion - not to mention bakeries on your doorstep, wonderful markets, great food... - then this house will not disappoint you. It is comfortable, well-equipped and ideally located to enjoy both Arles itself and the stunning countryside and villages of the region.
The Unique Benefits at this House
I love just walking around Arles and soaking in the color and the buildings and the little streets full of charm. The Saturday and Wednesday markets are a joy - especially for farm-fresh produce, breads, wines, olives, cheeses, local delicacies ... my mouth waters just thinking of it!
Getting up in the morning and walking round the corner to Madame Pichon's bakery, a little chat, croissants, oven-warm bread ... and then back to relish it with a good cup of freshly brewed coffee ... heaven!
There is nowhere on earth like the Camargue: the Rhone delta. This is a really special place and one that I love - and so will you if you like stunning scenery full of wild horses, wild bulls, flamingoes, every imaginable species of water-bird, unique flora, salt-pans, white beaches ...
And then there are the Alpilles - a small mountain range to the north of Arles that has some truly wonderful walks.
In fact, I could go on for a long time about all of the things I love about Arles - not least of which is the house. This is a place where I would happily live ... and perhaps I will again one day.
Owner's Map of Arles
I am a landscape photographer and so is my wife Cathy. I am also a painter and Cathy a graphic designer. We have captured images of many parts of the world, especially in Europe, but in recent years we have focused almost exclusively on the Irish landscape (you can see some of our images at IrelandUpClose).
We lived in the house you are viewing for nearly two years (2003 and 2004). Arles is a most fascinating town in a most fascinating countryside. Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Picasso and other great painters have made this countryside famous to the art world. Lucien Clergue is one of France's great photographers and the founder of the Rencontre d'Arles - a world-famous photographic venue held every year in Arles. This part of France is a different world to Ireland - dry, hot and with brilliant light, whereas Ireland is soft, misty and has subtle and shifting light. To the photographer, Provence is more immediately accessible than Ireland - however it is a very difficult part of the world to capture well. We hope you will enjoy some of our images of Arles and the surrounding countryside at FranceUpClose.
Property Photos
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- Town House / Apartment - Bouche-du-Rhone, Provence, France, Vacation Rental - Provence, France Rental
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- Sitting room with Satelite TV & VCR - Provence, France Rental
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- Air conditioned Master Bedroom - Provence, France Rental
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- Private rooftop terrace with barbeque overlooking tree-lined avenue
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- Air conditioned 2nd Bedroom
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- Study with sofa-bed, PC with Broadband, Library, Stereo with selection of CDs
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- Dining Room & Kitchen with Fridge, Microwave, Cooker, Dishwasher
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- Beautiful Stone cellar with Window - dining/ recreation / table tennis
Traveler Reviews (10)
What a grand location from which to visit Provence and the Cote d'Azur!
Guest: Don
(Roseville, California, U.S.A)
Date of Stay: 10/02/11
Review Submitted: 10/25/11
Robert, We all enjoyed our visit in Arles, made especially better by your well furnished and comfortable home. What a grand location from which to visit most of Provence and the Cote d'Azur! Arles itself with its Roman ruins and Wednesday and Saturday markets would alone have made our month in France complete, but your home as our jumping off point gave us so much more. The four of us ate every breakfast in your well equipped kitchen and dining area and I even prepared two evening meals with local foods and spices. The cellar proved perfect for my morning stretch! We all agreed we'd return to Arles if your home remained available. Thank-you Robert, and if you ever come our way, please come for a visit.
Owner response:Yes, the markets in Arles are spectacular ... there's no other way to describe them. And, of course, they are not just beautiful, they are the best places at which to buy farm-fresh produce, including delicious stall-cooked food ready for a mouth-watering lunch. In fact you could go to a different market every day as each town and village in the area has a market - although none that I have seen come close to the market in Arles. And on your way back to the house from the market you can always, as Don says, take in a Roman site or two - or just enjoy the beautiful medieval town with it's Italianate architecture and narrow pedestrian streets.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.
A great base from which to explore the area
Guest: Ed & Nita
(Newmarket, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/09/11
Review Submitted: 10/24/11
Robert, we very much enjoyed our stay in Arles, it’s a great base to travel the area from and the house was great. You have been a great host, keeping contact and the information package you put together on the house and the area was most helpful. You have a great resource in your house manager, she provided us with some useful tips.
Owner response:Ed and Nita have pointed out one of the best things about our house - and that is our house manager. She lives just round the corner from the house, she's a lovely lady who speaks perfect English and she knows everything there is to know about Arles and the region. If you decide to stay with us then you will not regret calling her and getting her suggestions and advice for your vacation.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
The most charming town and best house!
Guest: Tim, Lizz, Holly & Tom
(Canada)
Date of Stay: 01/15/11
Review Submitted: 07/12/11
My family rented this house for a week in January of 2011 as part of a 6-month trip we were taking around Europe. Arles is a fantastic base from which to explore Provence, and was the most charming town we visited in the area. This house was probably the best we rented on our entire trip. The kids were comfortable sharing the room upstairs. Our room on the middle floor was comfortable and bright. The house has an amazing rooftop terrace, an upstairs sitting room with a computer and broadband internet, and a large downstairs living area with English and French satellite TV. The kitchen is large and fully equipped. There is a table-tennis table in the basement our kids enjoyed. The house has all we could have needed, including washer and dryer, music station, dishwasher, phone, and DVD player. It is very attractive, quiet, close to great bakeries and restaurants, and has that Provencal feel. The owner Robert is very personable and a pleasure to deal with; available and happy to answer questions. We felt like welcome guests in a real home. We will definitely stay here on future trips to Arles.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.
We enjoyed our stay in Arles immensely!
Guest: Edward
(Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/13/11
Review Submitted: 07/12/11
We enjoyed our stay in Arles immensely, in large part because of the personal attention provided by Robert and his house manager, Tuyet, and the care they take to make the house comfortable and attractive. The house is extremely quiet and well situated, and comes with such bonuses as a ping pong table and laptop computer. It's located a short walk from museums, restaurants, and shops. Arles itself is an attractive and friendly town, small enough to make one feel at home even during a short stay. We intend to recommend Robert's house to all our traveling friends.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.
Like coming home!
Guest: Jon
(Washington)
Date of Stay: 07/24/10
Review Submitted: 07/11/11
We've rented Robert & Cathy's house twice, and will again next year. It's a meticulous restoration, well appointed and with comfortable furniture, spacious for a family with bedrooms on different floors, and seals up tight (so it's dead quiet). Not Peter Mayle's Provence, 118 blvd Clemenceau is on the edge of the old city of Arles, where everything is within walking distance, including the promenade along the Rhone, restaurants, groceries, and several fine bakeries - for that fresh bread at breakfast on the roof terrace - besides Arles' tourist attractions. For fields of sunflowers and lavender, or a quick trip to the Camargue and the beaches, on-ramps to the autoroute are at either end of the street that's shielded and quieted by trees. Add an attentive manager who gets things fixed quickly and it's a perfect base for exploring the town and the region; fine for a family, two couples, those who'd like having a well-equipped kitchen and laundry, and for 55+ so long as stairs are not a problem.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
We had a great time in the house and are planning to return next year!
Guest: Chiara
(Cardiff,Wales,UK)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11
Review Submitted: 07/11/11
When we arrived the house was spotlessly clean and ready to use. It was much larger than expected with a fantastic outside terrace where we spent most of our time while we were eating. The location was perfect for us as it was close to the supermarket (5min walk max) and around the corner form 3 different bakeries. Perfect for the early morning croissant run! Most of the sights of Arles are within very easy walking distance from the house which makes popping back to the house during the hottest hours an easy option. Perfect for a family or group of friends!
Owner response:One of the nicest things about Arles is that it is a small medieval town with huge character - every part of it is easily accessible by foot ... but you could spend months there and still have loads to see. If you want a real taste of Provence, with its markets and bakeries and festivals then Arles is the best place that I know. And our house is a great base from which to see it.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
Our BEST Holiday To-Date!
Guest: Jack
(Drogheda,Louth,Ireland)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10
Review Submitted: 07/07/11
My wife and I, with our teenage son and daughter, spent two weeks in Robert's house in Arles and it was the best holiday we've had as a family to-date. Arles is a unique town, absolutely wonderful; the Camargue to the south is extraordinary. But what made the holiday for us was the house: it is a gorgeous 17th century stone house, spacious, comfortable and very well equipped - better than advertised! We had such fun playing ping-pong in the stunning 'cave' (or stone cellar) and most evenings we had a barbecue on the lovely roof-top terrace - nicely rounded off with a fine Cote du Rhone! Having wifi broadband was BRILLIANT - it took a lot of pressure off my wife and me as our kids were able to do their thing with their internet gadgets. Having SKY TV was also great as we could laze-out and watch English-language channels on those evenings when we were too exhausted from site-seeing to do anything else. The house is on four levels which meant that we could all have as much privacy as we could possibly want and yet be together as a family. We had a few hot days when the wind blew from the south and the air conditioning in the bedrooms was a god-send! I had some work to do on the second week and having a PC connected to the internet in a comfortable study saved me a lot of phone calls. On previous holidays we have stayed in hotels and B&Bs and we never will again - self-catering is the way to go (at least for us) as it not only saves a lot of money but is so convenient and it so nice not to be restricted to one room but to have a whole house. It's wonderful being able to get a cup of tea or a cold drink or snack without having to go to a cafe or restaurant (which ends up being very expensive, especially with four of us!). Robert and his house manager (who is fluent in English and a really nice lady) were tremendously helpful and informative. We will certainly return and cannot recommend this house more!!
Owner response:The houses in Arles are beautiful almost without exception - however our house is particularly interesting as it is in fact two houses combined, back to back. The only common part is the vaulted stone cellar which dates back to Roman times and which therefore pre-dates the house above it by centuries. The front half of the house was originally a bargeman's or fisherman's house. The front and back houses were then combined. The top story was subsequently added and at some point the front room of the top story was converted into a terrace. When we purchased the house the cellar was pretty much buried in earth and we have converted it into a really beautiful room without touching the magnificent stone vault and walls. It's a wonderful room, warm in the winter and cool in the summer and it's a lovely place to sit and read a book, have a game of cards or of table-tennis. We have changed very little of the rest of the house (except to paint and furnish and add some modern touches such as air conditioning) and so it has the higgledy-piggledy charm left by the past owners, with each room having it's own quite distinct character. Cathy and I really hope you enjoy the house as much as we do!
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.
A Wonderful Place to Stay!
Guest: ClydeB
(Cottesloe, 6011 Western Australia, Australia)
Date of Stay: 01/07/08
Review Submitted: 06/29/11
My family assembled from three continents to help us celebrate our Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in Provence. Partly on the basis of information received, we chose to be in Arles and to try very hard to get this lovely property. It proved to be a wonderful joy to us all! It is an attractive three story townhouse close to the Rhone, to restaurants, to major iconic sights, to a huge variety of shops, not far from the Station and on the bus and shuttle bus route. It has the Saturday morning markets just outside. The whole environment was quiet, well-served and inhabited by the kindest and most helpful people! The accommodation had enough sleeping space for seven, and a balcony for barbecues, and a cellar as a games room. We were in constant touch the the rest of the world through the TV and internet facilities freely available. Every amenity a family would have needed for recreation, meals and all the comforts of home, were there. If we ever needed anything, help was only a phone call away. For example, it was arranged, through the owner, for us to have a tour expert call upon us and he told us of magnificent opportunities nearby, including the Viaduct at Millau which is/will be the eighth wonder of the world! The hospitality, consideration and generosity of spirit by the owners of this property and the enormous suitability of the property itself, have made our visit a major event in the lives of the whole family. So appreciative are we of all this that if the owners ever visit Australia, we will want to show them equal joy, if that is possible, so that their lives can perhaps be as enriched as our lives have been! We invite any reader who would wish to contact us get our email address from the owner and we will be pleased to answer your questions. For a provincial home in Provence, the chance to enjoy the majesty of this whole part of France, and the safety/warmth/consideration and friendliness for which the Arlesiens are known, our whole family whole-heartedly commend this house!
Owner response:One of the things that ClydeB mentions here is the friendliness and warmth of the Arlesiens. Arles is an absolutely fascinating town with a very rich culture and the Arlesiens are very proud of this. They are always more than happy to share it with visitors. I would very much encourage you to talk to talk to them at every opportunity - you won't regret it!
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing.
Charming, Comfortable and Very Well Equipped
Guest: Wayne
(Westport, CT 06880, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/01/11
Review Submitted: 06/29/11
We had a wonderful 4 weeks in Arles and Provence. The house is charming, comfortable and very well equipped. The location is perfect for easy parking and is just a short walk to all major attractions and restaurants. The roof top deck is a great place for BBQ's, dinners and cocktails or for just relaxing in the sun. The owner and house manager are easy to work with and are very responsive to any inquires. Robert, your house was perfect and lovely. When we return to Arles, we would love to rent it again.
Owner response:Wayne and his family spent a month in our house - which is a long time for a stay in a self-catering accommodation in a foreign town and country. But as he said to me during his stay: "we are having a ball!" ... and this I'm sure has much to do with the exotic charm of Arles. I also think that our house is a really good base for a week or for a month as it is very comfortable and well-equipped, without losing its character as a house that has evolved over hundreds of years in this beautiful and ancient town.
Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.
Townhouse in Old Arles
Guest: Roger & Rosemary Verrall
(Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10
Review Submitted: 10/11/10
We have just returned home after spending 2 weeks in this townhouse in Old Arles. The townhouse has been very well maintained and was spotless when we arrived. We appreciated the spaciousness of the townhouse and found the kitchen to be well equipped. After being out of touch for 2 weeks prior to our arrival in Arles, we appreciated the use of a computer to keep in touch and to make other travel arrangements. The townhouse is located very close to the major highway which made coming and going very easy but did hamper our quiet time in the evenings and certainly took away from the enjoyment of the rooftop deck. Our dealings with Robert were above and beyond and we appreciated his concise instructions - directions to the townhouse and the operation of appliances, etc. which were sent to us prior to our departure and were followed up with copies in the townhouse.
Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, sightseeing.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #48576
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