Location: Ansouis, Luberon Area, Provence, France, Europe (25 min from Aix en Provence (TGV), 60 min Marseille airport)
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 2 Baths (Sleeps 4-6)
Keywords: House
Chez Ellen is nestled in the hillside of the perched village of Ansouis, which is rated one of the loveliest villages in France. In the middle ages, Ansouis held control of the pass between Apt and Aix en Provence. The Chateau d'Ansouis, which sits at the top of the village, was built around 961 and still retains its watchtower, iron entrance gate, and gardens. It is a short walk (5 minutes)from the house through the narrow maze of streets and the chateau is open for tours.
Take a morning stroll to our village boulangerie for a fresh baguette, or chocolate croissant, or to the new grocery for last minute items. Also located within a 5 minute walk are the Musee Extraordinaire, visitor's center, Bar des Sports (sports bar), the Tabac (gift shop & misc.,) our highly rated restaurants, and the Church of St. Martin.
In need of some exercise? Enjoy a hike through the vineyards and around the country homes at the base of the village. Take our bikes out for an afternoon ride. Go for a hike or swim at Etang de la Bonde (great spot for a picnic) or visit the nearby public swimming pool,there are 4 pools to choose from.
Day trips can include: the beach at Cassis (the Cote d' Azur or St. Tropez), Roussillon, the Camarque, Arles, Gordes, Marseille, Cannes, the Pont du Gard.... Take in the fresh air market offered in Ansouis (at the bottom of our street) or a nearby village almost everyday.
After your exciting day, return to Chez Ellen to relax. The first floor is designed for relaxing and entertaining. The fully stocked kitchen opens to the dining room where you will find beautiful provencal table linens. The kitchen cabinet doors were rescued from a ruined chateau as were all the house's interior doors. The living room has a candlelit fireplace along with media equipment, a large selection of DVDs and video tapes (children and adults in english and french,) wireless internet, puzzles, cards, games, and a small toybox. There is also a convertible sofa bed in the livingroom. In the sitting area, you can relax and read a book while sipping an espresso or a glass of wine while taking in the beautiful view of the Luberon through the large picture window.
Provence sunsets can be viewed from the terrace and the second floor balcony. Enjoy a beautiful summer breeze while grilling on the terrace and dining al fresco.
The two master bedrooms (located on the second level) have cozy queen-sized beds made with luxury linens. The larger of the two masters has an adjustable bed. Both bedrooms have writing desks perfect for penning postcards and each room has access to the spacious balcony where you can watch the sunrise. Along the second floor hallway is the library wall filled with an abundant collection of fiction, non-fiction, and France tour books.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Linens Provided : High quality linens.
- Beds
- Queen Bed (2) : Bed in larger master bedroom is an adjustable bed
- Convertible Bed : Very comfortable bed.
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen : Newer oven, microwave, and dishwasher.
- Cooking Utensils Provided : Completely stocked kitchen for family meals and entertaining. Quality cookware and serveware. All the conveniences of home plus many more.
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill : with a chimney and an open front that doubles as a standing fire
- Deck/Patio : Covered dining area, patio furniture and a hammock.
- Lanai : Furnished with a table and chairs.
- View/Location
- Mountain View : An unobstructed view of the Luberon
- Communications
- Telephone (3) : Free local calls
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- High Quality Linens, Hairdryers (3),picnic items (cooler, water container, thermos, umbrella), swimming noodles for the lake, games, puzzles, 2 adult size bicycles
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Boating
- Swimming
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Basketball Court
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Wine Tours, Classical music festival, concerts held at the chateau.
Rate Details (In Euros)
Low Season ...... Jan-Mar;. .... 850.00 Euros/week.
Mid Season ....Apr,Oct,Nov,Dec...950.00 Euros/week.
Shoulder Season..May,Jun,Sept,..1150.00 Euros/week
High Season......Jul-Aug........1250.00 Euros/week.
Long term rental discount available
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Property Photos
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- Front Entrance from the Street - Provence, France Rental
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- Summertime view of Ansouis and the Chateau from nearby vineyard - Provence, France Rental
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- Dining Room overlooking French countryside - Provence, France Rental
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- Sitting area near picture window
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- Cozy kitchen with view of village
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- Terrace dining with BBQ grill
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- View from terrace
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- Village of Ansouis
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- View from bedroom balcony
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- Village street
Traveler Reviews (8)
Chez Ellen is Great
Guest: Dean
(Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/03/11
Review Submitted: 07/18/11
We spent 8 days in Ansouis at Chez Ellen and had a great time. This was our first trip to Provence after traveling to Italy many times and Paris once before, and we thought it Provence rivaled Italy. Not to mention, Ansouis was a perfectly situated town in the center of Provence. Ansouis is a great launching point to small, magical mountain towns and larger, historical cities. The house itself is a perfect The owners are very knowledgable about the area and very helpful. Additionally, they have an English speaking caretaker of sorts, Ivan, who is Johnny on the spot. Ansouis is a very small town w/ one 5 star restaurant and one bar, so if you're looking for a town that you can spend all day in or evenings, look somewhere else. However, the town is magical and a variety of restaurants and vineyards are within 10 to 15 minutes. The house is very comfortable, charming, has tons of character and has amazing views. My wife, 16 and 14 year old daughters all felt equally same about the house and the town and we can't wait to go back.
Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.
Like a bad penny, we came back!
Guest: Christine
(Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 09/27/10
Review Submitted: 03/23/11
We went back! When we first stayed at Chez Ellen it was supposed to be an extra special vacation for our 25th wedding anniversary. Imagine my surprise when my husband expressed a desire to return the very next year! Chez Ellen had not changed a bit, it was like coming home. Still the same great cook's tools and equipment, the linens just as soft and the fabulous view from the balcony still enchanted us enough to stare at it for hours. This year our youngest daughter (mid twenties) and her very best friend stayed with us for a couple of nights. They spent the major part of their vacation exploring Paris and took the TGV down. They too fell in love with this charming home. They said they wished they had cut the Paris part of their vacation back so they would have had more time to stay at Chez Ellen. We will not be back in 2011, we have a major American family vacation planned, but the outlook for 2012 looks promising
Recommended for:Sightseeing, tourists without a car, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.
My Home away from Home
Guest: imacgenius
(Florida)
Date of Stay: 11/21/10
Review Submitted: 02/21/11
This Thanksgiving I wanted to share the holiday with friends who were staying in Ansouis and I was looking for a place close and I was lucky! Chez Ellen is warm and welcoming, and it was perfect in every way. Clean, warm, hot water, comfortable beds, a perfect kitchen for all my needs, and I will return again and again. You will love the outside court, the view is spectacular, the sunset perfect every evening, and a relaxing place to truly enjoy Provence! A must experience for anyone!
Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.
Guest: Christine
(Dallas, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/16/09
Review Submitted: 10/16/09
Our recent stay at Chez Ellen was perfect! The house is charmingly old with wonderful modern updates, especially in the kitchen. I love to cook local foods when I travel and I have NEVER been in a better equipped rental kitchen. I was amazed to find a dishwasher, a convection/conventional electric oven, gas AND electric stove, a european full size refrigerator and a microwave. I had a blast! The house is VERY nicely furnished with provencal style table linens, soft bed linens, down comforters and pillows, and generous bath towels (even washcloths for us Americans). All the rooms are generous in size and airy with plenty of windows. The village of Ansouis is so quiet and peaceful you may think everyone but you has left town. We strolled about the village in the evening (after 7:30) and never saw more than two or three people out. Of course, this also means that in October, when we were there, the store, bakery, bar, etc. are closed by then. Definitely not a place with a wild nightlife. Don't miss the chance to visit the local markets at other nearby villages. There's one somewhere every day of the week but you will need a car to get to them. The drive is never more than 30 minutes or so and you will see some amazing and beautiful scenery. PS: Getting the GPS system a real plus, some of the roads don't have signs. All in all one of the best places we've ever rented. I was not disappointed in any way, the home is much, much nicer than the owners describe it.
Recommended for:
Guest: George & Karen B.
(Westlake Village, CA)
Date of Stay: 09/02/08
Review Submitted: 09/02/08
Our family just returned from our week stay at Chez Ellen. We enjoyed every minute of it! The house is very nice and tastefully done. The views of the setting sun over the vineyards while sipping wine on the terrace was a daily pleasure. So were the morning walks to the bakery and shops. Plus, we made the drive up the coast to see the beautiful cities/beaches of Cassis, Cannes, Nice and Monaco too! We recommend this rental highly!!
Recommended for:
Guest: Steve and Carol M.
(-)
Date of Stay: 10/12/07
Review Submitted: 10/12/07
We loved it! It was one of those special and magical places. In fact, it set the standard so high that our next place couldn't begin to live up to Ansouis. We loved our week at Chez Ellen and Ansouis, many happy pictures and memories. We were there 1 week and would definitely recommend it. It was our 2nd trip to Provence. Liked the 'charm', small village feel, and its proximity to other neat areas: Les Baux, other Luberon villages, market at Lourmarin.....
Recommended for:
Guest: Kathleen B..
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/09/07
Review Submitted: 08/09/07
We loved Ansouis. Wow, what accommendations. We had everything we needed. Well stocked spices & herbs...cutlery...hair dryers... We had an excellent stay at Chez Ellen and would consider staying there again. What a fantastic time and place and I have rented at least 10 different places in Provence!
Recommended for:
Guest: Haig and Shelly J.
(-)
Date of Stay: 07/07/07
Review Submitted: 07/07/07
Beautiful area. We;ve already recommended it to our friends and family. Chez Ellen was very homey. It was very clean. We had everything we needed. Chez Ellen was beautiful. We had a wonderful time.
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #60771
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