Sun Sun Sun!
Location: St. Remy de Provence, Provence, France, Europe (25 min from Avignon TGV and 45 min from Nimes or Marseille) View Map
Accommodations: Farmhouse, 3 Bedrooms + Detached Unit, 3 Baths (Sleeps 8-10)
Keywords: Provence, France, Farmhouse,Family Holiday, Hamlet, Heated Pool, Jacuzzi, Self-catering, 3 bedrooms, Saint Remy de Provence, Bouches-du-Rhone, Avignon, Arles, Nimes, Aix-en-Provence, La Tuilerie, Le Moulin Vieil, La Bastide, L'Orangerie
**$PECIAL OFFER!!!** From 7 January through 31 March 2012, the number$ $tay the $ame but the currency $ign change$ from Euro$ to U$dllr$! Ye$, you read right! A weekly rental of Euro$ 2,500 becomes only U$dllr$ 2,500. This repre$ent$ more than 30 pct. $avings, for our $now- and gray $ky-bound visitor$, anxiou$ to $ee again $ome of that provencal $unshine, to soak in our bubbling jacuzzi. Crazy!Enjoy Provence in winter--- blue skies, brisk mornings and evenings, sunshine, easy access to everything! Blazing fireplaces, red wine and YOU!!
*****SPECIAL INITIATIVE!!!***** We have created a program known as "SERENITY WEEKS," which will be offered over a two-week period, once a month between early November 2011 and late March 2012. Great value for the money!
What is SERENITY? No driving nor GPS to contend with, no reservations to make, nor "surprise" costs, nor lines to stand on, but rather... rich cultural and educational experiences, wonderful food and excellent wines, great fun with other guests from around the world... Discover Saint Rémy de Provence and its surroundings. Stay in a restored cluster of 17-th century provençal farm houses, all part of a "hamlet" of holiday homes in a very interesting historical setting.
This progam represents a great opportunity to explore Provence, especially for our snow- and gray sky-bound visitors, anxious to feel some of that provençal sunshine, to soak in our warm and bubbling jacuzzi, to visit restaurants and places of interest without "hassle," to enjoy those wonderful and romantic nights in one of our PROVENCE PARADISE cottages, in front of the fireplace, with a glass of great red wine in hand! Yes, provençal life is great...even in the dead of winter! In fact, provençal life is amazing...anytime! Santé!!!
"La Tour de la Girouette" at PROVENCE PARADISE is built in the upper part of another of the 17-th century farmhouses on our "hamlet" property. "La Tour" is best suited for families and /or for groups of friends. This house sleeps up to 8 people and is part of a cluster of six old, provencal farm houses, with a total capacity for accommodation of up to 37 guests in our "hamlet" at PROVENCE PARADISE.
In La Tour, we offer one king-size bedroom with en suite toilette, shower and bathtub, plus a four-bedded bunk room. Need even more space? We can add a very comfortable "Guest Quarters," with king-size bedroom and jacuzzi bath, within very easy access.
Air conditioning for summertime comfort.
A big fireplace is a central focal point in the indoor social area.. Then, there is a very functional, modern kitchen, with large family dining table for up to 8 hungry eaters. Just outside, guests enjoy summertime, family life is on the large, outdoor covered terrace, with private use of a barbeque, comfortable seating for cocktails and games, plus wooden dining table seating for everyone. From this terrace, you can see the Alpilles and Les Baux... something very special, indeed.
The large, 7x10 metre pool, family jacuzzi (heated year-round) and summer kitchen are just down an old stone stairway from this old farmhouse, as are the family game areas and sun/shade furniture for guests. La Tour is a very private, family living area, with an old Roman wall and tall shrubs and trees, to assure privacy from the outside.
Restoration of this 17-th century property involved two years of hard work, to create a full-comfort indoor and outdoor living area which covers about 280 square metres. A true, labor of love! All the modern conveniences our guests would expect from a five -star property are brought together under one tiled roof.
For further details on this property, please see our PROVENCE PARADISE website.
Property Location
"La Tour de la Girouette" at PROVENCE PARADISE is in our restored "hamlet," on a hill just above the old town centre of Saint Remy de Provence. We are well within walking distance of all activities and shops, not more than10 minutes on foot along the old canal path or following the quiet, country road into town.
Saint Remy de Provence is at the centre of activity in this part of southern France. Popular day-trips from our "hamlet" include Arles with its Roman ruins, Avignon and the Papal Palace, the Luberon, the beaches of the Mediterranean, ...fields of poppies, lavander in bloom, bull-fights, folk festivals, etc., the list goes on and on. We are literally in the middle of Provence, with mountains, the seashore, museums, provencal markets, cycling and even...cooking classes and wine tasting... within easy access.
Sunshine guaranteed, interesting sight-seeing, fine wines and dining, a warm jacuzzi year-round,... Our guests come from all around the world. We speak many languages and are here ready to help you to LOVE PROVENCE...just like we do!
This is is just one of the houses which make up our provencal "hamlet." "Le Moulin Vieil," which sleeps up to six, is just below, next to the watermill. On the other side of the meandering streams, are "L'Orangerie" and "La Tuilerie," which sleep four and ten plus, respectively. Then, there is "La Bastide des Micocouliers" and "La Pierre Milliaire," which we have just finished restoring. Another 10 guests there!
"La Tour" is on two levels, in a building with thick stone walls, built at three major times in history. How do we know? Well, when we took down the old ceilings and layers of paint, we discovered eight-metre-long beams carved by "Emil" (1632), "Charles" (1721), and (young!) Marius (1907), those brave men who built this big, stone house over the course of nearly four centuries. We have spent 12 months doing some (major) "freshening up." The results would have pleased these three provencal gentlemen... just as they will surely please our international visitors!
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided
- Washer
- Dryer
- Off Street Parking
- Wood Fireplace
- Beds
- King Bed
- Bunk Bed
- Child Bed
- Crib
- Entertainment
- Jetted Tub in Bath
- Shared Hot Tub
- Cable/Satellite TV
- TV (No Cable/Satellite)
- DVD
- VCR
- Video Library
- Video Games
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library
- Shared Pool
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Catering Available
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Gazebo
- View/Location
- Mountain View
- Communications
- Telephone
- Cell Phone
- Computer
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- High chairs and children's cots, energy adapters, extra blankets and pillows. Please tell us what you need. If we have it, we will bring it to you immediately. If we need to look for it, delivery may take just a bit longer. We want our guests to be comfortable and safe.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed : No pets, no matter how small!
- Kid Friendly : We love kids, especially when they are polite and well- behaved.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Jet Skiing
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Downhill/Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Horseshoes
- Miniature golf
- Horseback Riding
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Restaurants
- Rafting
- Shelling
- Sledding/Tubing
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Spelunking
- Other Activities
- Along with such Special Places as Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Beaches, Arles' Amphitheatre and Arena, Avignon's Theatre Season, Papal Palace, St, Remy's Greco-Roman Site at Glanum, etc, there is something fun to do in St, Remy almost every evening from April through Late September - Bull Fights, Transhumance, Artists' Exhibitions, Music, Dance, at home in "La Tour, " in front of the fire, after that!
Rate Details (In US Dollars, Euros)
Between NOW and late March 2012, please check out our new SERENITY WEEKS PROGRAM.
Great value for the money! Then, there's "STEPHANIE's WINTER FOLLY." U$dllrs re-
place those big-bad €uros. Seasons are: Nov-March, April-May, June-Oct.
"La Tour" is a super comfortable place for a longer,"wintering-over" stay.
Our calendar is updated regularly. Special "couple" rates for "nesting...à deux"
Contact us by email for further information.
*with the exception of Christmas and New Year's weeks.
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
Provencal Charm+ Solar-Heated Pool+Jacuzzi in St. Remy
Year Purchased: 2005
Why the Owner Chose St. Remy de Provence
Sunshine, long season for outdoor life, very friendly people, historical attraction of the region and of our specific site, proximity to the centre of Saint Rémy de Provence, the advantage of being in the geographical centre of a region with so many attractions as those offered by Provence,... and most certainly, the challenge: first of the restoration project and now of high-quality inn-keeping! We learn something new every day. Discover 14th century town walls. Then, look for the different, historic entries to the city, try any one of them as a starting point for your discovery of the shops, fountains, picturesque squares and historic buildings 'intra muros.' Remember to check out the menus posted outside of the many restaurants, too! Then, be sure to come back on Wednesday, when the whole village comes to life as the Provencal market rolls into town, quiet streets and squares become a thriving marketplace. There are still some bargains! Start out by stocking your kitchen shelves for your stay at Provence Paradise. Anyway, there is a bit of everything and everybody at the market!
And, what you and your family can learn!: The village of St. Remy stands on one of the oldest archaeological finds in Europe. The origins are Gallo-Roman from the 7th century BC until the 2nd century AD, at which time the Roman city of Glanum was founded. This was the origin of today's St. Remy de Provence. Our walls at Provence Paradise were built with stone original cut for Roman buildings and statuary. Then, there are the paintings of Van Gogh. You can follow the artist's path through the town and the nearby countryside, to view things still from his perspective...little has changed! Then it's time to venture away from St. Remy in the direction of Arles--the 'Rome of the North,' or Avignon--'City of the Popes,' or Orange, with its Roman theatre
The Unique Benefits at this Farmhouse
We began our self-catering operations in the summer of 2006. Reflecting on the Guests' Comments available for review here, on our website, and on TripAdvisor, the key benefits to staying with us at PROVENCE PARADISE can be summarized as follows:
*We speak lots of languages, know the local customs and understand our clients' expectations. The combination of these three factors can be very powerful!
*We provide high-end accommodation of reliable quality. Our modus operendi is "discreet presence," meaning we are there in a flash if you need us for directions or tourist information, for solving a problem, for a trip to the doctor and/or to the pharmacy, for finding lost luggage, and even for going to fetch those who get lost, etc.
*We cater well to two distinct clientèle...young family groups and adult travelers... and know how to keep the two separate and at a safe distance during what amounts to different travel "seasons" throughout the year.
*We greet our guests personally, with true and honest enthusiasm, glad to see them here; anxious to have them dig into the dinner+drinks we have ready upon arrival, at the end of their long day of travel; prepared to offer advice on where to go/what to do, taking into account the specific dimensions of the family. And, we only say: "please come again and/or send us other nice folks like you," if we really mean it! In fact, that’s most of the time and about half of our guests reserve for next year before they even leave this year ... so our "repeat visit" rate is nearly 70 percent.
*And finally, for us, inn-keeping at PROVENCE PARADISE is a pleasure. Showing our guests "where it all came from…starting with Roman ruins,… and how it all got taken down and then put back together..." is a source of great pride to our entire PROVENCE PARADISE Team. If you have some/lots of spare time, ask us to show you the photos and tell you our tales! There is a story under almost every rock!
Owner's Map of St. Remy de Provence
As a family, we discovered Saint Rémy de Provence, traveling from our home of 15 years in the northeastern part of France. We were looking for sunshine, friendly people, a new "culture,"... and a challenging "retirement project." We came, stayed for a couple of days, then weeks... and now we hope we are here forever!
Why move? The sun shines 330 out of 365 days a year, we can be outside (working and playing) in the garden about 10 months of the year, and the PROVENCE PARADISE "hamlet" we have built is a place where our children and our grandchildren enjoy coming to visit. After all, that was the objective. Indeed, we are very proud of this "hamlet," created from what was "one big pile of old rocks" only five years ago. A real, 6.5/7 day, 16/24 hour "labor of love." La Tour de la Girouette is the middle-sized home among the six long-abandoned structures, which rose up again from that "pile of old rocks!" Mission accomplished!
AND, while accomplishing our family "hamlet" goal, we discovered this whole new world of international "inn-keeping!" Year-around, thanks at first to VRBO and now often to "word-of-mouth," we receive guests from everywhere in the world. Some just come to relax by the wintertime fireplaces or by the summertime pool. Others want to discover the Roman ruins right here under our feet, to go off to the markets, the beaches, flea markets, auctions, vineyards, golf courses, even nearby ski slopes. All the same things that we also like to do; so we are good at giving suggestions! Never a dull moment at PROVENCE PARADISE... Yes, there is time for a siesta every once in awhile! After all, this is "paradise" and we are "retired."
We take this opportunity to invite you to come to experience for yourselves the fruit of our labor in the restoration of these 17-th century provençal buildings.
Property Photos
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- Sun Sun Sun! - St. Remy de Provence, Provence Accommodation
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- "La Tour" is a fun, family house! Plenty of space inside and out for relaxing - St. Remy de Provence, Provence Accommodation
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- Room at the top! Twin doubles can become one "King," depending.... - St. Remy de Provence, Provence Accommodation
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- A VERY special king or double-twin bedroom, with terrace and small fireplace
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- Salle de Bains 'Guest Quarters'
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- "Bunk" room for up to 4 young people, with private bath just for them!
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- Provencal "BULL RED" is the color...This modern kitchen has everything you need!
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- For almost 400 years, this is where the farmer kept his hay for the donkeys.
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- Pool and Jacuzzi, a nice place to relax+meet nice people from around the world!
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- Our gardens, viewed from the kitchen of La Tour. Rippling water+greenery....
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- For whom the bell tolls??? Huh? We're on holiday, ergo too relaxed to find out!
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- The Mill Wheel turns right next to your Alpilles Terrace! Listen to the Swiiiish
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- You have arrived! This is a great place to slide into holiday mode.
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- Thirsty? We hope so... because the rosé is chilling!
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- Our pool is open from April to October, water warmed by the Provencal sunshine!
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- 12 solar panels keep the pool surprisingly warm from early Spring!
Traveler Reviews (8)
Guest: N/A
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Date of Stay: 01/23/10
Review Submitted: 01/23/10
William, aka "the Inn-keeper" here! Want you to know that there are plenty more Guest Reviews, including those from TripAdvisor, posted on our webpage, just a click away! There are even some names and email addresses there, should you want to make a query and/or a contact. We are waiting for you here at PROVENCE PARADISE!
Recommended for:
Guest: George and Patricia Helfrich
(Newport News, Virginia U.S.A.)
Date of Stay: 09/24/07
Review Submitted: 09/24/07
Dear William, Two weeks in "Paradise" living in La Tour, while the remainder of our family (26 people) stayed in the rest of your beautiful houses was a perfect reunion/vacation! You chose the right name for your wonderful place. Not only is it truly beautiful, but it is in such a peaceful, quiet setting that it helps one to be serene in spite of what might be happening in the outside world or inside oneself. There is so much to enjoy in St. Remy and the surrounding area, and it was always a joy to look forward to returning to our little piece of "Paradise." Your care and consideration for all of us began our days and ended them as well. You were especially thoughtful and helpful to us, and we remain grateful. You have chosen such able and dillegent workers who have the same spirit as you have: Bettina and Olivier are happy when the quests are happy, and like you, they do their best to make your place a true "Paradise". Our stay was a blessing, and we thank you. We look forward to returning again next March, God willing. Your new friends from Virginia USA. George and Patricia Helfrich
Owner response:We thank George and Pat for their visit, as part of such a large, international group, here together to celebrate a distinguished German lady's Birthday! What an occasion! We were glad to help with those little medical requirements, which can get in the way of a good time....and we were so, so happy to see the results of two weeks in PROVENCE PARADISE on George's blood chemistry results. We want/need you back with us, arriving with the full force of the HELFRICH family, next Spring!
Recommended for:
Guest: Rob50
(-)
Date of Stay: 05/22/07
Review Submitted: 05/22/07
William, What a fabulous vacation! You have created a truly idyllic home away from home and we can't wait to come back next year! We loved every minute and you made us feel so welcome. We couldn't have asked for more. It was the best holiday we have ever had. Looking forward to next year all ready! Vikki, Rob and Chistopher.
Owner response:The MERWIN's stayed with us for two weeks, which gave us time to really get to know each other! We also look forward to their return...with extended family... next year!
Recommended for:
Guest: Susie Kaylor
(Seattle, WA)
Date of Stay: 04/20/07
Review Submitted: 04/20/07
William: This is indeed a piece of paradise. EVERYTHING, from the welcoming packet that arrived before I left to come here, to the delicious meal that awaited upon our arrival was perfect. The Vieil Moulin is a wonderfully comfortable house...one of us upstairs and one of us downstairs, each with our own bathroom. The showers are definitely the BEST in France. We had fun making Soupe au Pistou in the kitchen, drinking champagne by the pool with the other guests, and using the last of the croissants and bread you left us each morning to make a last celebratory bread pudding for friends and staff on the last evening. And, as a gardener, I so appreciated the beauty of your flowers that were all through the estate. I cannot wait to return next year. Merci bien for toute votre hospitality! Susie Kaylor and Jan Minow
Owner response:We were just as happy to have a full-house, including Susie and Jan, for the week, as are crew of international guests were all excited to be here. These ladies are good sports...and great "architechtural consultants" ... We expect to see one or both of you again next Spring!
Recommended for:
Guest: Lise and Kipp
(Jackson, Wyoming)
Date of Stay: 01/12/07
Review Submitted: 01/12/07
Is it time to go already?! We have had a wonderful time here--and getting to know the Mill Team and the various guests has been such a treat. We have been in Provence before but never had we felt so relaxed and "at home." We'll be back! Kipp and Lise
Owner response:Thanks, Lise and Kipp. If you felt so "at home," that means we achieved our PROVENCE PARADISE objective! We await your return visit to your friends here in St. Remy!
Recommended for:
Guest: Debbie M
(LA)
Date of Stay: 06/07/06
Review Submitted: 06/07/06
My husband and I spent a week in the one bedroom apartment called le Vieil Moulin. It was absolutely delightful. The place was clean and extremely comfortable, spacious, nicely decorated and very relaxing. William was an incredibly gracious host who offered wonderful suggestions about places to see and places to eat. He was extremely accommodating, bringing us bread and croissants, and even getting us together with other visitors for a glass of wine. We found the town of St. Remy to be absolutely delightful. We had a chance to see one of the other apartments and found it to be just as beautiful as the one we were staying in. Although there were other guests, we never felt in the slightest that our space was being invaded. The other guests who stayed were quiet and highly respectful of one another. We highly recommend this place and will definitely return if we are in the St. Remy area in the future!
Owner response:Nice folks from California know how to have a great time in our provencal sunshine! We were just as content to have Debbien and Allen here with us as they were to be here! Win-Win!!!
Recommended for:
Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/07/06
Review Submitted: 06/07/06
I cannot say enough about how fantastic this place is - it is truly paradise as the name reflects. What is SO wonderful is that while one has all the amenities of a great "hotel experience" - well appointed rooms, beautiful furnishings, helpful staff when you need it etc, you have all the warmth and intimacy of renting a house that is "all yours." William and Bettina went out of their way to make sure we had a wonderful time. My husband and I both travel extensively for business and we are very discerning when it comes to our vacation spots. William's place passed with flying colors! We joked that we don't know whether to tell everyone we know about it or tell no one! Everything was perfect! So many times you rent a house and the appliances are ancient, the kitchen doesn't have enough pots and pans, the beds are lumpy, the shower is frightening, etc. It is very apparent that William has given much time and thought to making sure each place is well- appointed and comfortable. Each house has some bit of privacy if you desire it. The garden in the back is very well maintained and was perfect for our family. There are lots of spots to sit and read or soak up the view. As our five- year old daughter commented, "It's like a fairy- land!" The most lovely part of our time here was feeling so well taken care of. William has really taken time to think about all the little things: a fully stocked refrigerator when we arrived (hungry for dinner with with two small, tired kids!), fresh bread and a newspaper on our first morning, sitting down with Bettina who shared suggestions for her personal non-touristy Provence experience. La Tour was a great place for kids. There was a private gated veranda that was beautiful for dinner and also perfect to let our two-year old run around! We have already planned on Fall 2007, this time including both sets of grandparents!
Owner response:We had a great time with the FINN's, too. You know what they say about having a great time at your own party... well, it's true. EVERYONE has a great time!
Recommended for:
Guest: Katy Krogman
(Seattle, WA. USA)
Date of Stay: 06/01/06
Review Submitted: 06/01/06
It is with great pleasure that I can finally write this note of recommendation for staying at this wonderful place! A short history: My daughter and I had the opportunity to go on a school trip to Southern France, and we wanted to extend our trip, and have my mother and husband join us. My hope was to find a wonderful place that we could just relax and be close enough to sites for day trips. We found the perfect place! It all started a couple of months prior to our trip I ran across Williams website, using Goggle to find places to rent. Of all the emails that I sent out William was the most helpful and responsive. He even emailed me from Brazil to answer questions that could have waited. I loved the pictures of the house and I just hoped it would be a wonderful in real life. To say the very least it was better than anything I could have hoped! We got in quite late and were not able to rent our car, well William drove all the way in to Avignon to make sure we had a ride, and were not overwhelmed by not knowing where we were going, this was at 10:00 PM. We were all tired and hungry and we came to our lovely home with a beautiful meal, plus some basics for the following day's breakfast. It was perfect. I will never forget the warmth and hospitality of our new found French friends! The house has been lovingly restored, the authentic antiques, comfortable beds, and good spaces, make this house a place one could stay for long periods of time. Each property has a very private courtyard which gives privacy even when other families are there. The property had quests in all of the homes, and that made it fun, my daughter made a new friend who was her age, they went horseback riding together and met and hung out by the pool. I know planning a trip with all of the unknowns just hoping you get the "right" place, is stressful. With all sincerity I couldn't recommend this place more. And I would welcome anyone who had questions to email me.
Owner response:The KROGMAN's...plus Grandma... are our kind of people...open to explore and learn, to give to others of our guests the benefit of their experience while here at "Provence Paradise." We hope Katy and her family will come back next year and/or send her friends!
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #80586
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