Mas Saint Antoine - Between olives and vines, near Cotignac

This charming old farmhouse, tucked away in a small valley just a couple of minutes outside Cotignac, sits between our own olive grove and Provençal vineyards. Enjoy the breeze rustling through the countryside, a shimmering pool, and terraces made for long lunches and afternoon siestas under the shade of the trees.

Indoors, the old part of the house retains traditional features like terracotta floor tiles and log stoves, while the newer wing is light and airy. Downstairs, there’s a well-equipped kitchen, a spacious dining room, a cosy sitting room, and two bathrooms - one with a shower and roll-top bath, the other with a shower.

Just past the kitchen is a double bedroom on the mezzanine level, with a double sofa bed on the ground floor. Upstairs in the original part of the house, there are two bedrooms: a large double with high ceilings and lovely views, and a twin room best suited for children. The bedroom layout makes the house especially suited to family groups.

Both the dining area and the downstairs bedroom open directly onto terraces with a large table seating six. Around the corner, there’s a second, larger table seating eight, made with beautiful Salernes tiles. The pool overlooks the long olive grove and has a gravelled area with loungers and deck chairs for soaking up the sun. An old mulberry tree provides plenty of natural shade over the terraces, with hammocks strung up for the perfect afternoon doze.

Please note that the house is set next to a country road, and the sound of passing cars can sometimes disturb the peace and quiet of the valley.

The local village of Cotignac is a 'Village de Caractère', known for its stone cave dwellings carved into the cliffs. It has a supermarket, two bakeries, plenty of good restaurants, cafés, and bars, plus a bustling weekly market every Tuesday.

Within a short drive are Sillans-la-Cascade, with its striking turquoise waterfall; Entrecasteaux, with its impressive château; and Carcès. The beautiful Abbaye du Thoronet, a jewel of Romanesque architecture, is also nearby. Sainte-Croix Lake and the spectacular Gorges du Verdon are about 45 minutes away.

Mas Saint Antoine has been chosen as an Alastair Sawday special place to stay.