THE LOCATION:
Our house, "LES GENETS", sits on the western edge of the medieval village of VAUGINES, nestled between the villages of LOURMARIN (5 kms or 3.1 miles) and CUCURON (3 kms or 1.8 miles).
The house is 150 square metres and sits on a 630 square metre south-facing lot in the upper western end of the village. The land directly to the south and west of the property is agricultural and undeveloped, which provides a lovely, unobstructed view.
Vaugines is situated on the southern side of the Luberon Regional Park and is an ideal base for exploring the many diverse regions that Provence has to offer. Being centrally located makes for easy day trips to Aix-en-Provence, St. Remy, Avignon, the Mediterranean, not to mention all of the wonderfully charming and unique villages of both the south and north Luberon, many of which are listed among France's 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'. Vaugines is a tranquil environment to return home to after a day of touring and crowds. The house is less than a five-minute walk to the village square. There is an excellent gastronomic restaurant, a cafe/pizzeria, as well as a small epicerie that sells freshly baked breads, croissants and pastries.
The beautiful and chic Lourmarin is a five-minute drive from the house. It hosts a fabulous market every Friday morning that should not be missed. There is a very large selection of cafes and restaurants to choose from, as well as numerous boutiques and art galleries.
Cucuron, at a two-minute drive, is a lively and scenic village with an Etang (very large stone pond) in the centre shaded by ancient plane trees. This is where their weekly market is held every Tuesday morning. There is a butcher, several bakeries, a small grocery store as well as several restaurants, including the Michelin starred La Petite Maison.
INTERIOR OF THE HOUSE:
The main living space is one large L-shape. The living-room with open fireplace, dining room with farmhouse-style dining table, and kitchen with stone countertops and island all lead out to the southern exposed terrace through four sets of French doors that let in the light and lend a feeling of openness to the space.
Our family loves to cook, so the kitchen is fully equipped with everything one needs to prepare a memorable meal. The stovetop has five gas burners, and the oven is extra large. The fridge is a large American style with ice machine.
There are three bedrooms, and the house comfortably sleeps seven (best suited for four adults and three children). The first bedroom has a king bed (180 cms), the second a large queen (160 cms), and the third a set of bunk beds as well as a third twin bed. Each bedroom is equipped with air-conditioning.
There is one bathroom with vanity, soaker tub, rainfall shower and WC between the two double bedrooms. A second bathroom with shower, vanity and WC can be found at the end of the hall outside of the bunk room. A third bathroom with vanity and WC is found off of the office/laundry room at the back of the house. The office/laundry room also houses a full-size washer and dryer.
EXTERIOR:
A large gravel terrace is accessible from the main living area, from which there are views of Mt. St. Victoire as well as stunning sunsets.
There is an outdoor dining set for eight situated under a pergola, a gas Weber BBQ, as well as an additional seating area for relaxing and socializing.
There is a lockable gate at the top of the terrace stairs that lead down to the garden and pool area. The pool is 10x5 metres (32.5x16.5 feet) and has a saltwater filtration system (gentle on the skin and hair) with an automatic rigid cover for extra security. There are pool loungers as well as games for the pool and grass area, such as badminton. The pool is open from June 1st through September 30th. An earlier opening is only possible if pre-arranged.
GENERAL:
We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the house, village or region in general. Should you choose to rent our house, we have a local manager in place to handle all check-ins and check-outs, and who can also serve as your local go-to person should any problems arise during your stay.