A cosy Provençal house with 1.2 hectares of lush grounds in the
charming village of La Garde-Freinet in France’s Var department
charming village of La Garde-Freinet in France’s Var department
Garde-Freinet,
VAR
provence-cote-dazur
83680
FR
Location
The village of La Garde-Freinet lies in a commanding, strategic position, 400 metres above sea level in the heart of the Massif des Maures mountain range in the south of France’s Var department. It is only 30 minutes from the chic Mediterranean coastal town of Saint-Tropez. La Garde-Freinet is nestled in a backdrop that you reach via country lanes that snake through unspoilt scenery, among forests of cork oaks and chestnut trees. The village paves the way to the coastal town of Grimaud and the sparkling sea of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. With its breathtaking panoramic vistas of the Mediterranean Sea and the hinterland of France’s beautiful Var department, as well as its 16th-century fortifications, this charming village has kept its original character. It has stone houses and narrow alleys that wind their way to the ruins of a medieval chateau. The village also includes craftsmen, art galleries and restaurants that line its central square. Toulon international airport is an hour away and Marseille international airport 1 hour and 30 minutes away. The Les Arcs Draguignan high-speed train station is only 30 minutes from the property. And the A6 motorway is just 15 minutes away.
Description
The property lies five minutes from the village centre. Its 12,000m² plot is demarcated by a low dry-stone wall. A lane lined with cork oaks that leads to an old chapel takes you to the grounds. Beyond a wrought-iron gate, there is a vast, flat expanse of land. In the middle of this plot stands the Provençal house, surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation. Nothing spoils the visual beauty of the landscape. A parking area in the shade of majestic oaks can be used to park at least three vehicles. A court paved with natural stone leads to the house and its adjoining section, which serves as a garage. The rectangular house offers around 120m² of floor area. It has a ground floor and a first floor. It is crowned with a roof of barrel tiles, which is underlined with a triple-row génoise cornice. Most of the windows are rectangular and fitted with wooden shutters. They are positioned around an entrance door – an asymmetrical double-leaf door of solid wood with a wrought-iron knocker. A 36m² terrace edges the south-facing elevation. Sheltered from the sun by an arbour, this terrace forms a relaxing haven that looks out at the greenery. The ivy that covers the beige-rendered elevations and the architecture of straight lines – characteristic of Provençal houses – suggests an old edifice. Yet this house was, in fact, recently built. Indeed, it only dates back to 2012.
The Provençal house
The ground floor
The entrance door leads into a bright lounge with a Provençal terracotta-tiled floor and smoothly plastered walls and ceilings. This lounge leads straight out into the garden via a double set of glazed sliding doors. A brickwork fireplace in working order adds to the enchanting atmosphere of the dwelling – a simple, comfortable, well-designed family home. The adjoining kitchen, with its work surface of ceramic tiles, its stone sink and its terracotta-tiled floor has a rustic ambience that evokes the countryside that surrounds the house. A spacious bedroom and a bathroom, which has a lavatory and a stoneware-tiled floor with a small-tiled decorative frieze, completes this ground floor.
The upstairs
A quarter-turn staircase with tiled steps leads up to the landing, which connects to a bedroom and a bathroom. The bedroom has exposed ceiling beams, an oak floor and a glazed wall the leads out to a covered terrace. The bathroom has exotic wood strip flooring and an in-built island bathtub. Its reddish brown louvred doors, its cupboard doors with mouldings and its washbasin upon in-built compartments complete its tropically inspired decor.
The garage
The garage offers a 60m² floor area and forms an L shape. It adjoins the main house, extending it harmoniously. You enter it via a monumental double-leaf carriage door in a slightly arched doorway. This door’s patina of time and domed studs recall 19th-century architecture. From the kitchen, a hallway also connects to the garage. And on the court side, there is a 20m² bedroom that leads out to the garden via a glazed door.
The garden
The garden extends in front of the house’s south-facing elevation. It is grassy and dotted with Mediterranean shrubs and trees. It is divided into distinct practical or landscaped sections, including a space for open-air meals with a large rustic table of solid wood with benches paired with it and a nearby terrace shaded by an Asian goldenrain tree (a tree that originated in China) – a spot conducive to reading or sharing evening drinks. Lastly, 30 metres from the house, separated from it by a vast lawn, there is a swimming pool that blends into the landscape. It is surrounded by olive trees and lavender. The pool’s bluish tone, its ochre terracotta-tiled terrace and its teak chairs create an environment that is ideal for relaxing.
Our opinion
This enchanting Provençal house seems to have stood here for more than a century, given how effortlessly it blends into its bucolic backdrop. It is nestled in a highly sought-after part of the charming village of La Garde-Freinet. The property lies near the shimmering sea of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, yet it is tucked away in absolute privacy. It would delight any lover of natural calm who is looking for an authentic Provençal lifestyle with its warmth and conviviality. The flat, generously sized plot offers landscaped sections harmoniously positioned beside unspoilt natural ones. The country house is more cosy than it is refined, offering sublime comfort and a style that is subtly bohemian but well conceived. In short, this haven in southern France is a truly rare gem.
1 785 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 492980
| Land registry surface area | 1 ha 20 a |
| Main building floor area | 120 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 3 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 60 m² |
| including refurbished area | 20 m² |
French Energy Performance Diagnosis
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
