An 18th-century Provençal villa with an olive grove, spring and pool at the
foot of Lure Mountain in France’s Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
foot of Lure Mountain in France’s Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department
Forcalquier,
ALPES-DE-HAUTE-PROVENCE
provence-cote-dazur
04300
FR
Location
The property lies in France’s beautiful Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, near the town of Forcalquier and close to a village officially recognised for its built heritage and character. The plot is tucked away at the bottom of the southern slope of Lure mountain. The spectacular natural surroundings form a patchwork of fields and wooded hills. The local economy includes agritourism, craftsmanship and local shops. The region draws lovers of hiking and ecotourism. From the nearby city of Aix-en-Provence, you can take the A51 motorway, and then a secondary road, to reach the property. Indeed, the road links are comfortable. Train stations and airports are not far away. And there are local public transport links to surrounding towns.
Description
The villa was built in 1712 by a squire of King Louis XIV of France. Terraced with dry-stone retaining walls, the plot slopes down southwards, covering a hectare of tree-dotted land. Before, the main house was edged with a French formal garden with enclosing walls on three sides. Indeed, the pillars of the old gate that led into this former garden can still be seen. The house is elongated in shape. It has two main elevations. On its south side, it has three levels: a garden-level floor, a raised ground floor and a first floor. There is a series of outbuildings too, mainly grouped together opposite the villa’s lower level. A driveway, punctuated with cypresses, runs alongside an olive grove up to a parking area, then ends up at a gravelled court behind the house. Beside the eastern gable wall, a fountain adjoins a former drinking trough. Made of stone, this drinking trough dates back to the 17th century. It has been masterfully turned into a delightful swimming pool. There is a natural spring on the plot. It provides the property with some of its water. The roofing and elevations are typical of traditional local architecture.
The villa
The villa has lime-rendered walls and three levels: a garden-level floor, a raised ground floor and a first floor. Its south-facing elevation is punctuated with evenly arranged windows fitted with wooden shutters painted almond green. A gable roof of barrel tiles crowns the house.
The garden-level floor
The garden-level floor has three apartments at the same level as the garden. Each one has a lounge, a kitchen area, a shower room and one or two bedrooms. The north side of the garden-level floor is a basement. There is a large meeting room that you can reach from a separate entrance door in the west wing.
The ground floor
The ground floor has an entrance hall on the north side. There is also another apartment on the ground floor. It faces south-west and has one bedroom. You reach the private section via a separate entrance door. It has two bedrooms, an office, a utility room, a bathroom and a dining room with terracotta floor tiles and an old fireplace. On one side, the dining room connects to a kitchen with a stone sink and a spiral staircase that leads down to a wine cellar. On the other side, there is a lounge with a remarkable fireplace with a sculpted stone mantelpiece depicting a shepherd and his flock. This lounge leads out onto a terrace. A side door in the east wing, where a garage probably once was, leads straight to the terrace too.
The upstairs
From the entrance hall, a staircase leads up to two other apartments. Each apartment offers a view of the village and mountains. The rooms are spacious and their dual-aspect position offers brightness and comfort. Four guest rooms have been created above the private section. Each one has its own shower room and facilities.
The shelter and workshops
A series of annexes lies opposite the garden-level apartments. They include a shelter and a utility room for guests. They also include a workshop and storerooms for tools. There are several solar panels on the roofs.
The fountain and swimming pool
Beside the side entrance door that leads into the private section, there is a fountain and an old well, which point to the presence of a spring on the plot. A former drinking trough, made of stone, has been turned into a remarkable swimming pool, which benefits from the spring water and offers refreshing coolness in the summer.
The sauna
The sauna is a recent addition. It looks down at the village and mountains, adding to the sense of relaxation it offers.
The grounds
The grounds extend around the house. They form an oasis among the fields that surround the property. An olive grove with around 30 olive trees runs alongside the driveway. There are also many fruit trees on the plot, including walnut trees, fig trees, apple trees, mirabelle plum trees, apricot trees and quince trees. These fruit trees, as well as two age-old linden trees by the fountain, offer shade, creating relaxing spots here and there.
Our opinion
This Provençal villa is an authentic token of 18th-century rural architecture in south-east France. Its well-preserved historical features, including timber beams, exposed stonework, alcoves and old fireplaces, make the edifice a true gem of built heritage. With its layout divided into apartments, the property is ready for you to run a tourist accommodation business here. Yet the private section makes it possible for you to live on site while running such a business. The spring water on the plot, the high altitude and the thickness of the walls all contribute to the coolness and comfort you can enjoy here in the heat of summer. The solar panels installed can be used as an energy source. And the masterful transformation of a former drinking trough, now turned into a refreshing swimming pool, increases the property’s value in terms of use and summer appeal, while preserving its heritage.
1 280 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 828142
| Land registry surface area | 1 ha 31 a 25 ca |
| Main building floor area | 526 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 15 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 150 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.
