A 20th-century Mediterranean villa with a sea view and over
5,000m² of grounds, nestled near Toulon in south-east France
5,000m² of grounds, nestled near Toulon in south-east France
Ollioules,
VAR
provence-cote-dazur
83190
FR
Location
The property lies in the southernmost part of France’s Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the south-west of the country’s Var department. Located in the town of Ollioules, it is tucked away upon the hills that look down at the natural harbour of Toulon. The historical centre of Ollioules, which has over 14,000 inhabitants, stands out for its colourful facades and wealth of built heritage. Saint-Laurent church, a masterpiece of Provençal Romanesque architecture that dates back to the 11th century, is listed as a historical monument. The villa stands in a lush, undulating environment. It is a 10-minute drive from the centre of Ollioules and from the city of Toulon – the administrative centre of France’s Var department. From Toulon train station you can get to Paris in four hours by rail. And you can reach the nearest beaches in around 10 minutes by road. You can also easily get to the motorway that links Toulon to Marseille.
Description
An electric metal gate leads into the property. A winding driveway, lined with stone walls and vegetation, stretches 150 metres. This drive leads to a gravelled court where two age-old olive trees tower. The dwelling has a ground floor, a first floor and a second floor in the roof space. It offers a liveable floor area that is currently around 250m². A basement adds 130m² to the floor area. The villa is classical in style. It faces north and south and is made of rubble stone, coated with pale ochre rendering. Many openings punctuate the facade, with large-paned windows and glazed doors fitted with shutters painted green. The edifice is crowned with a gable roof of barrel tiles, underlined with a double-row génoise cornice. The window surrounds and roof stringcourse are white, bringing out the ochre tone of the rendering and all the other colours of the whole. On the south side, there is a terrace with a court with olive trees. Here you can admire a view of Toulon’s natural harbour and the sea. On the west side, there is a second terrace. It offers a view of the surrounding hills and the grounds, which are terraced with dry-stone retaining walls.
The villa
The ochre elevations with touches of green and white, the trellis adorned with a climbing vine, the bull’s-eye window and the double-row génoise cornice give real charm to this Mediterranean villa, which was built in the 1980s by its current owners. On its vast terraces, which you can reach from inside via French windows, you can admire sea views and the surrounding landscape from outdoor spaces designed for relaxation.
The ground floor
You step into the entrance hall on the house’s north side. A large stone staircase with terracotta tiles and a wrought-iron balustrade takes up the centre of the hallway. On the left, the hall connects to a lavatory, a fitted kitchen with an eating area and a utility room that leads out into a sunken court. A dining room lies beside the kitchen. It connects to a large lounge via a double door. This lounge is ornamented with a large fireplace of sculpted white marble that is framed between bookshelves of painted wood and that stands beneath a trumeau panel with a mirror, golden touches and a bucolic painting. The lounge connects to a reading room that leads back to the hallway. All the reception rooms look out at the grounds through many double-glazed French windows. These rooms are high-ceilinged. The floors are covered with terracotta tiles that are square or hexagonal.
The first floor
The large staircase leads up to a landing and a corridor that connects to five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a shower room. The master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom. The four other bedrooms offer pleasant sea views. Each bedroom has a built-in wardrobe. Hexagonal terracotta tiles cover the floors, except in the shower rooms, where the tiling is more contemporary in style.
The attic
On the second floor, the landing and corridor have been insulated and converted. However, the rooms, which have sloping attic ceilings, have not been converted. They represent an addition liveable floor area of around 40m².
The intermediate level
The basement can be reached by car from an outdoor drive or from inside via a staircase from the entrance hall. It offers a 130m² floor area and includes a pantry, a wine cellar and a spacious room with a large wooden door that could serve as a garage or workshop.
The outbuildings
A shelter in the court, beside the entrance, can be used to park two vehicles. On the south side, a shelter with a roof of barrel tiles offers a 40m² floor area and edges the east side of the terrace. In this shelter, you can enjoy receptions and outdoor meals shaded from the sun and protected from wind.
The swimming pool, the pool house and the grounds
Lower down from the terrace on the house’s south side, there is a swimming pool. It is 11 metres long and 5 metres wide and is set in a terrace of terracotta square tiles. A pool house and the pool’s technical installations room stand beside it. The pool enjoys absolute privacy. From it, you can admire a view of Toulon’s natural harbour. The grounds cover 5,100m². They are terraced with dry-stone retaining walls. The terraces are grassy or gravelled and mainly include olive trees, some of which are very old. There are also stone pines, oleander and clusters of rosemary and lavender – Mediterranean plants that do not require much water and offer pleasant fragrances.
Our opinion
The current owners of this property wanted to build a comfortable home while using the traditional materials of old Provençal villas and giving the house a classical architectural design. They also wanted to showcase the raised ground, which offers an unrivalled view of Toulon’s natural harbour and the surrounding hills. The garden and swimming pool give the place precious tranquillity among Mediterranean trees. The property is ideally located, on a hill yet with quick access to the city of Toulon and the countryside and beaches, which are less than 15 minutes away by car. This haven is masterfully designed and remarkably comfortable. And it is ready for you to settle into it straight away.
1 900 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 473515
| Land registry surface area | 5138 m² |
| Main building floor area | 250 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 5 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 200 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.
