The experience of the beneficial effect of Provence on us with our Parisian pace of life: its blue sun-filled skies, its scents, the beauty of the surrounding nature, and the invitation to have a truly rejuvenating rest, led us to 'come back home'. We decided on a number of criteria we wanted: a family home in the Durance valley, where my husband had spent all his childhood holidays, within easy reach of Paris, in the heart of an authentic village, close to the main sites in Provence and less than an hour from the sea. At the crossroads of the Alpilles and the Luberon, Alleins, with its motto "Always been a small village, wants to stay a small village", its Roman remains, medieval streets and Renaissance façades set against the castle hill, met all the criteria. The house chose us, this was obvious from our first visit. The family who sold it passed it on to us as if it were an heirloom, and the village immediately welcomed us with open arms.
It is a large middle-class house dating back to the mid-19th century and an agricultural outbuilding, typical of villages in the region. Nevertheless, the size, its street-facing façade, architectural details and decor of the 'grande maison' echo the houses of the gentry in the Mazarin district of Aix-en-Provence. It is quite astonishing for such a small inland village! On the garden side, the look and feel are different, with a very Provençal-style country house façade, simple and sunny. In terms of construction, the thick stone and clay walls protect the house from high temperatures, and the exterior is protected by old-style rendering. We connected the annex with the main house, linking the upper floors of the two buildings. We patiently restored the stone floors, floor tiles, wainscoting and painted ceilings in the Ligurian style in the drawing rooms, bedrooms and stairwell, which are the real treasures of the house. Several artisans worked to preserve them, including a plasterer who is classed as one of the best workers in France, alongside historic monument restorers.
Built in the 1860s on almond fields, our house was given as a present for the marriage of two village families. The initials of the two families can still be seen on the lintel key of the front door. Then, in the 1880s, to mark the marriage of their son to the daughter of a Marseille merchant, the bedrooms and lounges were decorated with first-rate frescoes in the Louis XV style, inspired by Petrarch and created in the Ligurian school style. The house then passed into the hands of the Espérandieu family, some of whose members, architects and civil engineers left their mark on the history of 19th-century town planning in Marseille, notably with the construction of Notre-Dame de la Garde. The whole complex was restored in 2022.
Provence on a family estate, a place of relaxation, peace and joy, hence the name 'Chara' (deep joy, in Greek). The house offers village life where everything is within walking distance, a swimming pool where you can swim in the sun and shade six months of the year, peace and quiet on a large terrace sheltered from the mistral wind and onlookers, in the shade of the lime tree and fragrant with the scents of fig trees, lavender, rosemary, laurel and sage. There is also a Mediterranean landscape garden where grapes, figs, olives, apricots and lemons are harvested, and where you can spend your days listening to the birds and cicadas. This very large family home can be lived in as two independent dwellings where each guest can find their own space to rest, and where everyone can get together to share time together, around the table, the two pianos and the large lounges for listening to music, reading and playing games. An interior lift, perfectly integrated into the old architecture, makes it easier to reach the upper floors.
The Roman site of the Temple of Diana, adjacent to Château-Bas, offers a unique experience, like a well-kept secret. The Costes trail is accessible from the village of Alleins. The ultimate “Quillé” ice cream experience in the ruins of the fortified castle of Miramas-le-Vieux. The inspiring story of real Marseille soap at Rampal-Latour in Salon-de-Provence. Les gorges du Régalons for a fascinating hike. "La Table de l'Abbaye de Sainte Croix" offers a taste of the south on one of the most beautiful terraces in Provence. The “Domaine Sainte-Philomène”, with its oils, wine and honey. The “Horloge” cheese sellers are at the village market every Tuesday, just a two-minute walk from the house. For sweets, there is “Maison Jouvaud” in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, “Frédéric Hawecker” in Châteaurenard and Mathieu Taborcia's chocolate shop in Lambesc.
The property can be hired in its entirety, with accommodation on site. The swimming pool, six mountain bikes and a table tennis table are available for use. An international golf course is five minutes away, and several hiking trails are within walking distance of the house. Basketball, skateboarding and tennis courts are a few minutes' walk away. The two Gaveau pianos, which have been tuned, are also available.
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