Award winning gite in Provence with pool overlooking valley
Rural Gite
Location: ForcalquierSleeps: 4
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Facilities
Balcony, BBQ, Car parking, Garden, Outdoor pool read more
Description
There are only three properties in La Colle, so there is little risk of traffic jams, noise, pollution, parking tickets, urban fog, and other little side benefits that come with life in a big city. Just nature, tranquility, and peace occasionally disturbed by bird songs and the buzz of bees.
Barely a five minute walk in any direction and the visitor is confronted with the splendour of nature, prairie, forest, lavender fields, scented shrubs, and the prodigality of the flora and the wild life. Here, nature is to be experienced by close contact, taste, and smell. Even the storms are spectacular!
The owners moved here from London at the same time as Peter Mayle did. They could have written the book themselves! La Colle was built several hundred years ago and stands as a good example of the traditional and ancient life and times of Provence.
The accommodation itself has received the Five Globes Award presented by World One Call, a private holiday referral service and has also received four golden olives from "Provence Golden Olives".
As the property is accessed by a narrow country lane, it is not recommended that guests bring sports cars or caravans.
I’ve loved everything visual and creative all my life and having spent the greater part of it in creative advertising and marketing, therefore I know what pleases the eye. In this region, you can venture out in any direction of the compass and find things to be visually excited. Yet you can also be encapsulated by moods or enveloped by tastes or just seep down into the pleasure of relaxation at a pace of life “sans stress”.
Generally, the South East of France is one of the highest areas of constant sunshine in Europe, which is why people love it and its lifestyle.
From our spot, you can range out in any direction and within a short drive get to the coast and discover the ancient cities of Aix en Provence, Avignon, or Marseille. Roll through undisturbed countryside, visit huge lakes, wander through the Southern Alpes, or just cool out in your own hidden domain of La Colle.
I have literally travelled the world and was nearly born in a plane, so new places and adventures are very familiar to me. Yet one of the main reasons why I am happy to tell you about this area and why I bought and established myself here was the sense of “a very laid back way of life”, yet with all that the modern world can offer at the same time. A sort of “sophisticated relaxation!”.
The principal town serving the area is Forcalquier where one will find all the necessary ingredients of such quality and variety that the preparation of a feast will become an immediate requirement. There are two supermarkets and a host of small shops and businesses that will tempt your senses. Many of the products have been produced locally such as tomatoes that taste like the real thing, local lamb that has been brought up organically on the prairies and pastures, and of course a vast selection of high quality cheeses and wines.
However, there are many small interesting villages and towns to discover. Throughout the summer, almost every town presents some type of festival, show, concert, special event, or a local fête. In addition, there are many interesting architectural sites to see within a thirty minute radius, from churches to monasteries, beautiful villages such as Lurs which is a fully restored hilltop village full of artists, a lovely countryside, and some spectacular nature landmarks.
Availability
Seasonal rates
| Start date | End date | Weekly rate | Week night rate | Week end night | Minimum stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 2011 | 06 Jan 2012 | 1,250 € | n/a | n/a | 7 nights |
| 07 Jan 2012 | 06 Apr 2012 | 1,050 € | 165 € | 300 € | 3 nights |
| 07 Apr 2012 | 15 Jun 2012 | 1,185 € | 225 € | 350 € | 3 nights |
| 16 Jun 2012 | 06 Jul 2012 | 1,185 € | 225 € | 350 € | 3 nights |
| 07 Jul 2012 | 03 Aug 2012 | 1,285 € | n/a | n/a | 7 nights |
| 11 Aug 2012 | 31 Aug 2012 | 1,285 € | n/a | n/a | 7 nights |
| 01 Sep 2012 | 21 Sep 2012 | 1,185 € | 225 € | 350 € | 3 nights |
| 22 Sep 2012 | 14 Dec 2012 | 1,100 € | 200 € | 350 € | 3 nights |
| 15 Dec 2012 | 04 Jan 2013 | 1,285 € | n/a | n/a | 7 nights |
| 05 Jan 2013 | 05 Apr 2013 | 1,050 € | 185 € | 320 € | 3 nights |
* prices may be subject to change at the advertisers discretion
* rates are per property
NOTE: The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Our prices, as most French gites, are based on Saturday to Saturday rentals. It is impossible to break these in the high and peak seasons. If you wish to request rental periods other then weekly, we can consider them in the shoulder or off season months.
Outside the main high season, we have changed the rental week to Thursday to Thursday meaning that you can save on your flights by booking Thursday flights instead of Saturday flights.
Smartdates are available in the periods shown as "Flexible". In the event that there is sufficient demand for the main season, we will make them available as well.
We regularly offer specials for "Earlybird booking" and "You pick your price" offers on weeks still available near their take up times. You could save greatly on either of these offers.
Prices shown are for a one week rental. A 30% deposit is required at the time of booking, with the balance due one month before your arrival. Discounts are available for 2,3, or 4 week rentals. Linen and towels are supplied with the rental. Beds are fully made up and the gite is inspected and presented to our standard of cleanliness for your arrival. You will be given a welcome pack and a small quantity of some products which you can use immediately such as washing powder, soap, etc.
We have now spent over ten years providing high quality holiday accommodation and in our continued search for improved ideas for people who want to get away from it all, at a reasonable price, we have developed Smartdates and this policy now also allows people on smaller travel budgets to obtain quality accommodation for the same price of cheaper but less comfortable holiday accommodation. We have changed the rental week to Thursday meaning that you can save on your flights by booking Thursday flights instead of Saturday flights.
If you are a frequent flier, you will know that some days of the week are less expensive than others (especially on low cost airlines).
General information
| Property type | Gite |
|---|---|
| Numer of units | single |
| Holiday theme | Activity, Away from it all, Beach Holiday, Romantic, Sight-seeing, Summer Holiday, Weekend Away |
| Suitable for | Children, Pets, Long term rentals, Families, Couples |
Room information
| Bedrooms |
2 bedroom(s), sleeps 4 max.
The first double bedroom has a commanding view over the valley and its crested hills in the distance. The second double bedroom has a make up/changing area with a hand-basin and an en-suite bathroom with a bath, shower, water closet, and basin. The two bedrooms are located at opposite ends of the house, thus ensuring maximum privacy for its occupants. The accommodation is also equipped with a cot, high chair, baby bath, and other items for babies and small children. |
|---|---|
| Bathrooms |
1 bathroom(s)
Hair dryer, one set of towels provided. |
| Kitchen |
Well presented kitchen fully equipped to further include kettle, toaster, iron, cooker, four-burner gas stove, combination hot air oven and microwave, large fridge with a separate freezer, and everything else necessary to look after your culinary needs. 4 ring stove, Dish washer, Freezer, Fridge, Grill, Microwave, Oven, Washing machine, Outside cooking, Utensils |
| Meals |
Not included |
| Dining room |
Seats 4 |
| Living room |
Seats 4 Entering the property, is a large open-plan living-dining-kitchen area with a high oak-beamed ceiling. The living area has built-in comfortable seating and additional single lounge chairs. There is a full entertainment centre which includes a stereo for relaxation. DVD, CD player, TV, Stereo system |
On-site facilities
| Onsite facilities |
Tucked away on a small hillside is our little hamlet of La Colle with its three principal properties. What you will not find here are traffic jams, noises of the city, pollution, parking tickets, or a grey sky. Instead you will find nature in all its glories and will, more than likely, be awaken by the birds and the bees rather than the busy cry of the city. Balcony, BBQ, Car parking, Garden, Outdoor pool, Terrace, Outdoor furniture 1 car parking space |
|---|---|
| Other facilities |
The gite is well set up for young children: potty, changing mat, cot, highchair, small toys, baby bath and other assorted items. Satellite/cable, Wireless internet access, Linen and towels provided, Central heating |
| Other notes |
Local area information
| Location type |
Rural |
|---|---|
| Car required? |
necessary Welcome pack is provided on arrival. Swimming pool is open between April to October. Garden and parkland is shared yet everyone has their own space. English-speaking representative is on hand to answer any questions. Multiple outside dining nooks. Professionally run Photo Safaris for Photographers are from April to July/Oct to Dec. Professionally run Painting Holidays are from April to July/Oct to Dec. |
| Local leisure activities |
Rural / countryside retreats A winter sun break. Artistic creative center. Honeymoons.
Swimming pool, Tennis, Horse riding, Walking, Beach |
| Nearest points of interest |
|
Directions
Gite Galileo is 14 kms from Forcalquier and this is the main shopping area to the gite. By far the best way to get here at the moment depending on where you live is via Marseille Airport with its specialised budget airline terminal known as MP2. This hub now caters well for multiple European destinations as well as all the principle intercontinental hubs. Marseilles has the advantage of only being about 1hr and 15mins from us by road.
Easyjet and Ryan Air have permanent hubs at Marseille airport MP2 and offer a great series of flights in.
Please note you could be adventurous and have a two centre holiday in different locations using MP2 as your cross over point i.e. Provence with us for a week and then on to Morocco for the next week retuning via MP2 to home.
If you can not get a flight direct to Marseille, try Nice or Nimes or try one through London as it is a major hub to the rest of Europe. You can then pick up a good rental at Budget, Europcar, or Hertz and be here within 2.30hrs approximately (from Nimes or Nice) rather than spending 3-4 times the time coming down from Paris.
My research has shown that if you are coming from another continent or country outside, such as mainland Europe i.e. the US or the UK, you would be better off using a company like Easyjet, British Airways, or Ryan Air hiring a car through Europcar or Hertz (you can get a good discount) and then driving up from Marseilles.
When I did a cost comparison driving from London to here for a family of 4, the costs come out about the same if you take all the costs including wear and tear on your vehicle.
The advantage is that you can gain 2 extra days of relaxation and the low cost airlines are getting cheaper all the time. If you live on the continental mainland of Europe, a car drive is financially better but there are so many new budget carriers that this changes very quickly. Also, if you are coming for say only a week then why get tired on a long car journey? After all you are going on holiday!
In France, between the 15th of July and the 15th of August, is the French national summer holidays. These two periods are split roughly 50/50 into two weekly periods, therefore the first weekend near the 15th of July, the nearest weekend in the middle two weeks latter and the weekend nearest to the 15th August are signaled as RED heavy traffic. The first weekend going South, the second North and South, and the third weekend going North.
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Rod Cook
View owner websiteView additional contact details
Daytime: +44 208 1331516
Language(s) spoken:
English, French
Payments via credit card through Paypal are accepted. Will consider corporate bookings and house-swap.
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