Renting a house in Provence is many people’s dream of a perfect summer holiday. Olive trees, cicadas, lavender, rosé and idyllic villages to meander around when the sun goes down.
However people renting from the UK and the US often don’t even have a clear concept of where Provence is, let alone an idea of what they should be paying to stay in a particular area.
1. Where is Provence?
The uninformed foreigner believes that when he speaks of Provence he refers to the whole of the south of France. He’s wrong.
Fortunately even the French find it difficult to precisely define Provence, with some villages in the Var claiming to be Provencal.
If there is a consensus it’s that Provence includes the three departments of the Bouche du Rhone, the Alpes d’Haute Provence and the Vaucluse. Roughly speaking that means a triangle of land from Vaison La Romaine in the North, to Bandol in the West and Arles in the East. The heart of Provence and the most expensive area to rent is in the centre of this triangle - the Luberon, Les Alpilles and the area surrounding Aix en Provence....(click map to enlarge)
2. How to choose where to stay.
Don’t believe the glossy websites and photos, do your own research, above all know your own mind. What do you want from a holiday? Will you be happy in glorious isolation floating in an old farmhouse amid a sea of vines or do you need the comfort of a nearby village with shops and a bar? If so what do want from your nearest village - the spit and sawdust of traditional rural Provence, with one-eyed dogs and fly invested bars or the false comfort of lavender scented boutiques and the curse of the coach party?
It’s a generalisation but the further north you go in Provence, the more rustic the villages and the cheaper the prices. By contrast villages in the Luberon and Les Alpilles can be overrun by tourists in the summer months.
Finally be aware that a lot of the décor in rental houses is tired and in need of updating. Don’t expect the world.
3. Recommended villages
In our view the perfect location to rent is either in or just outside the following villages. All of them have bars and restaurants and yet have not yet been overrun by tour parties.
Lourmarin
Cucuron
Menerbes
Bonnieux
Goult
Mausanne Les Alpilles
Mouries
Eygalieres
Rognes
4. What to pay
In July and August prices for a decent, nicely decorated, well positioned 4 bedroom villa with pool start at around €3,000 euros a week. Be suspicious and ask questions if you are paying any less than this. From Easter until the end of June and in September the same villa should cost between €2,000 to €3,000 a week. In the off season negotiate hard and see what price you can get.
5. Recommended agents/websites
The following websites/agents are helpful:
5. Private houses
The following websites are the owners websites and the houses can be rented directly through them.
If you are an owner and wish to add your house to this list email: jamie@blueskylivingmag.com
http://www.cerisaie-luberon.com
http://www.amivac.com/massantoline
New house, available July/August 2009: Sleeps 8, Pool, with security fence. 5 minutes walk from Lourmarin. Great views of the Luberon Large grounds. Email:tansivey@aol.com
Experience Provençal country life by spending your vacation in our charming hamlet Renovated luxury for 6 - 8 people with a swimming pool and tennis court
click here to see website
The Fontaine de Faucon is available all year round, by the week (April-October). In the heart of the Luberon. Fully inclusive cooking/wine week available. Sleeps 10. For details contact saintestevedeneri@free.fr or click here to see website
Recent Comments