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Post by GitteK on May 26, 2007 1:49:05 GMT -5
I have never been to Provence myself, but I have read about this luxury estate only 10 km. from Nice (it was in FigaroMagazine, and they raved about it). My boss told that he might go to Provence this summer so I recommended him this place - I guess you'll need the wallet of a managing director, but still we can dream, right ??  (And their special package offers are in fact not that outrageously priced, I think) www.lemasdepierre.com |
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Post by Shoesy on May 26, 2007 2:09:47 GMT -5
It's gorgeous, Gitte. The things people can do when they have money..........(sigh) |
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Post by jcjflorida on May 26, 2007 5:53:03 GMT -5
Gitte - What a wonderful place. We went to Provence last summer for a week and rented a house. Our little house was much simpler than that estate (and cheaper!) but also wonderful. I loved Provence and in an ideal life would visit both Provence and Paris every year.
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Post by holger on May 26, 2007 7:25:48 GMT -5
We will be in St. Remy for four nights, five days in September. Using it as a base what would you all suggest we see and what are some special places to eat?I prefer to have no more than two must see/do items and then just wander and stumble on things the rest of the time. We will have a car available. This is our first time in Provence. Merci!  |
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Post by holger on May 26, 2007 7:32:22 GMT -5
Gitte,
I looked at the site. Even the classic,"lower priced?" rooms are gorgeous. problem for me would be to leave the premises at all. I would go and just crash.
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Post by luvparee on May 30, 2007 15:48:15 GMT -5
Holger~
I have been to Provence twice and just love it!! I went in 2002 and again last summer with six of my girlfriends for a 60th birthday celebration for most of us.
We were based in Pernes les Fontaines at a guesthouse/B&B and did daytrips each day in a different direction. If you are there on a Sunday, the market in L'Isle sur la Sorgue is fabulous! It is said to be the second largest market in France after the flea markets in Paris. L'Isle sur la Sorgue is called "Little Venice" because of the streams and water wheels throughout the town. Very charming!
Driving in the Luberon/Vaucluse is very scenic and beautiful. The villages/towns we visited were Bonnieux, Menerbes, Roussillon, Gordes, Vaison la Romaine, Seguret, Gigondas, Cassis one day, and of course, St. Remy on market day (Wednesday). We drove to Pont du Gard and so enjoyed seeing that Roman marvel of history.
Each little village/town is filled with eye candy! We were excited to be able to see the lavender and sunflowers in bloom. Everywhere your eye turned in villages was another beautiful cascade of flowers.
We dined several nights on the terrace of Le Lavandin (our guesthouse) with the goodies we had purchased at the various markets. For the other nights, our hostess Georgia would recommend a restaurant and make reservations for us. I'm sure others have more information on restaurants in the St. Remy area.
After you return from Provence, it will probably be #2 after Paris in your heart!!
Enjoy!
joy/luvparee
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Post by trechic on Jun 3, 2007 21:41:39 GMT -5
OMG!! Gitte, I fell in love with the Relais & Chateau Spa in St. Paul de Vence! I am actually going to give it some thought. Wouldn't that be so wonderful to just go and spend three days at the end of my stay in Paris to just relax and be pampered after all that walking I will have done??? Hmmmm...it would be a huge splurge, of course, but I thought the rates were fairly reasonable. I also spent time on the site with all the properties for sale!!! I am shocked by the prices!! You can't even buy a garage for that price here in my area!! Ohhhh...I want one! I want it NOW!!!
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Post by GitteK on Jun 4, 2007 8:11:05 GMT -5
trechic - I am also very fascinated by the place. And their packages for 3 days/4 nights are not totally beyond reach. And its only 10 km. from Nice
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Post by holger on Jun 4, 2007 10:11:32 GMT -5
Spent late last night when I should have been in bed looking at properties on line in Provence but also in the Dordogne which is even less expensive. My French would have to vastly improve which is hard since I really do have a tin ear. It is easier for me to read French than to speak it. That's true in general except for English since I make my livelihood by outtalking most people.  |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 4, 2007 10:20:24 GMT -5
Holger -- you will find in the Dordogne (and I'm sure in most of Provence as well) that there are large pockets of ex-pat English, as well as many English who own and frequently use vacation homes). That's one reason some areas are relatively expensive (the bad part), but it also means that many shopkeepers, etc., know at least some English so between your beginning French and their beginning English it's not that hard to get along (just throw in a little good will!).
But look out -- those property sites are absolutely addictive! And when you see some of those villages, you are going to start thinking, "you know it just wouldn't be that hard . . . ."
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Post by trechic on Jun 4, 2007 11:36:05 GMT -5
Ohhhh Becky!! That is exactly what I am doing since you shared that site with us!! I could barely sleep last night! I have already sent some photos to my son...saying, LOOK...couldn't we please do this?  Pretty please???!! LOL The fact, that you, Becky and Truffaut have already done and I read Adrian Leeds and say, Wow...if you can do it...why can't I??? Thank you for the inspiration. I will keep dreaming for now.... |
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 4, 2007 13:01:46 GMT -5
Trechic -- here is the link for the web site of the agent we used to buy our house last year. She specializes in houses in the area where ours is (it's on the edge of but less expensive than the heart of the Dordogne, which is the place most people know, but we just got back from a visit there and spent several days just driving from one ancient -- 1000 years or more! -- village to another, having a great time): www.residenceenfrance.com/ We managed not to get a mortgage (at least not one in France, for the initial purchase -- LOL!) but I'm told that even that is not particularly difficult (but that may be more as to the English, who are coming from another EU country). Dream away, because it's absolutely feasible to do something like this, as long as you can be happy not owning a place in one of the very expensive areas like Paris. If you can be happy in a small village, with a house that's small and funky, all things may well be possible! |
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Post by holger on Jun 4, 2007 15:15:12 GMT -5
Just looked at the link and found several properties in a reasonable price range that did not need to be restored. Much as that appeals at our ages, and the distance to supervise, I would prefer a turn key set up. And there were some. Will take note of locations and try to swing by in September to look at areas. But fell in love with Dijon last year and for older folks, kind of like the idea of being in a small city for a number of reasons. Oh well, it is nice to dream and one never knows!
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 4, 2007 15:24:14 GMT -5
Holger -- if you should get over that way, here is a web site for a wonderful small chateau hotel on the western edge of the Dordogne near Riberac (where we stayed our last two nights on this trip, and have stayed several other times): www.lemasdemontet.com. It's become our second home (third, once our house is ready!), because it's only about 5 km from Aubeterre. Even if you don't get over there on this trip, "you can always go back . . . ." Getting to this area is very simple -- take the TGV right from CDG to Angouleme, or from Paris if you are there first (we explored Angouleme for the first time this trip, also, and really liked it a lot -- another 1000-plus-year-old small city), rent a car there (agencies are right at the train station), and the hotel is about 30 to 45 minutes away across wonderful farmland dotted with many small villages. |
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Post by trechic on Jun 5, 2007 16:38:04 GMT -5
Thanks, Becky!! Is it easy to find the help getting the work done there?
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Post by trechic on Jun 5, 2007 16:48:26 GMT -5
OMG!! I need not look any further...I found my dream cottage!! Completely charming and reovated stone cottage - 3 bdrms - 2BA - swimming pool. Views overlooking the valley! It is the quintessential "stone cottage with the light blue shutters" for 219E!
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Post by holger on Jun 5, 2007 17:14:18 GMT -5
Becky,
Loved the Mas. We are booked into Sarlat as a base for this trip. But will cerainly keep all your suggestions in mind for the future. As we tour the Loire, Dordogne and Provence we may get a better sense of where we might like to stay. Would probably be wise to rent a place then for at least two weeks to really see how well things went. If we also did that in Dijon, we would be in a better position to know what we wanted to do.
Trechic,
I also found at least three places I liked with pools that would work as a gathering place for children and friends. Will try to drive to their locations in September. Hope you get your dream house.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 5, 2007 18:29:47 GMT -5
Trechic -- we had a bit of a false start getting going with renovations, but now have a wonderfully reliable architect who also is the project manager (and she seems to be tied in to all of the good local artisans). Our house really needed "everything" (basically, nothing had been done for probably close to 50 years, so all the wiring, etc., needed to be replaced). We just fell in love with the village, and the house was priced so reasonably that we were willing to take on the headaches of doing the renovation even from thousands of miles away. I don't think we'll be sorry we made that choice, but "it's not for everyone"! Most houses would not have such extensive work needed, and in that case you could find someone probably without too much trouble, through word of mouth. Also, there are some English language web sites where people seem to exchange a lot of info about such matters (e.g., check out aquitaine.angloinfo.com/). If you ever got to the point of seriously considering buying a place that needed some work done, and if it were somewhere in the Aubeterre/Riberac area, the guy who is doing all the demolition for us (Englishman, has lived there for the last six years) would be a good resource (and likely would know many others who would be, as well). Also, he and his wife have a lovely gite (rental house) with a pool, that has three bedrooms (saw it on our last trip, and will keep it in mind for our friends and relatives). |
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Post by trechic on Jun 6, 2007 19:40:02 GMT -5
Thank You Again, Becky!! This is so much fun!
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Post by paris54 on Jun 13, 2007 8:51:03 GMT -5
If you go to St. Paul de Vence, you must visit the Fondation Maeght. It is very unusual and has some of the finest sculptures as well as paintings. The whole area around St. Paul is beautiful. There are many villages around where you can find homes and B&Bs to rent. It is a nice alternative to the Riviera locals.
It is also close to Nice and if you go to Nice you need to go to Eze. Eze is quite touristy, but it so beautiful you can deal with it.
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Pretty please???!! LOL The fact, that you, Becky and Truffaut have already done and I read Adrian Leeds and say, Wow...if you can do it...why can't I??? Thank you for the inspiration. I will keep dreaming for now....
hahahha