The Bastide is a charming 400 year old Provencal country house situated in the scenic southern Drôme countryside on the edge of the picturesque village of Chamaret with its distinctive medieval tower .The village is surrounded by sun drenched Provencal countryside including lavender fields, vineyards and truffle trees with magnificent views in all directions including one of Mont Ventoux.
Accommodation Details
The Bastide offers a combination of different accommodation options from 2-4 person Gites to the Maison Principal (16 persons in total). In order to ensure that the poolside area is not crowded, we have decided that if the Gites are let then the Maison Principal will not be and vice versa.
The house amenities for all guests include; a large 50m² swimming pool, sun-loungers, table-tennis, bicycles, table-football, laundry room with two washing machines, internet access, small orchard, and fantastic views in all directions toward the southern pre-Alps and Mont Ventoux. For the people who can't quite leave the office behind or just want to keep up with the cricket scores, we offer internet access though a communal PC or bring your own laptop, (ethernet port required to connect to our network).
Single beds, cot, baby bath, changing mat and high chair are available upon prior request.
All parties will receive a welcome basket with enough food for a simple meal and a bottle of wine to toast the start of your holiday!
1. Gite Sleeps 4
This Gite sleeps two to four people in 2 double bedrooms both with en-suite bathrooms accessed from the lounge area by "space saver" stairs. It has its own kitchen and lounge area, complete with CD player, TV and DVD player. It also has its own private garden eating area, BBQ and "day bed" to while away the hours reading or just taking in the spectacular views.
The Gite comes complete with a full kitchen including fridge-freezer, dishwasher, microwave, gas oven and hobs. All cutlery, crockery, glassware, bedding and towels (both pool and house) are provided.
Gite #2 Sleeps 4
This Gite also sleeps two to four in 2 double bedrooms. One of the bedrooms is open plan with the lounge area and features a bed imported by ourselves from Hideaway Beds of Plymouth. It also has a sofa bed in the lounge area for accommodating an unexpected guest. This spacious gite has wooden floors, stone walls and a beamed ceiling. It has a large kitchen and 2 bathrooms, both with a shower, and one with a luxurious French bath (takes two!). It also has its own patio, large private garden with outside eating area, BBQ, "day bed" & hammocks. Entertainment is provided by a television, CD and DVD players.
And comes complete with a full kitchen including fridge-freezer, food processor, dishwasher, washing machine, gas oven and hobs. All cutlery, crockery, glassware, bedding and towels (both pool and house) are provided
3. Maison Principal 3 Bedrooms sleep 6 ( Sleeps 16 in total with the gites)
Total accommodation is therefore :8 double/twin bedrooms, (4 en suite), plus 2 bathrooms.
For groups of families or friends we offer the Maison Principal (which includes both the Gites and )which will accommodate up to 16 people. In the Maison Principal itself (without the Gites) there are 3 large double rooms, 2 medium sized double rooms and one twin bedroom. There are three en suite bathrooms plus a toilet. The kitchen is provided with a large American fridge/freezer (food) and ordinary fridge (drinks), a professional cooker and dishwasher. All cutlery, crockery, glassware, bedding and towels are provided. The Maison Principal also has 2 lounges (one for the children!) and we have a large movie and book collection for those occasional rainy days. There is a British satellite TV & DVD in the adult lounge, DVD and a Playstation 2.
The Maison Principal includes a private patio eating area with BBQ, set in its own walled garden
The local village is just a 3 minute stroll away and there you will find the "Tour de Chamaret" a medieval watch tower built to warn the fortified "Chateau de Grignan" of unwelcome guests. Nowadays the village is more accommodating to visitors and boasts a bar, fruit & vegetable stall, baker, small supermarket and post office.
In the local area the stunning Chateau de Grignan dominates the view, with its narrow streets, high walls and monastery, all of which are open to the public. Gringan has a lively artistic colony with many galleries and workshops in its narrow twisting lanes. The Roman amphitheatre in the town of Orange and the famous "Pont d' Avignon" are all within an hour's drive of the Bastide. Further afield but within the reach of a day trip are the beaches of the Mediterranean, the famous Roman aqueduct "Le Pont du Gard" and the spectacular villages of Gordes and Roussillon..
We are in the middle of the Rhone wine area, and some of France's finest vineyards are within easy reach, with Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage, Cornas and St Joseph just an hour north of here, and Chateauneuf du Pape, Vacqueyras and Gigondas half that time, to the south. In addition there are several award winning vineyards within a few minutes drive of the Bastide and we will be pleased to point you in their direction.
Enjoy your holiday by visiting some of the weekly markets, potteries and art galleries and, during the summer, various open-air festivals. Avignon and Carpentras both have festivals for most of July. Go riding at the local stables, borrow our bicyles to explore the small local villages and countryside, play golf at 2 nearby courses, watch the wildlife in the local woods/river, or you could just laze by the side of our large swimming pool. We service the pool and clean the surrounding terraces each day. If guests just want a lazy week by the pool a chauffeur service from the six nearest airports (Nimes, Marseille, Avignon, Montpellier, Grenoble & Lyon) is available, subject to availability. Also, collection from Avignon train station is possible.
A beautiful, well-equipped property, ideal for a large family or families. It has a lovely pool and plenty of shady areas to relax in. The Bastide is furnished to a high standard, with elegant bedrooms, a pleasant living room and a kitchen which makes preparing meals part of the holiday experience. Andrew and Maggie are friendly and helpful but never intrusive. Chamaret only has a bakery but there are a number of supermarkets within a short drive. Grignan, a short drive away, is a delightful small town with an attractive castle and a number of restaurants.
GUEST BOOK By Judy G from York, United Kingdom on 9/3/2010 for a stay in 8/1/2010
We and the family all needed a break. Having visited the previous year we decided to ask about vacancies and found a suitable vacancy . The furnishings and fittings were excellent with the kitchen facilities better than those at home. My wife and I had the "Blue Room" with its window overlooking the courtyard, orchard and main drive. Our daughter and her youngest son had the main bedroom and her teenage son had the put-up bed in the lounge. Everything was immaculate (even the outside lawn, barbecue and pool). Fresh vegetables were often available from the garden, but the short walk into the village was no problem and the surprisingly well stocked supermarket and wonderful bakery satisfied most of our food needs. The 15 minute drive to the hypermarket more than provided the rest. A visit to Grignan is a must and the restaurant recommended by the Paynes was very special - we celebrated our Wedding Anniversary here (so was the cafe at the foot of the village). The local pottery is certainly worth a visit. Two things that stood out for us were the historical sites so close (Arles, Avignon and our favourite, Vaison la Romaine) and the Chateauneuf and Cote de Rhone wine areas on the doorstep. The locals are all very friendly and helpful. In this respect, Mr & Mrs Payne stand out. It would be impossible not to have an outstanding holiday .
By Dr Feather from North Worcestershire on 9/3/2010 for a stay in 9/1/2008
The Bastide was perfect for my partner and I. For us it was everything we could want for a wonderful stay. Our hosts were kind and helpful and provided us with everyting we needed. Our stay was enchanting, well catered for and clean. We especially appreciated the information pack and a supply of Dvds - 'A Good Year 'is a must when holidaying in Provence. The location of the property was ideal for our holiday. It is very easy to get to Orange and avignon, as well as the pretty town of Vaison la Romaine, or travel south to the popular villages of Roussillon and Gordes. The local villages around the property are well worth visiting and the highlight is definetly Grignan, wonderful to explore, eat in and especially take photographs in. Even if you venture only to Grignon and back - borrowing the bikes and cycling there is recommended! - The Bastide is a perfect base for an idillic holiday and you will certainly want to return there. We can't wait to go back to the Truffle gite and the warm welcome we received, to laze in the sunshine, drink pastis, sample the delights of french food and relax.
By Helen S from Leamington Spa on 8/4/2010 for a stay in 10/1/2009
We have enjoyed 2 memorable holidays at the Bastide . The accommodation is very comfortable, tastefully decorated and very well equipped. The pool area is perfect with lovely views. A stroll away is the pretty village of Chamaret with its own bakery. Approximately 4 miles away is the larger village of Grignon with a very good choice of restaurants. Andrew and Maggie, the English owners are friendly and welcoming and very knowledgeable about the area. We felt relaxed the minute we arrived and are looking forward to returning in late august.
By Jill from Elwick on 8/1/2010 for a stay in 7/1/2009
We had a week staying in the 2 bedroom gite and found it comfortable and well-equipped.The outdoor areas and the pool were delightful, and the local villages are charming.It was a good base for going further afield, with avignon and Orange within easy reach. Andrew, our host, was very helpful and a mine of information about local wines, which was very handy.
By Cands7771 from Staplefield on 7/27/2010 for a stay in 6/1/2008
Tranquillity right in the heart of Provence with the world’s best wines on your doorstep. Spacious well appointed accommodation combined with the beauty of the pre-Alps and a most attentive host with made this a fantastic holiday. Can't wait to get back!
By Graham F from Aylesbury on 7/24/2010 for a stay in 4/1/2009
Ideally located for day trips and situated within an easy walk to the local village. Everything needed for a relaxing holiday. The bedrooms are large and comfortable and the huge kitchen / dining room the focal point. Andrew was staying on site and his hospitality was friendly and generous. A holiday we will long remember.
By Rob from Auckland NZ on 7/20/2010 for a stay in 6/1/2006
Andrew has created a beautiful holiday house with all amenities. Our group of 10 booked the whole house and it became our home away from home for one week. It is located close to the village and many interesting day trips were within a short distance. Andrew was the perfect host.
By Warren & Bev Y NZ from Auckland New Zealand on 7/20/2010 for a stay in 6/1/2006
Superb accommodation in a fantastic setting. An excellent "first class" holiday property. Home from home. The pool and amenities are great. Lots to do and see in the area. The best French markets and lots of traditional villages and towns, as well as fantatic vineyards. Owners are friendly and helpful. The only holiday property we have ever re-visited - this was our third visit.
By Beverley from Dobcross on 7/19/2010 for a stay in 5/1/2010
A great place to stay. We have been lucky enough to have had at least five separate summer holidays there; as a family and twice with friends, never have we been disappointed with the accommodation, location, facilities, friendliness of our hosts Andrew and Maggi and even the weather. The overall accommodation is a lovingly restored large house, finished to a very high specification and located at the edge of the small village of Chamaret.
Andrew and Maggi will go out of their way to make sure your stay is as pleasurable and enjoyable as humanly possible, nothing is too much! A car or a bicycle is essential if you want to explore the surrounding area (and it’s worth doing if you can drag yourself away from the pool) you can even take one of their bicycles. We have spend many years holidaying in Southern France (mainly Provence) which always involves renting a gite, but this is the place we return to the most.
By Ian H from Brussels Belgium on 7/19/2010 for a stay in 8/1/2009
Well-maintained house in beautiful location My husband, our 6 month old, . Andrew, the owner, met us on arrival. They had a crib, a high chair, & some toys for our baby which was extremely convenient. The main part of the truffle gite, which has an open layout for bed, dining table, & living room is very spacious. Accommodations include a nice (separate) kitchen which we used often as well as a stereo, tv, & dvd player. If you stay in the gite, you have your own outside patio table; perfect for enjoying croissants with coffee & plotting your day.
It also has a private lawn area with a hammock, ideal for reading or taking a break from the pool (fairly large pool area.) The whole mansion house has beautiful views of the neighboring millet fields. Makes you feel like you're really in the French countryside! The gite has been renovated nicely so it's comfortable & clean but you have a sense of the structure and what it might have looked like in its original form.
We had a car so the location is ideal for day trips. We went to avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Vaison de la Romaine, & Chateauneuf-du-pape during our week long stay there. It's just a few minutes walk into the nearest town and it has a bakery, fruit stand, & a bar. We also drove about 10 minutes for a supermarket that is open on Sundays as well as a huge supermarket about 20 minutes away to stock up on staples. Andrew and Maggie are very sweet, helpful, and prompt with any questions & requests. They'll even let you take their dog on a country hike around the area. It's very easy to book a vacation through them via e-mail. We are from New York and was going to be in Spain prior to our arrival at Bastides. The whole booking process and then arranging to meet andrew for our check-in was very smooth.
We had a really great time and I would recommend it as an affordable & relaxing way to spend a week in the Provence/Drome region.
By Bora from Brooklyn, New York on 7/18/2010 for a stay in 9/1/2009
Spring (per week)
March : £GBP
April : £1550
May : £1750t
Summer (per week)
June : £2000
July : £2450
August : £2450
Autumn (per week)
September : £2000
October : £1700
November : -
Winter (per week)
December : -
January : -
February : -
Rental prices shown are for the Maison Principal which sleeps 16 persons. The prices for the two gites range between £275
and £850 GBP depending on season. Please check applicable rate at the time of booking.
CN13571
