A former 18th century farmhouse which has been renovated and extended over the years in the hills of Green Provence, set in 1 hectare of grounds plant
A former 18th century farmhouse which has been renovated and extended over the years in the hills of Green Provence, set in 1 hectare of grounds planted with lush vegetation.
In the heart of nature, in the centre of the Var department, the property is just a stone's throw from a Provencal village nestling between wooded hills and typical Mediterranean inland landscapes. The region is full of hiking trails, renowned vineyards and iconic cultural sites, such as the Cistercian abbey of Le Thoronet. Here you can enjoy a fantastic lifestyle set between the sea and the mountains. Only 10 minutes away by car, the town of Brignoles, the department's sub-prefecture, has all administrative, commercial and medical amenities you might need. The coast is just 1 hour away by car, Aix-en-Provence TGV train station is 50 minutes away and Marseille international airport is less than 1 hour away.
After turning off a departmental road, the property is accessed via a roughly 100-metre-long dirt track, in the middle of the vines. A low wooden gate at the rear of the house to the north opens onto a vast, flat area where several vehicles can be parked, and where a remarkable oak tree which is over 400 years old takes pride of place. Behind it, a wooded area slopes down to the stream that runs along the western edge of the property. More than 1 hectare of dense vegetation surrounds the property, which is entirely enclosed, giving it the utmost privacy. Mainly facing south, the original residence was built in the early 18th century and underwent several extensions during the 19th and 20th centuries. The two-storey building has a double-pitched, canal-tiled roof edged with a double row of spandrels. The façades are rendered in an ochre colour and have large-paned windows and white wooden shutters. A veranda with white wrought-iron frames and a wisteria canopy was added in the 20th century and extends the west side of the main façade. Several delicately landscaped outdoor areas stretch out in front of and on either side of the building. A gravelled terrace with a fountain, planted with ancient plane trees, mulberry trees and a Canadian maple, runs along the front of the building and leads down a few steps to the pool area further down on the west side. On the other side of the terrace to the east, there is a stone basin above vegetable patches bordered by low drystone walls. Further down, there is a grassy area planted with olive trees before the orchard where several varieties of fruit trees are planted.
The buildingThe main part of the building was built in 1712 with 60 cm thick walls and extended to the west during the 19th century. It now spans almost 500 m² and is two storeys high.
The garden-level floor
The main entrance is set in the most recent part of the building, in the middle of the south-facing façade. A wooden door with a glazed top half opens onto the entrance hall. The double-height staircase leads to the old section to the east, the newer section to the west, and then to the floor above via a painted wooden staircase that continues to a mezzanine. A bull's eye window and a window on the first floor bring light to the room. There are a guest toilet and cupboard opposite the entrance. The old part, set back slightly, is accessed via a few steps and leads to a dining room and a lounge and a second entrance. The walls are rendered in a sand colour and are lit by south-facing small-paned windows, as well as an east-facing window in the lounge. A stone fireplace is set against the east wall of the living room. The floors are paved with Burgundy stone, while the ceilings are crossed by white-painted exposed beams. Beyond the hallway, to the west, in the newer part of the house, there is a vast kitchen with a fireplace. It once had three small-paned windows. One of these has now been converted into a ...
