A former 18th-century coaching inn and its outbuildings in a 63-hectare estate planted with woods, vines and olive trees, 40 minutes from Toulon, in P
A former 18th-century coaching inn and its outbuildings in a 63-hectare estate planted with woods, vines and olive trees, 40 minutes from Toulon, in Provence verte.
Situated at the crossroads of the Var, in the centre of the department, the village of Le Luc welcomed pilgrims from the 11th century onwards on their way from Saint-Victor (Marseille) to Cotignac. At the heart of the Côtes-de-Provence PDO vineyards, Le Luc is home to a number of renowned vineyards and olive-growing estates, set in rare sites protected from tourism and urbanisation, where terraces, valleys and wooded hills alternate. Watered by the River Ritort, at the foot of the Maures massif, its landscapes boast a remarkable diversity of hills and Mediterranean vegetation. Toulon, its TGV station and the sea are 40 minutes away, access to the A8 motorway is 4 km away, while Aix-en-Provence can be reached in 1 hour and Marseille-Provence international airport in 1 hour 10.
There are two quick access routes to the estate from the village of Le Luc. A well-maintained dirt track some 900 m long crosses the 63-hectare property, winding its way through rolling countryside of wooded hills and vineyards, before reaching the main house, the outbuildings and the guest house, all close by. All the buildings are set on a promontory that is flat. These traditional buildings, which date back some three centuries, have rubble stone façades, which are rendered or pointed, straight or round-arched windows and gable roofs with canal tiles, some with double overhanging cornices. Old maps from the 18th century show the presence of a former relay station for monks and a chapel that no longer exists. The estate was a waypoint at the crossroads of the routes to Saint-Victor (Marseille) and Cotignac, as well as to the abbeys of Sénanque and Le Thoronet. The dense natural vegetation, made up of oak and pine woods typical of the Mediterranean maquis, contrasts harmoniously with the straight lines of the vineyards. Wherever you look, you see an alternation of natural depressions and open valleys lined with dirt tracks that lead to the vineyards and olive groves. The deep blue sky, occasionally broken up by clouds, completes this landscape of unspoilt nature.
The manor houseBuilt in a classical rectangular shape and two storeys high, its symmetrical south façade features three windows aligned vertically. The blue-grey painted shutters contrast delicately with the ochre-beige rendered local stone walls, enhanced by the warm hint of colour from the brick-red front door. The roof, with its double overhanging cornice and orange-coloured canal tiles, complements the sober style of this traditional Provençal farmhouse. The manor house, measuring around 211 m², has five bedrooms, one of which is over 40 m². With its two attics totalling some 77 m², it has significant potential for extension. A paved terrace in light-coloured natural stone and a lawn enclosed by a cement and terracotta balustrade link the house to the garden. With no mains water available, the house and guest house are supplied by a borehole.
The ground floor
With its main beams, natural stone fireplace and wall niche with oak doors, the 23 m² east-facing through lounge, illuminated by four windows, one of which is a double French window, contributes to the authentic Provençal feel of the property. An adjoining dining room opens onto the south-facing terrace through double French windows and faces the kitchen, which opens onto the north-facing terrace. The Provençal "pile" (traditional sink) in Draguignan limestone, the large cooker hood and the warm tones of the terracotta and wood all reflect a lifestyle that takes the time to cook and entertain. A bright bedroom with parquet flooring, a beamed ceiling and double French windows, plus a modern shower room with a toilet, finished in waxed ...
