New South of France luxury properties to Just Provence – October 2013

With the summer of 2013 at an end, visitors to our site now mainly focus on the coming Spring and Summer of 2014. Which is why it is the perfect time to introduce new properties to our portfolio for you to discover and enjoy. This month’s selection centres mainly around the  beautiful Vaucluse area with properties in the renowned wine producing Côtes du Rhône region and  around the foothills of the Mont Ventoux.

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New Properties in Caromb – Mont Ventoux

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Villa Brégoux, a family home overlooking the plains.

Sitting in an imposing position on the outskirts of Caromb, Villa Brégoux enjoys spectacular views both of Caromb and the Ventoux valley to which it belongs. Sleeping up to 9 people in four bedrooms, this is an ideal property for a large family holiday. The spacious 12 x 4 metre swimming pool is bordered by a large summer/pool house which is ideal for dining at midday or relaxing with a good book.

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La Maison Saint Christophe, an old stone-built mas.

Set in extensive private vineyards and with stunning panoramic views of Mt Ventoux, Caromb, and the beautiful village of Crillon le Brave.  This secluded old stone Mas for short-term rental gives you a taste of real Provençal living, at one with nature and the environment and free to enjoy all the simple pleasures the region has to offer. Situated in the heart of the countryside yet only a short stroll to the bustling village of Caromb.

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Vallée du Barroux, a vacation villa with splendid views.

This charming Provencal village holiday rental is  just a few minutes walk to the centre of Caromb, with private, heated swimming pool and spectacular views of the perched hilltop village of Le Barroux. Vallée du Barroux is a sympathetically restored old stone mas with parts dating back to 1783.

Famous for its figs, olive oil and wine, part of the charm of Caromb is the fact that it remains a working village despite its growing popularity, and has retained a real sense of community. Staying at Vallée du Barroux gives you the chance to experience authentic Provençal village life with its weekly market, shops, bars, cafés and restaurants.

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 New properties in Séguret – Côtes-du-Rhône

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Villa Cézanne, unique panoramic views.

Just a 5 minute drive from the historical Roman town of Vaison La Romaine, Villa Cézanne is a luxury rental holiday home with a 12x5m private swimming pool and panoramic views of the Mont Ventoux. Set within the owners own wine estate, it offers complete peace and tranquillity in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône countryside. This old stone villa , sleeping 10, has been sympathetically renovated to a very high standard and is the perfect base for exploring the Route Des Vins in Provence.

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Mourchon Gîte, a holiday rental surrounded by vineyards.

A small property located on a working wine domaine, Mourchon Gîte in Séguret sleeps 6 with private swimming pool set in peaceful Provençal countryside. The front terrace offers fabulous views of the Mont Ventoux mountain range.

Set in a  valley between the picturesque village of Séguret and the ‘Giant of Provence’ Mont Ventoux, the area is an ideal base for exploring Provence, whether that’s by car, walking or cycling only Provence offers you such a myriad of experiences and wonderful views.

Cet article New South of France luxury rental properties to Just Provence – October 2013 est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

5 Good reasons to visit Provence during the Christmas period.

In a previous blog post I introduced the virtues of holidaying in Provence off-season, taking the example of the Jazz scene to show how active the region is all year round. Today we will take a look at the Christmas period in Provence. It is a little known fact to most visitors of sunny Provence that this region has a rich Christmas tradition which makes for a great cultural and culinary experience in the South of France. But Christmas is a special period for everyone so why should you leave your home to spend it abroad?

1 It lasts 2 months.

Christmas in Provence is scheduled around a traditional calendar called “la Calendale” which starts with  “La Sainte Barbe” on December 4th and ends with “La Chandeleur” on February 2nd. Sainte Barbe is also known as Saint Barbara and on her day (every day in the french calendar has a patron saint) people  seed wheat in a saucer with cotton and watch it grow for good fortune. It is also the time  when Christmas decorations start to appear, the Christmas tree, but also Provençal specific traditions and events such as winter wine events.

2 Christmas markets

Christmas markets start to appear in major towns of Provence around the time of Sainte Barbe, each stall selling wheat for charities and growing their own miniature crop. The markets in Aix-en-Provence and Avignon (23rd November until 1st January 2013) are particularly well noted with a wide range of products. From delicacies such as Foie Gras, Ginger-bread, calissons, truffles (both of the mushroom and chocolate type) mulled wine or Christmas decorations like santons, Christmas baubles, etc.

Christmas markets in Provence differ from their more famous Alsatian counterparts  in that they’re usually sunny sober occasions where white and gold replace the traditional germanic/ Anglo-Saxon red and green of decorations. If you are in Provence at the end of the year you will find the permanent Christmas markets to be a great place to try out local produce and discover traditional  arts and crafts that you would not have come across during the summer time.

3 13 desserts and counting

One of the best known traditions of Christmas in Provence is the 13 desserts. As with  all things in Provence’s tradition it is full of religious symbols. On Christmas eve after going to the Midnight Mass and seeing the living Nativity (reenacted by the local parish’s children) families go home to have supper  on a table set up with three tableclothes representing the Trinity and  the three saucers  with the wheat they have sown 20 days before. The supper itself is supposedly lean, which in truth means it is composed of fish and seafood. The main attraction is of course the Thirteen Desserts.

The tradition although recorded as existing in the Middle Ages was only defined in the early 20th century. The Thirteen Desserts is not only a Christmas tradition but a symbol of Provençal culture and was one of the main concerns of the Félibres (a 19th century cultural movement to preserve Provence’s  heritage). You can find the Thirteen Desserts on all Provençal markets and bakeries, the locals will be more than happy to share their knowledge of a heritage they are very proud of. Each dessert has a meaning, for example dates represent Jesus’ oriental origins, you may find the full list here.

4 The Nativity and santons

The traditional Crib (Crèche in French) is not only a religious affair it is also something every community takes great pride in presenting each year. You will find one in every family home. Town halls have their own cribs, usually of quite impressive sizes. Every church has its crib, some boastings santons hundreds of years old. The Cribs in Saint Siffrein (Carpentras), Notre Dame des Doms (Avignon) and   the Avignon town hall are very popular. The tradition of painting terra-cotta figurines and sometimes dressing them in miniature attires is a Provençal tradition that has spread recently to the whole of France. Some villages are famous for their artisans such as Séguret and Aubagne. The tradition goes back to the Revolution of 1789 when churches were closed and santons were a means to have your own miniature Saints and Holy Family at home.

Nowadays the Crèche not only includes the Holy Family, shepherds, angels and wise-men but also all the characters of the traditional Provençal village. Cribs evolve along the Calendale with baby Jesus, the shepherds and the wise-men being added until it is put away until next  Christmas on the “Chandeleur” in Feburary.

5 It is a trip in Provence’s traditions.

As shown in the above list, coming to Provence in winter time means discovering a part of Provence that is overlooked in peak season. Christmas in Provence is a wonderful time to discover the South of France, its traditions, history and delicacies. If you are looking for a different Christmas with quality food, drink and centuries of traditions upheld proudly by the locals, Provence is the destination for you this Christmas.

Have you already enjoyed winter in Provence?
If you have any questions regarding this article , we would love to hear from you.

Dylan

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Cet article 5 Good reasons to visit Provence during the Christmas period. est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.