THE HOUSE
Excerpts from a French magazine article about the house. Henri and Francoise own a restoration business, restoring old windows, doors, etc...
...which explains the high sloping wood ceiling and the fact that no two windows or doors are the same. But those architectural elements were only the beginning for Francoise, who has transformed the former atelier into a comfortable house with delightful theme rooms.
The “forest” bedroom, for example has mosquito netting draped over the bed, walls washed in brown ocher and violet tones, and a lavatory growing out of a tree stump. The nautical bedroom has canvas undulating across the ceiling, hatches for windows and waves stenciled on the bathroom walls.
The house has 6 bedrooms with private baths, a spacious living room with a floor to ceiling fireplace, an open kitchen and a swimming pool with a waterfall on one side. “It was fun pulling this place together,” says Francoise, “but even the best décor will disappoint if things don’t work well or aren’t convenient.” To make sure all is as it should be, she and her husband move into the house from time to time.
Our village is located 15 minutes from Isle sur la Sorgue (a delightful town with France’s most famous antique and food market), 10 minutes from Carpentras (a hidden treasure) and about 35 minutes from Avignon (the big city).
DETAILS
2007-2008
The best scenario for travel is to fly to Paris (Charles DeGaulle only... CDG) and then take the TGV train to Avignon (there is a train station in the CDG airport). On your return, there is now an early morning train to Paris that gets you to CDG in time for the 1:50PM USAir flight to the States. You would not want your return flight early unless you are planning a few days in Paris. If you are going to Xavier’s also, then call me.
Let me know what your plans are before making any travel arrangements as coordinating pick ups is important.
Trip insurance is available online (Travelguard) or through your local insurance agent. It is strongly encouraged.
This is very general travel info and I have much more that I can share once the group has been formed. Questions??? Give me a call 379-9022 (home) 706-6000 (cell).
Merci... Mary James
THE WEEK
This is just a sample of what can be done. Each night we will talk about what everybody wants to do the next day. Everything is totally flexible.
Saturday: Arrive at the house mid afternoon and settle in. Unpack, relax by the pool and enjoy our first round of Provencal hors d’oeuvres and Rhone wine. Dinner at the house.
Sunday: Up early with breakfast from the boulangerie just down the driveway... early risers bring home the bread (sacristans, croissants, brioche) for the rest of us. This historic artisanal bakery is a real treat... right in our own backyard. Then it is off to shop France’s most famous antiques market... Isle sur la Sorgue is only 15 minutes from the house. Whether you are interested in antiques, food, shopping or just taking in the scenery, Isle sur la Sorgue will be a favorite place. Lunch on your own at one of the many bistros or cafes along the Sorgue River. Dinner at home with purchases made at the market.
Monday: The Rhone valley is just minutes away and we will enjoy a private tour and tasting at one of its wineries in Chateauneuf de Pape and visit the old castle overlooking the Rhone valley with a magnificent view all the way down to Avignon. After having lunch at this historical site, we will visit the wine museum of Chateauneuf de Pape, a fabulous chocolaterie, and then wander home through small villages that surround Mount Ventoux, the highest point in Provence and our geographical point of reference for the week.
Tuesday: This is a most popular day when we discover the pottery area of southern France. Mary James and Xavier know all the out of the way places... factories, homes... the inside scoop! Along the way, we will travel through villages that you thought were just the names of wines... Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise will all have new meaning after today.
Wednesday: The hill towns of Provence await. We’ll travel the backroads to the hillside village of Gordes. Along the way we will stop at the Abbaye de Senanque, a 12th century Cistercian abbey. The villages of Roussillon, Menerbes, Bonnieux are just a stone’s throw away. Our friends, Henri and Francoise, will welcome us at their factory showroom for a private lunch. On the way home, we’ll stop by Fontaines de Vaucluse, an ancient village tucked in a closed valley... beautiful. Tonight, our dinner will be by the pool in the covered
BBQ area...
Thursday: We are heading south today. First stop is a tour favorite... the Jardin de l‘Alchemist. Then through Eygaliere and on to St. Remy. Joel Durand’s Chocolate Shop, St. Paul de Mausole where Van Gogh was hospitalized, Glanum, third century BC Gallo Roman ruins are all possibilities. Lunch will be around St. Remy. We’ll swing by Les Baux and a local olive and wine producer. Dinner at home tonight with our
market purchases.
Friday: Off to the big city of Avignon for a visit to the Palais des Papes, or the art galleries, or any last minute shopping you might need to do. We’ll have a great lunch at Numero 75, Robert Brunel’s restaurant in the beautiful Pernod chateau. We’ll scatter from here to yon to make sure everyone gets in that last minute thing that they wanted to do.
Saturday: C’est dommage... time to go... we will help you make your transfers to TGV station in Avignon and your journey home.
This is all purely hypothesis and open to change. There is a fabulous fabric store (‘fabric store’ doesn’t do it justice) that some of you might want to visit. Henri’s factory of doors, windows and furniture is an interesting stop. Nearby Carpentras with its fabulous bakery and wonderful shops that tourists haven’t discovered is another possibility. For the exercise conscious, walking, bicycling, horseback riding and hiking abound. In other words, for every suggestion I have made here, there are at least two others that we could do instead. Xavier and I can adjust to the groups needs and desires.
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