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About The Experience

Fields of blue and mauve flowers dazzle your eyes. This holiday villa is near the village of Simiane la Rotonde, for many years the regional capital of lavender. A truly magnificent property, Villa de Banon features a private heated swimming pool, garden, tennis court, and lawn bowling game. Perfect for groups and family-friendly, feel free to meander around the countryside on one of the six bikes at this Provencal vacation villa. Luxuriously decorated with attention to every detail, this rental villa in France is a great way to appreciate country life with modern amenities.

Location Description

This wonderful villa is located 2 km from the village of Simiane la Rotonde, between Forcalquier and the Luberon. Activites in Simiane la Rotonde include hiking, guided tours, summer festivals, exhibitions, arts and crafts: ceramics, paintings, sculptures and traditional music. The Luberon mountain range is beautiful to visit by car, foot, bicycle or horse. Many lovely ancient villages with castles, forts, ruins, and towers are along the way. Banon as a beautiful medieval village to visit surrounded by fields of lavender and wheat fields and perfumed by local aromatic herb. This is a small village known for its tasty goat cheeses with ancient residences and medieval fortifications. Apt is a great market town. Though it is not a small village, there is an old town within Apt, centered about an 11th century Cathedral. Along the narrow paved streets in this area you will find vaulted passages and some lovely fountains. Saignon, alternately, is a quaint hilltop village, great for exploring on foot. Here you can climb to the top of the huge rock behind the village and enjoy fantastic panoramic views of the plains and the Luberon mountain range. You can also find horse-riding and mountain biking. Forcalquier offers excellent dining, museums, markets, wine tasting, hiking, and cycling along the Luberon en Velo path, easy access to bus and TGV. If you venture into Avignon, you will find a charming walled French town with history, restaurants, museums, shops and a vibrant local scene. There is so much to see: the Place de l'Horloge, the outdoor market in Uzes on Saturday, the Pont du Gard, the antique markets in Isle sure la Sorgue on Sunday, Mount Ventoux, the vineyards, the Festival d'Avignon in July, Fountaine de Vaucluse, and on and on.

Nearby Attractions: Simiane la Rotonde (hiking, guided tours, festivals, exhibitions, art, traditional music), Banon (lavender, wheat, goat cheese, medieval fortifications), Apt (11th century Cathedral), Saignon (the plains and Luberon mountain range, horse-riding, mountain biking), Forcalquier (dining, museums, markets, wine tasting, hiking, cycling the Luberon en Velo path, bus, TGV), Avignon (TGV station, restaurants, museums, shops, Place de l'Horloge, outdoor market, Pont du Gard, antique markets, Mount Ventoux, vineyards, Festival d'Avignon, Fountaine de Vaucluse, Marseille (Airport).

Marseille Airport: 100 km/62 mi
Avignon (Airport, TGV Station): 75 km/47 mi
Forcalquier: 36 km/22 mi
Saignon: 27 km/17 mi
Apt: 25 km/16 mi
Banon: 9 km/6 mi
Simiane la Rotonde: 2 km/1 mi

Exterior Description

(83 hectares or 200 acres)

This magnificent property is perched high on a hill surrounded by fields of lavender in Haute Provence. There is a private swimming pool (15m x 7.5m, heated to 25°C from June to September included in the rental price; for May and October the cost of heating the pool is extra) and a fully equipped summer kitchen with BBQ, stereo, garden furniture and shower. Additional outdoor amenities include table tennis, swing, tennis court, lawn bowling game, and 6 bikes. The property is secured with an automatic gate and security alarm. It is located 2 km/1.2 mi from the village of Simiane la Rotonde, between Forcalquier and the Luberon. For many years, Simiane was the regional capital of lavender, and this small village was made famous by its tasty goat cheese delicately wrapped in a dried cedar leaves and tied with a raffia ribbon. A traditional music festival is held from mid-July to mid-August.

Interior Description

This family property can accommodate 28 people with 8 double bedrooms and 2 children dormitories (with 6 single beds in each one).

First Floor: There is an entrance hall; 3 salons with fireplaces, sofas, Hifi, Satellite TV, and DVD player; a library; dining room; fully equipped kitchen (microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, professional oven); laundry area; WCs, and cellar.

Second Floor- East Side: There are 4 double bedrooms. The 1st bedroom has 2 single beds (which can be joined to form a king-size bed) an en suite bathroom with toilets and shower. The 3 other bedrooms each have 2 single beds and a sink. They share a large bathroom with tub, shower, and toilets.

Second Floor - West Side: There are 2 large dormitories (one for the boys and one for the girls) with 6 single beds and a bathroom in each one.
2nd level - Separate: There is another bedroom with 2 single beds (which can be joined to make a king-size bed) and an en suite bathroom with toilets and shower.

Third Floor: There are 2 double bedrooms. One bedroom has 2 single beds and an en suite bathroom with shower and toilet. The other bedroom has 2 large single beds (which can be joined to form a large king-size bed) and an en suite bathroom with tub and toilet.

By the pool: At the back of the swimming pool there is an independent double bedroom with 2 single beds (which can be connected to form a king-size bed) and bathrooms with shower and toilets. Wheel chair access is possible.

Features Description

Extra Services: The following are listed as an aid for trip planning; the services and prices are approximate and cannot be guaranteed by Rentvillas. All extra services are payable locally in cash.

• Cook Service: Upon request
• Babysitter: Upon request
• Pool Heating: 1500 Euros per week

Please Note:

• There is an English-speaking "Meet & Greet" upon arrival.
• A Welcome Dinner is offered upon arrival.
• Breakfast is prepared each morning.
• The caretakers are nearby. There are 2 Maids and 1 Butler available full-time.
• Pool Heating is available for the months of April, May, and October. This service must be requested prior to arrival.

Features and Amenities

Free Parking on Premises Independent Villa Balcony/Terrace Barbecue Outside Area - Private Outside Dining Swimming Pool - Heated Swimming Pool - Private Tennis Court - Private Bikes Available - Upon Request DVD player TV - English Channels Available Internet - Wireless Telephone - Incoming & Outgoing

Clothes Dryer Dishwasher Iron and Board Microwave Oven Washing Machine Air Conditioning - Whole House Fireplace - Indoor Heating - Whole House Portable Baby Crib/Play Pen - Upon Request Cook Service Available - Extra Cost Housekeeping - Included Housekeeping Available - Extra Cost

Arrival Times

Please note: Official Arrival Times:

• Sun 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Mon 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Tue 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Wed 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Thu 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Fri 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Sat 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Conditions *