La Maussanaise is that rare find for families with teenage children, Francophiles who enjoy being immersed in the rhythms of French Provençal life, and in general those who hate to get into a car every time they need a baguette or copy of the International Herald Tribune: A good-quality house with pool, large garden, air-conditioned living room and bedrooms, and plenty of peace and privacy, and all this within a five-minute walk of the shops in one of Provence's most charming villages. With four bedrooms, three baths, a modern and well-equipped kitchen and a great outdoor terrace, this villa offers an unusual opportunity for a relaxed séjour in Provence without the burdens of excessive motor traffic. And as a bonus, the nearby village with basic shops and several good restaurants, holds a market every Thursday morning, this riot of tastes, colors and aromas taking place in the village square in front of the village church and under the shade of centuries-old plane trees.
For a French house the rooms are especially spacious at La Maussanaise. The living-dining room area, combined with the foyer and a cozy den-like area with television and stereo system, comprises almost 90m2 (about 910 sq. ft.). The bedrooms average around 27m2 (about 300 sq. ft.), and the pretty outside terrace, covered with vines and crafted of local stone, is a generous 200m2 (about 2,200 sq. ft.). The overall terrain, which measures about 3,000m2 (about 3/4 of an acre), includes a large garden, lovingly landscaped and tended by the owner, with abundant flowers, shade trees, extensive lawn areas and lemon trees. The swimming pool, all tile, measures 6m X 12m (19.5' X 39') and has stairs at one end and a ladder at the other.
Furnishings in the living-dining room area include three good-quality sofas centered around a large stone fireplace, a marble dining table for six, and - for color - a beautiful oriental rug and throw pillows in colorful fabrics. The ceilings have heavy oak beams, and the floors are of terra cotta tile. This area is richly accented with objets d'art, tasteful pictures and the occasional well-placed mirror. As in the bedrooms, there are ample table lamps for reading.
The master bedroom is the only one upstairs and has a king-sized bed, new ensuite bath and private terrace opening onto the garden. A second bedroom has a king-sized bed that can be made into two single beds, and a full ensuite bath. A third bedroom has two single beds, and the fourth bedroom has a double bed that can be replaced entirely
with two twin beds. The third and fourth bedrooms share a large bath that is between them but is not connected to the rooms.
The kitchen at La Maussanaise is all-electric, with a four-burner stove with ceramic surface, oven, microwave oven and good-sized refrigerator (plus an additional refrigerator).
The kitchen includes an eat-in counter area with bistro chairs for five.
Since the villa is at the end of a cul-de-sac, there is no passing traffic to disturb residents either night or day. And while the nearby village can be quite bustling at times,
especially on the morning of market day, none of this carries to the tranquil enclave of La Maussanaise.
Special amenities at the villa include an electronically controlled entrance gate, automatic sprinkling system and a lighting system that illuminates the garden beautifully
at night. There are tennis courts virtually around the corner, and the Golf Club des Baux (a good nine-hole course) is less than a four-minute drive.
Gourmet opportunities abound in the immediate area. In the village there are several good restaurants in different price categories, and for especially fine dining there is the up-and-coming La Petite France in nearby Paradou, about a five-minute drive. One of Patricia Wells' favorite country restaurants, the bizarrely charming Bistrot au Paradou, is also in Paradou.
Just beyond Paradou is Fontvieille and La Table du Meunier. The famed and fabulously expensive Oustau de Baumanière, tenaciously holding onto to
its once-unchallenged standing as the finest restaurant in Provence, carries on its beautiful two-star establishment at Les Baux less than 10 minutes to the north. More
friendly to the pocketbook but equally pleasing, if slightly less elegant, is the two-star Bistrot d'Eygalières at the nearby village (about 10 minutes) of the same name. And of course a
few minutes to the north of Les Baux are the many restaurants of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, if the locals and the worthies of British high society will kindly make room.
Not to be overlooked is the local olive oil cooperative, hailed universally in France as producer of the country's finest olive oil. This clear,
golden-green elixir may be purchased in quantities ranging from a small bottle to several gallons. For a not outrageous fee the coop will gladly ship their precious oils wherever you
desire. We suggest dispatching a five-liter container to your own pantry, which may keep you well supplied until your next visit to the golden triangle, and - for the
doubly fortunate - to La Maussanaise.
Page