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LES TRUFFIERS

Les Truffiers, a beautifully furnished four-bedroom, three-bath villa within easy walking distance of the medieval village of Gordes, is an exceptionally fine property that combines charm, total creature comfort and perfect reliability. The villa is spacious (2,300 square feet), impeccably maintained, visually appealing and has a picture-postcard view of the perched village of Gordes and the Lubéron Valley beyond. It is one of the finest properties offered by JUST FRANCE in the Lubéron.

Despite its proximity to Gordes Les Truffiers is extremely private, with no neighbors within ear or eyeshot. Oak and olive trees abound on the more than one-acre terrain, which is bordered by another undeveloped acre. A 19th-century borie, or conical stone shelter typical of the Lubéron, stands on the property about 80' from the house. There is a large covered patio at the entrance of the villa, and just beyond lies the 30' X 15' pool, which is illuminated for nighttime swimming.

Antique Provençal furnishings and artwork, as well as aged terra cotta floors, give this elegant house a warm and cheerful feeling. The house is bright and receives lots of light from the many windows along the front that overlook the pool.

On the ground floor are the dining room, a handsomely decorated 550-square-foot living room with fireplace and a magnificent picture window, and a cozy library/TV room with VCR (and a fairly extensive video collection, including cartoons for children) that is perfect for family gatherings. The traditional furnishings throughout are in impeccable taste and of high quality.

Adjoining the dining room is a very well equipped American-style kitchen with dishwasher, microwave oven, grill, and plenty of working counter space. In the pantry is a washer-dryer and freezer plus an unusual and very convenient amenity offered by the owner--a temperature-controlled wine chest stocked with a wide variety of French wines, many from the region, that guests are invited to take for the very reasonable prices posted on the cooler door.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms and three baths. The master suite, a good-size room with French doors that open onto a terrace overlooking the pool, has a private ensuite bath with multijets shower as well as a tub. The second bedroom, which could also be considered a master bedroom suite, also has its own terrace and full ensuite bathroom. The third bedroom also overlooks the pool but has no terrace. All three of these bedrooms have queen-size beds.

The fourth, smaller bedroom is decorated for children and has one single bed with an additional mattress available. The third and fourth bedrooms share a full bath which is on the hall.

Gordes is uniquely situated for exploring Provence. The international airport at Marseilles is a drive of less than one hour, as is the historic town of Aix-en-Provence. Apt, with its picturesque flea market, and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, famous worldwide for its Sunday morning antiques market, are within 20 minutes. The famous 12th-century Cistercian Abbayé de Senanque is 10 minutes, and Avignon itself, home of the papacy for two centuries and a bustling modern French city, is 25 minutes by car.

Les Truffiers can accommodate one large family or two or three couples, with the fourth bedroom being most suitable for a child or nanny. The huge yard is a child's paradise, and the gourmet kitchen and large outdoor terrace under the eaves a haven for those who like to prepare and then linger over a splendid Provençal lunch or dinner. The villa itself, with its many comforts and visual surprises, is for anyone who enjoys relaxing in style and unpretentious luxury.