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LA SOURCE SAINT-MICHEL

It would be hard to find in Provence a more perfectly restored example of the classic maison de maître than La Source Saint-Michel, a spectacular property shaded by 150-year-old platane trees in southeast Provence, in the département of Var. The house has a commanding view of Draguignan, the principal town among a constellation of picturesque villages, many with structures going back to Roman times. La Source Saint-Michel offers a unique vacation experience that combines luxury with the authentic ambiance of the French countryside. The property's appeal is enhanced by its location near a vibrant Provençal town and sites of local interest, and that is only an hour from Mediterranean beaches and within an easy drive of a major international Airport.

The maison de maître typically marked the residence of a prosperous merchant or landowner in 18th and 19th century rural France. Painted high ceilings, marble-mantled fireplaces, spacious public rooms with parquet floors and a wide staircase rising from a central foyer are characteristics of this architectural style by which the rural haute bourgeoisie displayed their wealth and social standing. At La Source Saint-Michel the dignified character of the maison de maître has been retained in a luxurious environment accompanied by many creature comforts and technical amenities, among them high-speed Internet access and a 20-meter (65') chlorine-free lap pool.

The stone wall enclosing the two-hectare (five-acre) terrain of La Source Saint-Michel is bordered on one side by a country road dating back to Roman times. The property is actually a working olive farm (the house overlooks a grove of more than 230 olive trees), although the agricultural activities are conducted well away from the house and pool and in no way interfere with guests' enjoyment of the property.

Being only minutes from the town of Draguignan, visitors share the benefits of a bucolic setting with the convenience of a nearby town with commerce ranging from restaurants, specialty food stores and smart boutiques to shopping areas with supermarkets. Of special interest are the colorful open-air markets that take place every Wednesday and Saturday in Draguignan.

With its five beautifully decorated bedrooms, each with an ensuite bath, La Source Saint-Michel is ideal for a group of five couples who desire accommodations with equal comforts. Each bedroom also has a direct dial telephone with voicemail, a safe for valuables, a separate stereo system and an ADSL connection. Four bedrooms have gas-fired fireplaces.

Proximity to places and sights of interest

Draguignan is in an especially fascinating part of the Var. Within a short drive is the impressive Abbayé du Thoronet, a Cistercian monastery dating from the 12th century, while to the north and west is a series of interesting villages such as Entrecasteaux, Lorgues, Tourtour, Salernes and Cotignac. Directly west is Aix-en-Provence (about 80 minutes), while to the northwest are the gorges of Verdon (canoeing, rating and hiking here) and the town of Moustiers-Ste.-Marie, famed for its porcelain and - more recently - the lovely Bastide de Moustiers, a creation of superstar chef Alain Ducasse. At Draguignan itself is one of the most quietly moving scenes in all of France - the World War II cemetery of American soldiers who died in the invasion of southern France in August 1944.

Draguignan is also perfectly situated for an excursion to the seashore. Saint-Tropez is 48 km almost directly south (in summer traffic the journey takes about two hours), while the beaches of Saint-Aygulf and Saint-Raphael are less than an hour to the southeast. There are numerous restaurants in the area, among them two nearby Michelin one-star establishments, Chez Bruno in Lorgues and La Fontaine in Ampus. For oenophiles the famed vineyards of Bandol are an hour to the southwest. And art lovers can plan a daytrip to the exquisite museums of the Côte d'Azur - Fondation Maeght at Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Picasso Museum at Antibes, the Matisse Chapel at Vence, and others - which are an easy drive of less than an hour on the Autoroute. Monaco and the Italian border are another 30 minutes to the east.

La Source Saint-Michel is easily accessible from Paris and other international points. The property can be reached in about an hour from Nice-Côte d'Azur International Airport, and in about 90 minutes from Marseille-Marignane International Airport. There is TGV service to Paris and other points in France from Les Arcs-Draguignan station, a drive of less than 15 minutes.

Ground floor

A defining characteristic of the traditional maison de maître is its symmetrical structure, with living space divided equally on either side on each floor. On the ground floor of La Source Saint-Michel the spacious living room lies to one side of the entrance hall, and the dining room on the other. The living room has a sitting area, a game table, library shelves and a fireplace. The dining room, which also has a fireplace, can accommodate 10 guests comfortably. Both rooms have beautiful old oak floors. In most of the rooms the floor is tomettes, hexagonal red floor tiles, so characteristic of the South of France, that were made in the nearby village of Salernes.

Adjacent to the dining room is the attractively appointed country-style kitchen, which has a breakfast area, granite counters and the latest in top-quality appliances. The professional-level stove has five gas burners, and two electric ovens. There are two dishwashers, one in the kitchen and the other in the pantry, and two refrigerators, one with an icemaker. There is also a variety of countertop appliances, including a microwave oven and Saeco espresso maker. The kitchen opens onto the summer dining terrace. There is a large barbecue grill nearby.

In a utility room adjacent to the kitchen is a laundry area with two washing machines, a separate tumble dryer and ironing facilities.

The upper floors and bedrooms

A circular staircase rises to the upper floors, where on each of the two levels there are two large and beautifully decorated bedroom suites. Following the symmetrical design of the maison de maitre, each suite is of nearly equal size (about 31 m2, 340 sq. ft.) and flanks a central sitting area. Both sitting areas have a television with satellite reception that includes CNN, CNBC, BBC and French stations.

A fifth and equally comfortable bedroom suite, reached by a separate staircase near the kitchen, is on the west side of the house.

The four bedrooms reached by the central staircase have queen-sized beds, and the fifth suite has two single beds, with the possibility of adding a third for a child. Each bedroom has a walk-in closet and views of the surrounding countryside.

The ensuite bathrooms are identically equipped, with minor variations. All have twin basins, a bathtub, two electrically heated towel racks and a WC. Three bathrooms have overhead showers in the bathtubs, and two have separate stall showers. Additionally, there is a guest lavatory that opens from the landing of the staircase between the ground floor and middle level.

The terrace, pool and tennis court

On one side of the house, accessible from the kitchen, is a gracious terrace, shaded by a trellis and perfumed by flowering shrubs, with a barbecue and summer dining area for up to 16 guests. As the terrace faces west, it is ideal for cocktails and summer dining while watching the sunset.

Beyond the terrace, and visible from it through a row of juniper trees, is the 4 m X 20 m (13' X 65') swimming pool, which is chlorine-free. On one side is a wide ledge where bathers may lounge in the water well out of the way of more athletic swimmers enjoying the lap-length pool. The pool is surrounded by a smooth flagstone deck equipped with a variety of good-quality lounge chairs and parasols.

Note: The main part of the swimming pool has a constant depth of 150 cm (5'). It is therefore a hazard to small children. Children must know how to swim and must be under constant adult supervision in order to use the pool.

From the pool a path leads to the clay-surface tennis court. The court is for singles play only, and therefore does not have the outside lines for doubles matches.

For an additional diversion guests may enjoy a game of pétanque (boules) on the gravel area that stretches from the front facade of the house. In the summer months a row of majestic platane trees, a traditional feature of fine homes in Provence, provides a cool and shady sanctuary for the players.

Surrounding the house and pool are expanses of soft green grass, landscaped gardens, rows of lavender and stands of almond, linden and other tall shade trees. According to the season and availability, guests are invited to pick ripe tomatoes from the vegetable garden, and to take figs, cherries, apricots and apples from the many fruit trees. A large basin is fed by the source - French for underground spring - from which the property takes its name. Stretching away from the front of the property are rows of olive trees that are harvested in the early winter.

Other amenities

With an eye toward assuring that their guests have every conceivable comfort and enjoy a trouble-free stay at their property, the owners have provided a host of special amenities at La Source Saint-Michel. Among them are:

• In addition to an ADSL connection in each bedroom, wireless Internet access from the living room, terrace and swimming pool.
• An electronically controlled front entrance gate.
• A state-of-the-art security system that protects the house and perimeter of the property.
• A CD "jukebox" with a variety of musical CDs, catalogued by number, with speakers in the main ground-floor rooms.
• A portable phone that may be used from the swimming pool.
• Outdoor lighting for all entrance doors, the parking area and the swimming pool. For an especially beautiful effect, the row of platane trees in front of the house can also be illuminated at night.
• Last, but not to be overlooked, is a supply of La Source Saint-Michel's very own olive oil for use by visiting cooks.

La Source Saint-Michel has a modern central heating system with individually controlled radiators. The property is available year-round, and is offered at a substantial discount in the period from November through April. Cooking and personal laundry services are also available at extra charge.