"IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE

"IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE

Photo gallery for "IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE

Pool
Breakfast by the pool
Pool and Raj tent seen from lawn above
Outdoor dining
Exterior

Overview of "IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE

Reviews
8.8 out of 10 Excellent

Popular amenities

  • PoolPoolPool
  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen

Check out the area

Map
Seillans, Var
  • Popular LocationTerre Blanche Golf Course16 min drive
  • Popular LocationLac de Saint-Cassien18 min drive
  • Popular LocationTanning-Ernst Collection41 min drive
  • AirportToulon (TLN-Toulon - Hyeres)103 min drive

Rooms & beds

8 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Child's bedroom, top floor

1 Single Bed

Guest (ground floor)

1 Single Bed

Guest (middle floor)

1 Double Bed

Guest (middle floor)

1 Queen Bed

Guest (middle floor)

1 Queen Bed

Guesthouse Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Guesthouse Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Master (top floor)

1 King Bed

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Ground floor bathroom

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Guesthouse bathroom 1

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Guesthouse Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Master bedroom

Shower only

Middle bathroom

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Top floor landing

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

"IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE

This house and guesthouse are new to VRBO but have been advertised on other sites (see www.provencemagique.com for reviews and details) and rented continuously since 1993. Both properties are always rented together. Over nearly 30 years, the properties have been constantly upgraded attracting many very positive reviews and repeat bookings.

Secluded and set in several acres of its own land, the 200 year-old farmhouse is a short walk to medieval Seillans, one of the 134 "prettiest villages of France”, where Max Ernst once lived with Dorothea Tanning (there’s a sculpture of his in the village), and Bruce Chatwin died in the château, which then belonged to Shirley Conran.

A perennial stream, which powered the original mill, flows below the house, alongside the newly (2023) refurbished guest house ('Cabanon') featuring original windows by one-time owner American sculptor Mitzi Cunliffe, (best known for designing the BAFTA trophy!).

The whole property (elevation: 500 m.) slopes towards the village affording stunning views from the house and the pool.

FARMHOUSE. The main house can sleep 11 people in 6 bedrooms. It has a large dining/sitting room, a well-equipped kitchen, three full bathrooms and a shower-room with WC. The kitchen has a new cooker, washing-machine and dish washer, and a shelf full of cookery books to inspire you.

TV is available. The bedroom on the top floor is a living space in itself with air-conditioning. Apart from a large double-bed, it has its own marble bathroom with basin in one corner, and a huge bookcase full of the sort of books you might want to read by the pool or even in the bath. The master bedroom also has direct access to the garden. A smaller single bedroom suitable for a child or infant is just across the landing, and there is an adjoining shower-room with WC.

On the middle floor, there are two other double bedrooms (with en-suite bathroom) and a smaller bedroom with double-bed. These bedrooms also have direct access to the garden. On the ground floor, which has the kitchen and dining-drawing room, there is a further small bedroom with en-suite full bathroom. The house is fully furnished with antique furniture throughout - no IKEA here! - and there is eclectic art on the walls. Fine bed linen and towels are provided. 

GUESTHOUSE. Just below the farmhouse is the refurbished guesthouse with two double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchenette. The guesthouse is air-conditioned.

Near both houses there are lots of spaces for meals, and many recreational (and romantic!) spots. There is a 5 X 12-metre oval pool with large stone surround, and a Raj tent for when the sun gets too hot. There are two portable ping-pong tables available.

There are two large patios with huge tables, perfect for long alfresco lunches and dinners, and there is a Weber barbecue. The garden is made up of walled terraces, oleander and rose bushes, groves of fruit trees (olives, cherries, figs, apples, pears, plums, hazel-nuts, walnuts), and a very large paddock. The property offers a rare combination of total seclusion, but short, easy and car-free access to the village along one of the paths through the grounds.

Property manager

Stephen and Frédérique Browne

Languages

English, French

Amenities

Pool
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 50

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 1000, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation

About the area

Seillans

Located in Seillans, this farm stay is in a rural area and on a river. Terre Blanche Golf Course and Grotte de Pâques are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lac de Saint-Cassien and Pennafort Gorges Waterfall. Swimming offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking, cycling and mountain biking nearby.
Map
Seillans, Var

What's nearby

  • Terre Blanche Golf Course - 16 min drive
  • Lac de Saint-Cassien - 18 min drive
  • Pennafort Gorges Waterfall - 24 min drive
  • Tanning-Ernst Collection - 41 min drive
  • Esterel Massif - 46 min drive

Getting around

  • Ranguin Station - 35 min drive
  • Nice (NCE-Cote d'Azur) - 68 min drive

Restaurants

  • La Vigne Vincent - 8 min drive
  • Domaine de Fayence Resort & Spa - 11 min drive
  • Auberge Provençale - 15 min drive
  • La Gloire de Mon Père - 20 min walk
  • Le Castellaras - 5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does "IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is "IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE pet-friendly?

Yes, this farm house allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at "IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is "IDYLLIC RETREAT" FARMHOUSE, GUESTHOUSE, HUGE GARDEN, POOL, CLOSE TO VILLAGE located?

Located on the riverfront, this family-friendly farm stay is within 9 mi (15 km) of Terre Blanche Golf Course, Lac de Saint-Cassien and Chapelle Saint-Barthélémy. Office de Tourisme and Chapelle Saint Michel are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 2 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 3 reviews" "

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

8.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Lara I.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
Beautiful location, advertising not accurate
Overall, the house needs some attention but has a ton of potential and is a charming house. We had quite a few bumps that the manager helped us with and we still enjoyed our time! Positives: Beautiful location Charming house Pool was fantastic Property manager was responsive and helpful Top floor air conditioner was great. It was generally clean Negatives: The online description mentions the guesthouse as a refurbished cottage with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We chose this place partly because it had that extra space and fit our needs. However, when we arrived, it was still being renovated, and not ready. We spoke with the owner and the manager who secured a cleaner for the cottage the next day and we made it work. However the bathroom toilet broke and flooded, and one of the air conditioner units leaked. To the credit of the manager, it was promptly fixed. It will be a great cottage but wasn’t ready and the advertising is inaccurate and misleading. Additionally, there was a leak in the kitchen, there was some kind of bugs in one of the rooms that chewed up a couple of us (manager was shocked and so hopefully will be remedied quickly)and the sink in the top floor clogged. One of the single bedrooms was so small there was nowhere to put a suitcase and it was very hot, so be prepared if all the rooms will Be used. There were fans in every room that helped. Cooking pots and dish ware was not quite enough or big enough for the amount of people the house sleeps.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

rik m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely idyllic Provençal retreat
We had a fabulous two weeks staying at la Bastide, the house is truly unique and enchanting - the boys kept saying that it's like we were in the Durrels! A brilliant-sized swimming pool which is rare for the south of France meant that all of our 4 sixteen-year-olds could float around without annoying each other, quirky and homely bedrooms made everyone feel instantly at home and we dined like royalty n the terrace every night helped immeasurably by homemade fig tart made from figs from the garden. Also a fabulous selection of books! Faye the house manager was wonderful a nd couldn't have been more helpful. Sucha charming welcome and presence all round. Wonderfully easy walk to the village, well equipped and absolutely tranquil. private and peaceful. A definite must for any big family. Thank you! we'll definitely be back
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lawrence S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent property and location
The property was lovely and full of original features and sitting on a large land plot. It was very close to a beautiful provincial town.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Stephen and Frédérique Browne

Host profile image
The family have owned these properties since 1996. Over the years we have progressively upgraded the house and garden to a high standard of taste and comfort.

Why they chose this property

We fell in love with the house after renting it in the summers of 1992 and 1993. It belonged to a well-known sculptress (designer of the BAFTA award trophy) and has a unique location close to the historic village. We were able to buy it in 1996 and it has been let every year since.

What makes this property unique

The main house offers total seclusion, is a short 1 km walk to the village and amenities and is surrounded by 150 olive trees on picturesque terraces ("restanques").

Five published books were written in part or in full in the hose, which has also been featured in international press and magazines. One writer visiting in 2017 called it Paradise. Apart from published authors, we have had politicians, judges, actors and journalists staying at our properties. They liked the simplicity, tranquility and anonymity.

Languages:

English, French
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