Fontblanche, Provencal estate for happy reunions

Domaine de Fontblanche is a 10-acre private country estate surrounded by olive orchards, lavender fields and vineyards, with spectacular views.

Start planning that large family meet-up or friends get-together: there is enough space for everyone to share fun times and enjoy some privacy when needed.

Two separate houses can comfortably accommodate up to 20 people.

Right in the heart of the Luberon, one of Provence’s most sought after areas, and next to the beautiful village of Gordes.

THE SPACE
Domaine de Fontblanche covers 10 acres, 2.5 km down the hill from the famous village of Gordes. It can accommodate up to 20 people spread out between two houses:

Le Mas de Fontblanche, a large 19th century bastide with a swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen and 3 terraces. Three of the five bedrooms are spread around the inner courtyard, the other two look out onto the valley from the other side of the house.

La Bergerie, a charming three-bedroom cottage nestled between a lavender field and a vineyard, ideal for those seeking a little extra independence.

Eight bedrooms in Le Mas:
The Master Bedroom is a large and pleasant room with a king size bed. It opens onto a terrace with sweeping views of the valley. This will quickly become your favourite spot for breakfast. The room is the only ground-floor bedroom in the house. The bathroom, located on the other side of the corridor, boasts a bathtub, a walk-in shower and a toilet.

Upstairs is the spacious Silk Bedroom, named after the Provence tradition of silk weaving. It can accommodate up to 3 people with a queen size bed and a single bed. The views from this room are just as stunning. The bathroom is at the bottom of the stairs in the corridor. It has a bathtub and a walk-in shower. The toilet is separate.

At the end of the corridor is another part of the house called “The Maison des Amis”, which can be made independant by shutting the door. It has its own sitting room, two kitchenettes and a small terrace with views of Gordes.

The first of the three rooms in this part of the house is the Mickey Mouse Room (named after the vintage sketches hanging on the walls), with two single beds, an ensuite bathroom with a shower and WC. It looks onto the vegetable garden.

The Upstairs Room has A/C, a double bed, a bathroom with a beautiful roll-top bath and over-head shower, and a toilet. Windows look out towards Bonnieux on one side and onto the vegetable garden on the other side.

The Lower-Level Room is a double bedroom. In the ensuite bathroom, you will find a bathtub and WC.

In the courtyard

The Fountain Room overlooks the inner courtyard, downstairs from the kitchen. It has two queen size beds, plenty of storage space, a private shower room and separate toilet. Its glass door opens onto the fountain, beneath stonewalls covered in Virginia creeper and climbing roses.

The Bunk Bedroom just across the courtyard is perfect for the younger guests, with two bunk beds, a wardrobe and a private shower room with a toilet.

Climb up a few stone steps in the courtyard and enter the Tower Room. Depending on your needs, the double bed can be turned into two single beds. The room has a wardrobe, a toilet and a washbasin.

Living spaces in Le Mas:
This family home is designed to comfortably accommodate large gatherings. The living room is spacious, with a fireplace and soft sofas. It is a great place to relax and unwind. It opens onto the main terrace, where the extra large table can sit up to 20 people under the wisteria.

The kitchen is in keeping with the place: spectacular with its large bay window and its cosy panoramic terrace (from which you can sometimes spot hot-air balloons landing in the neighbouring field: quite a magical sight!). It is fully equipped and ideal for cooking up large meals. The owners’ vast collection of cookery books will provide all the cooking tips you need for a Provencal feast. A few steps lead down from the balcony onto the main terrace.

The dining room is a nice fallback option in case of rain and a cosy place to dine by the fire when the weather gets colder. It opens onto another terrace with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Perfect for an early morning breakfast, this terrace communicates with the master bedroom.

Below the house is the swimming pool with a sunbathing area and the outdoor kitchen (with a fridge and barbecue area): throw a salad together and enjoy lunch in your bathing suit!

The “Maison des Amis” wing at the end of the corridor opens onto a delightful vegetable garden, bathed in sunlight at the end of the day, and perfectly sheltered from the occasional onslaught of the Mistral wind. Guests are welcome to pick their vegetables (celery, artichokes, tomatoes...).

THREE BEDROOMS IN La Bergerie:

Bedroom 1 opens onto the east-facing terrace, with views of the beautiful countryside. You will find a queen size bed, a chest of drawers and a wardrobe, an en-suite bathroom and a separate toilet.

Bedroom 2 overlooks the vineyards on the west side. It also has a queen size bed, a chest of drawers and a wardrobe, an en-suite bathroom and a separate toilet.

Bedroom 3 has two single beds. Through the porthole-shaped windows is a unique view of the perched village of Gordes. You will love the cabin vibe and watching the horses through the window.

Living spaces in La Bergerie:

The open plan-fully equipped kitchen looks onto the living/dining room. The large bay windows fill the room with light and celebrate the glorious views over the valley and the vineyards. The fireplace is great for snuggling up by the fire when the evenings are cool.

Set the table out on the terrace for a lunch in the shade. The outdoor shower offers a little coolness after a nap on one of the 4 sunbeds. The house has air-conditioning.

GUEST ACCESS

Domaine de Fontblanche is a 40-minute drive from the Avignon TGV train station, and 1 hour from Marseille Provence airport.

Drive through the Domaine de Fontblanche gates: from there, the alley lined with plane trees will take you to the Mas on the right, and then to the Bergerie further up on the left.

OTHER DETAILS TO NOTE
Make the most of your stay at Domaine de Fontblanche. There will be no shortage of activities, all you need to do is ask us:

A net can be stretched across the swimming pool for a splashing game of volleyball.

We can lend you tennis rackets and balls: the artificial grass court is very gentle on the knee joints. The tennis court lights up at dusk, for those games that stretch past happy hour.

You will find a playroom with a tv projector, baby foot and cosy sofas at the bottom of the stairs leading to the inner courtyard. Kids and teenagers love having their own space to hang out, watch a movie, play a board game, listen to music, or unpack their toys without invading the grown ups’ space.

Get in touch if you would like to hire a private chef. We work in close collaboration with a local concierge, we can find you the perfect match.

The delightful manager of Domaine de Fontblanche is on hand to welcome you and help you if necessary. He knows the place well and will be happy to sort out any issue that may arise during your stay.

Book now and start planning your next large family reunion or friendly get-together in Provence! The Domaine de Fontblanche calendar fills up quickly, and we are always happy to greet new travellers.

NEIGHBORHOOD DESCRIPTION

Domaine de Fontblanche nestles just below Gordes, 2.5 km down the hill. You can walk up to the village listed as one of the most beautiful in France. Wander its cobbled streets, enjoy the breathtaking views, sit and sip a morning coffee in a café, or book a table at one of the panoramic restaurants, such as the famous Clover Gordes: Jean-François Piège is one of France’s most acclaimed chefs.

Every Tuesday morning, the open market sets up its stalls and you can buy fruit and vegetables from local producers, as well as many Provencal delicacies.

GETTING AROUND
Staying at Domaine de Fontblanche means being in the heart of the Golden Triangle of the Luberon. The list of things you don’t want to miss out on is endless.

There is no bad time to come to the Luberon: each season has its wonders. Cherry blossoms in April, poppy fields in May, lavender galore in June-July, vineyards with changing colours at harvest time in September, truffle bonanza from November to March, Christmas markets in December...

The perched villages attract tourists from all over the world: Ménerbes (where the British author Peter Mayle wrote his bestseller “A Year in Provence”), Bonnieux, Lourmarin, Lacoste, Roussillon... They each have their own open market, sweeping views and a unique atmosphere.

The colourful quarries of the Provencal Colorado in Rustrel are well worth a visit. So is the village des Bories, 4 km away from Gordes, with its old stone huts, very popular with children.

The antique dealers of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue are famous amongst antique aficionados.

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is beautiful and a good place to embark on a canoeing excursion on the river Sorgue.

The Abbey of Sénanque, still in activity, is an amazing place, especially photogenic when the lavender is blooming (in June and July).

Walk the paths of the Luberon Regional Nature Park, and enjoy the magnificent landscapes.

And bear in mind that the rest of Provence is only a day-trip away from Domaine de Fontblanche: Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Marseilles, Nice, Saint-Tropez, Monaco… You can get in the car (or hire a minivan with a chauffeur!) and drive there for the day.

Isn’t that exciting?