Domaine Monet France

The landscapes of Luberon are as beautiful as a Monet painting full of the colour and light of the changing seasons. Surrounded by cherry orchards blossoming in spring, hills ablaze with summer lavender and ripening vines in the autumn, Domaine Monet is a picture-perfect home in the heart of this captivating region.
Domaine Monet has been a labour of love for its dedicated owner who moved to France with her two young children some time ago and who was inspired to write about her life experiences in two published books. She has a keen eye for detail and her passion for the domain can be seen in what she has created and how she lovingly looks after this wonderful home.
Sleeping up to fourteen guests in total, there is a main villa with five charmingly styled bedrooms plus a 2-bedroom air-conditioned cottage, both set in the beautifully landscaped gardens.
The main villa, with its characterful grey shutters, is full of light with an elegant living room and vast kitchen-diner both with sliding windows leading straight out onto the exquisite garden. Each of the peaceful bedrooms has been styled individually, many featuring contemporary as well as antique furnishings and every room also has its own modern bathroom. Outside there are spacious terraces wonderfully furnished for relaxing, chatting and drinking local wine with friends as you appreciate the Provençal surroundings.
The charming cottage is set just 70 metres away, a two-storey home with a lovely living room leading out to an al-fresco terrace, a brilliantly equipped kitchen and two bedrooms under the eaves upstairs. It’s set just by one of the two magnificent koi carp ponds where three of the carp are over 65 years old.
Each of the houses has their own salt-water pool, meaning that guests have exclusive access to two swimming pools during their stay. Beautifully maintained, each pool has sun-loungers on the terrace or by the manicured grass and there are two barbecues for al-fresco dining at its best. There’s a marvellous summer kitchen by the larger pool, perfectly equipped including a little fridge filled with soft drinks for guests to enjoy.
The extensive gardens are a pure delight, filled with the summer scents of lavender and roses alongside an olive grove, where the owner produces her own oil which is included in your welcome basket. There are glorious views and you are surrounded by cherry orchards, vineyards and the Luberon hills. In the evening, as you relax outside on the romantically lit terrace all you can hear are the relaxing sounds of cicadas, frogs and birds. This is a really special place in an enchanting part of Provence.
There’s a restaurant and bar in a little village just 3km away which the more energetic could even walk to or drive just five-minutes to reach a historic Luberon hilltop village with wonderful restaurants, a boulangerie and a lovely weekly market. Cherries and truffles are a local speciality and if you are a lover of fine foods then don’t miss the excellent Farmer’s market in nearby Apt on a Saturday morning with all sorts of regional offerings.
Other archetypal Provençal villages within a short drive include Roussillon and Gordes, two of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ as well as Bonnieux and Lacoste. The historical cities of Avignon and Aix-en-Provence are also just an hour away whilst antique lovers should not miss the famous Sunday morning brocante at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Or simply spend your time following the many walking and cycling trails across the landscapes of the Luberon. This is a truly fabulous place so perfect for guests wishing to capture the essence of authentic Provence. Domaine Monet is set in glorious grounds, featuring two large koi carp ponds and a canal. Here you are surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and cherry orchards, farming land so typical of this region. This is the heart of the incredible Luberon with breath-taking scenery and idyllic Provençal villages and towns.
It’s only 3km (a short drive or leisurely walk) to a small village with a restaurant and a bar as well as a 9-hole golf course. Slightly further north is a historical hilltop village, 4km away, where the local specialities include cherries and truffles. Here you will find exquisite architecture ranging from medieval times to the 19th century and there are some lovely restaurants and boulangeries. Don’t miss the Tuesday morning market!
In the height of the summer the surrounding hills are ablaze with lavender and the scent is divine! The owner has written an excellent guide on the area – she started it in 2000 when she moved to the village and has been updating it ever since.
There are wonderful walks and mountain bike routes in the nearby area and horse-riding opportunities too. Bikes are available to hire in Apt and there is an excellent cycling route to follow between Apt and Coustellet, only recently completed. There are various hiking trails, including many of the well-marked GR routes, or you may just wish to wander through the local cherry orchards and vineyards.
The nearest town is Apt (12km) where you will find larger supermarkets and a brilliant Saturday morning market, known to be one of the best in the region, selling all sorts of wonderful local produce.
Roussillon (10km) is one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ due to its magical hilltop setting and maze of narrow winding streets and pretty squares.  It’s a place that has always been much loved by artists and you will be able to explore the lovely galleries and boutiques the village has to offer as well as follow an art trail. The local gastronomy is divine as well so make sure you try out one of the regional restaurants.
You are also within close driving distance of the archetypal Provençal villages of Bonnieux (18km), Lacoste (19km) and Van Gogh’s beloved Gordes (18km), another one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’.
You can kayak or canoe along the Sorgue near L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (37km), a town which is also a must-see also for antique lovers with its weekly brocante on a Sunday morning as well as hundreds of antique traders across the town.
There are climbing opportunities near Buoux (16km), a tiny village with a castle not to be missed and now a mecca for rock-climbing.
Wine lovers will appreciate all the amazing wineries in the local area whilst more family friendly activities in the region include tree-top activity centres, a zoo about an hour away in Barben and a model railway 40-minutes away south of Carpentras.
Just an hours drive away is the capital of Provence, Avignon (57km), with a UNESCO World Heritage Site historic centre. Aix-en-Provence (65km), one of France’s most beautiful university towns, is also a wonderful day trip.
At Excellence Luxury Villas we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. From private chefs to babysitters we can help you arrange those little extras that make it a truly memorable holiday. Simply fill in the concierge request form or contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can typically help you arrange any of the following:
– Maid service/extra cleaning – Private chef/cook/catering- Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge- Local day-trips or tours- Airport pick-up/drop-off- Babysitting / childcare services
Extras Included at this Property:
– Welcome basket including wine, olive oil from the domaine’s own olive trees, honey from the neighbours, fruit and vegetables- Cleaning products are provided, as are toilet paper and soap on arrival
Please note that all extras are subject to availability and must be requested in advance of the holiday (prices on request). Due to some rural/remote locations, not all services will be available at all properties. However, we will always do our best to fulfil your requests!