Les Pierres Blanches France

In the heart of rural Provence, yet not far from the delightful city of Aix-en-Provence, Les Pierres Blanches is a perfect place for a relaxing holiday amongst the vineyards of southern France.
Made from the white stone so famous in this region, Les Pierres Blanches offers rustic country living in comfortable and homely surroundings. A spacious and characterful living-dining room downstairs, plus a contemporary American-style kitchen, have doors opening up to a gloriously shaded patio, perfect for al-fresco dining by the barbecue or just lazing by the swimming pool. A second lounge area can be found on the first floor, again with French windows leading to a wonderful south-facing terrace, perfect for your morning coffee as you listen to the birds or evening aperitif as the day draws to an end.
Seven pretty bedrooms can be found across three floors, including a bright and spacious air-conditioned games room at the top with a double and a single under the eaves next to the pool table!
Characterful features such as wood beamed ceilings, large open fires and grand stone stairs add to the traditional ambience across this homely abode. Step outside and you can sense the tranquillity of the natural surroundings as you dip into the inviting swimming pool or explore the vast wooded grounds. Bring your rackets and play tennis in the summer sun or have fun with the family enjoying table tennis and boules. A true family home, there is plenty for every generation.
Despite this rural location, near some of the region’s excellent wineries, the local town is only 5km away where you will find charming restaurants and shops. Drive further north and soon you will be in the outstanding Luberon region where you can visit idyllic villages such as Lourmarin, Bonnieux and Ménerbes.
To the south, only twenty minutes by car, is the wonderful city of Aix-en-Provence, loved so much by many artists over the years including Cézanne. Across the city you’ll find museums, galleries, historic fountains and tree-lined avenues with terrace cafes and bookshops. Don’t miss the atmospheric Provençal market four mornings a week!
Exploring the countryside, you can admire the Provençal landscapes of vineyards and lavender, ideal for walkers and cyclists and there’s horse-riding across the region too.
If you fancy a change of scene, discover some of the beaches near Marseille such as Sainte-Croix, Pointe Rouge and Cap Rousset. The best of both worlds, in this part of Provence you can experience the glorious Mediterranean coastline as well as the stunning mountainous hinterland.
Set in wooded gardens with vineyards beyond, Les Pierres Blanches enjoys a remote, countryside location in Provence yet it’s only 5km from the nearest town. It’s just south of the Luberon mountain range in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, where vineyard tours at prestigious wineries are within a short distance and you are only a twenty-minute drive from Aix-en-Provence.
Nearby Rognes (5km) offers your nearest restaurants, shops and a supermarket. It’s a pretty, historic small town which is famous for its stone and also the excellent AOC Coteaux d’Aix wine that the surrounding vineyards produce. There’s a tranquil way of life around here as you will notice as you drive through the peaceful surrounding countryside. One local attraction is La Ferme du Brégalon, just north of the town, where visitors can bottle feed the farm’s goats and learn about making goat’s cheese.
It’s 14km south to Aix-en-Provence, a wonderful city full of art and history. Sip coffee in one of the terraced cafes or discover the book shops of the famous tree-lined Cours Mirabeau. Admire the city’s fountains, shops, museums and galleries across the old town and experience the wonderful Provençal market four mornings a week.
There are many walking trails in the city to follow the life of Paul Cézanne and his workshop, Atelier de Cézanne, is worth a visit en route to the open-air museum at Terrain des Paintres.
Drive out to Cézanne ‘s beloved Sainte Victoire mountain, which is especially ideal for walking in the spring or autumn with Provençal scenery all around you.  It’s also great for mountain biking, rock climbing and para-gliding. There is also a good choice of golf courses within half an hours drive as well as horse-riding stables in the region.
Head north and explore some of Provence’s most captivating areas such as around the Luberon mountains with idyllic villages such as Lourmarin (22km), Bonnieux (35km) and Ménerbes (44km) amazing places to see. The Alpilles Natural Park is also accessible within an hour with archetypal villages such as Les-Baux-de-Provence (62km) and Saint-Rémy (57km) possible to visit in a day.
Impressive Marseille (45km), one of the oldest cities in France, is just forty minutes by car. Furthermore, beaches along the Mediterranean coastline within an hour include Sainte-Croix (60km) near Martigues, La Ciotat (66km), where you can hire canoes or kayaks or closer to Marseille is the Pointe Rouge beach (53km) with its beachside restaurants. Watersports enthusiasts will appreciate Cap Rousset (53km) with diving in the protected crystal clear waters and windsurfing, canoes, kayaks and paddle boarding available.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
Extra available at this property (payable locally):
– Extra cleaning
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!