The location:
Mas la Gayanne is situated in a cosy, quiet area between the villages of Uchaux and Mornas, approximately 3 kilometres away from both. Uchaux has one bakery, a post office, two tennis courts, a playground for children and a fice-a-side football court, a small grocery shop and a few restaurants. Mornas, a village situated at the foot of a range of picturesque cliffs with the remains of a mediaval castle overlooking it, offers a few more shops such as a pharmacy, a few bakeries and some more restaurants. Rochegude is a village 10 km away, home to Hotel Château de Rochegude of the Relais Chataux. These villages and the area around them are part of one of the five famous Route des vins du Côtes-du-Rhône, our immediate surroundings is therefore home to many vineyards.
The closest town is Orange, which is a 10 minute drive away. Orange is an ancient Roman stronghold as evidenced by its magnificent Roman theater, its enormous stage wall (103x37 meter) is still suporting a statue of Caesar Augustus. Ludwig XIV once called it "the most beautiful wall in my kingdom". This is where the famous opera festival Les Choregies d'Oranges takes place for three weeks every July (see more under Activities). There is also a massive Arc de Triomphe in the middle of Orange, dating from 20 BC.
Orange is also called the gateway to the Luberon. To the north, south and west of the Montagne du Luberon streches some of the most picturesque country in the south of France. The Luberon is cloaked with thick pines and truffle oaks, striped with vineyards, peppered with olive groves and achored with tile-roofed stone mas - it offers the quintessential Provencal landscape. Again you can find more information about where to go and what to to in the Luberon under Activities.
Avignon and its papal pleasures can be reached in about half an hour by car. Wrapped in walls with Gothic arrow slits and crowned by the massive Palais de Pape, Avignon is well fortified against modern times. Apart from the must-see double-palace of the rebel popes residing here in the 13th century, you shouldn't miss the Pont St-Benezet, the bridge in the famous children's song "Sur le pont d'Avignon, on y danse tous en rond". It still streches over the Rhone, but only halfway; the other half was washed away in the 17th century. Not only is Avignon a living museum, it also has nice cafes and great restaurants, lots of galleries, stylish boutiques and also an adventoursome nightlife.
Châteauneuf du-Pape and its famous vineyards are approximately 30 km away from our house. Named after the pope's country house north of Avignon, the area produces wines worthy of a papal empire. Cotes-de-Rhones from the vineyards of Gigondas and Vacqueyras are within reach less than 15 minutes away, same with Beaumes-de-Venise, which is renowned for its almond-perfumed sweet Muscat.
Aix-en-Provence is about an hour drive away. It's 30,000 students lend Aix an international and youthful flair, and when asked where they would most like to live, most French answer Aix-en-Provence. Aix also has great shops, restaurants and galleries.
The closest airports are in Marseille and Nimes, both of which can be reached in just short of an hour by car. The airport in Nice is about 3 hours away by car.
Other attractions within 30 minutes reach by car are places like the famous antique-village of Isle-sur-la-Sourge, St Remy de Provence, Fontaine de Vaucluse and much, much more.
The house:
The old farmhouse has been lovingly restored and is spread over aproximately 400 m2.
The main house has an entree with a large fire place, 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, a fully-equipped large kitchen with american fridge and dish-washer, wash-room with washing maschine and tumble dryer, 2 living rooms accessing two terraces and the garden, dining room with large dining table, an office with internet connection, and storage rooms.
The annex offers further living space over two floors with a seperate kitchen, living room and bedrooms. The annex is physically connected to the main house but has a seperate entrance and no direct access to the rest of the house.
The garden:
The garden stretches over 1.3 hectar (13,000 m2 or 4 acres) and is secluded by large pines. It is inhabited by olive trees, pines and fruit trees of many kinds. About 1/3 of the garden is also covered by old vines. Large salt-water pool (6x12m), poolhouse with fire place, BBQ and seating area for up to 12 people. Two terraces offer both access and shelter from the sun with seating areas for lunch etc. There is also a Boule (Petanque) pitch in the shades of the pine trees and generally lot of space for many kinds of activities - both for young and old. The whole property is fenced and therefore allows dogs to roam free.
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